800 Horsepower BMW M8 Tries to Hit 200 MPH on the Autobahn

Just think of it this way: in the late '50s, a Porsche 356 could hit a theoretical top speed of just over 102 mph (164 kph). Fast forward to the '80s, the BMW M5 E28 could already hit 152 mph (245 kph). After the German manufacturer developed the V10-powered BMW M5, this car could already go past the 200 mph (321 kph) mark with relative ease. I'm still quite upset I haven't joined this exclusive top-speed club by now, despite having several friends who have done so.

But I am convinced that most normal cars will be capable of that kind of performance in 10 to 15 years from now. Or will they? Today's test might provide some insight into that. We've all seen this guy before; doing Autobahn runs is what he does for a living. And today, he's driving a special kind of BMW M8. I wouldn't say this is the perfect vehicle for setting a highway speed record, but I don't think it will be disappointing either.

Before looking at the run, let's do the math and see how much it would cost to own one of these cars. The starting MSRP for the M8 Competition Gran Coupe is $138,800 before tax ($995 destination and handling fee). Getting up to $170,000 is an easy thing to do if you would like to get most of the optional equipment. At this stage, you're rolling around with 617 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to G-Power, you can take it up to about 1,000 hp if you're willing to spend an extra $44K.

The car featured in this video doesn't have the most extreme package, so it's only good for about 800 hp. Where does that get you? Well, that gets you to a point where you'll struggle to hit 200 mph, if ever. Going as fast as 186 mph (300 kph) is one thing, but that last part of the road is slightly more challenging. If top-speed runs are the only thing you can think about, the M8 Gran Coupe is probably not the car for you.

A stock 911 Turbo S should be able to hit 205 mph (330 kph), and you can get a slightly used one for about the same budget as you would a brand-new M8 Gran Coupe. And don't get me started on older GT-Rs and RS6s that can go as fast. In the end, this isn't a competition, really, and you also need to have the correct set of skills to be able to drive that fast and safely.