BMW M8 Gran Coupe confirmed for Oz

The shroud of secrecy concerning the BMW M8 Gran Coupe has officially lifted and pictures of the production car can be published for the first time.

Based heavily on the show car from last year's Geneva motor show, the production model was revealed to the global media in a highly secretive process during the global launch of the two-door M8 models and the BMW 840i Gran Coupe in Portugal two weeks ago.

BMW Australia has informed carsales that the BMW M8 Gran Coupe will launch locally from the second quarter of next year – just a couple of months after the two-door variant arrives. The M8 Gran Coupe for Australia will be the 460kW Competition version only, mirroring the two-door specifications. That means the Gran Coupe variant will combine the higher-output turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 and all-wheel drive mechanicals with the swoopy four-door Gran Coupe body

BMW Australia is revealing nothing about pricing, but as the M8 coupe to be sold here will be priced above $300,000 and will be specified with the same 460kW 'Competition' powertrain, expect the Gran Coupe for Australia also to be priced above $300,000. How far above $300,000 is the question that goes begging.

The size of the 8 Series Gran Coupe hints that the BMW M8 Gran Coupe will go toe to toe with the recently launched Audi RS 7 Sportback, but the Audi is expected to be significantly cheaper. BMW argues that the M8 Gran Coupe will be slightly larger than the Audi and its more appropriate to cross-shop the BMW against Porsche's Panamera Turbo – itself no minnow in the world of prestige performance large cars from Germany.