Nearly 80 percent of all vehicles on American roads have white, black, gray or silver exterior paint. White cars lead the parade of plainness at nearly 26 percent, a dominance related to ease of fleet maintenance and public convention. BMW in recent years has decided not to always conform.
The German automaker makes plenty of cars within the spectrum of the mundane. But three 2023 models stretch the limits. The M8 Competition Gran Coupe includes an offering with an Urban Green exterior matched with a Black Full Merino leather interior. The X7 xDrive40i is available with a Sparkling Copper Metallic exterior and Ivory White Merino Leather. The iX M60 EV has an Oxide Grey Metallic exterior choice matched with Oyster Sensatec perforated seating.
Key Takeaways
- Three 2023 BMWs with unusual paint: the M8 Competition Gran Coupe in Urban Green, the X7 xDrive40i in Sparkling Copper Metallic and the iX M60 in Oxide Grey Metallic.
- M8 Competition: 4.4-liter turbo V8 with 617 horsepower, and an Urban Green exterior at $4,700.
- $130,000 starting price, $161,895 as tested.
- X7 xDrive40i: turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six with 375 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque.
- iX M60: 610 horsepower, 811 lb-ft of torque, 288 miles of range and 77 MPGe combined.
- Drive: The M8 Competition wants to compete.
While the least bold-colored of the trio, the EV grey is among the new exterior choices among several manufacturers that appear to change color in various degrees of sunlight.
Polarizing Paint
The 2023 BMW M8 Competition attracts immediate attention among BMW enthusiasts as a gran coupe. Its high-end performance features, including its 4.4-liter, 32-valve turbo V8 with 617 horsepower, impress. Its 0-60 miles per hour in 3.0 seconds is noteworthy. Its Urban Green exterior paint ($4,700) is polarizing. The color is reminiscent of military green, disliked by vocal neighbors and strangers in parking lots. It’s stunning to others including an onlooker who, grinning in approval, saluted the vehicle.
As BMW‘s most expensive and largest SUV, X7 xDrive 40i can haul around seven occupants while also competent as a performance vehicle it’s powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter, inline-six-cylinder engine with 375 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. Its Sparkling Copper Metallic exterior isn’t alarming. But it’s unique enough not to blend into maddening highway malaise.
As the newest BMW sibling, the IX M60 EV also stands out with its chameleon exterior paint traits. The IX features 610 horsepower and 811 lb-ft of torque. Zero-to-60 miles per hour acceleration is achieved in 3.6 seconds. Standard also is a 1-speed direct drive transmission and all-wheel drive. The combined EPA mileage is estimated at 77 MPGe. The full-charge range is 288 miles.
The 2023 BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe is big and beautiful. It’s a sports car for a family, with a sizeable back seat and expansive cargo space for its class. An eight-speed automatic transmission (including a rear-drive mode) smoothly propels the vehicle to city and highway speeds.
Speed Rules
But like other high-performance luxury sedans with sports car tendencies, the M8 is made for speed. It has a wondrous starting growl but quiets down at cruising speeds. It takes a concerted effort early in the driver-vehicle relationship to keep the car within legal freeway speed limits. The M8 Competition wants to compete.
The M8 Competition has a starting MSRP of $130,000. Its rivals are all impressive: Audi RS7 ($126,000), BMW M5 ($111,895), Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing ($93,390), Mercedes-AMG E63 S 4Matic ($113,850) and Mercedes-AMG SL55/SL63 ($140,000).
With a high-class collection of vehicles in the segment, BMW added several new features for 2023 to keep their competition hones. There’s a larger touchscreen, updated accents and further options: carbon-ceramic brakes to retractable rear shades and multiple heated seats and adaptive LED headlights.
Race Car, City Streets
Since the M8 Competition is all about performance, lightweight M Carbon competition seats are available. It’s a race car approach with the raised side grip handles enveloping front-seat occupants. The idea is understandable for the driver, why not have a non-grip option for the front-seat passenger? The raised sides are prohibitive for entering and exiting during routine daily use.
2023 BMW M8 Competition Verdict
With its option packages, gas guzzler tax (city-highway fuel average is 17 miles per gallon) and various minor extras, the M8 Competition is priced at $161,895.
Its performance and head-turning green paint attract the attention of car owners with those preferences desire. But if it’s not quite and extrovert’s fix, other possibilities may satisfy. Exterior color choices also include Isle of Man Green and Tanzanite Blue II.
Facts & Figures: 2023 BMW M8 Competition Gran Coupe
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Base Price | $130,000 |
| As-Tested Price | $161,895 |
| Engine | 4.4-liter turbocharged V8 |
| Horsepower | 617 hp |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain | All-wheel drive |
| 0-60 mph | 3.0 seconds |
| Fuel Economy | 15 city / 22 highway / 17 combined mpg |
| Fuel Type | Premium |
| Exterior Paint | Urban Green ($4,700) |
James Raia
A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida. An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.