BMW Has Already Confirmed The M8, And A GTE Racing Version

Just days after revealing the new 8-series concept, BMW has unveiled a prototype version of the M8 at the Nurburgring 24 Hours

Matt Robinson

27 May 2017

BMW Has Already Confirmed The M8, And A GTE Racing Version

With BMW having trademarked the ‘M8’ name, we were already pretty sure a super-hot version of Munich’s incoming 8-series would happen. What we weren’t expecting was for it to be confirmed and revealed (albeit in prototype form) quite so soon - the 8-series concept was only released a few days ago, after all.

We took a closer look at the prototype at the Nurburgring 24 Hours

BMW has also announced that it’s cooking up a GTE racing version as part of a glorious Le Mans comeback. The intention is for the car to make its debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona in January 2018.

BMW hasn’t divulged any further about the road car, so from here it’s all speculation. The prototype appears to be powered by a V8 - most M Division’s existing 4.4-litre, twin-turbo unit. But we can’t help but think that a V12 version might be nice: a fettled version of the 6.6-litre twin-turbo lump found in the M760Li would do the trick, and provide a link to the original M8, which never made it past the prototype phase. Thankfully, it seems like this particular M8 will actually make it to showrooms.

Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.

Comments

I have a brilliant idea.They could call the M8..I don’t know..850CSi and give it a V12..Maybe? :)

oh for for god’s skae… now we can’t say M8 anymore without referring to a car…..

The engine is definitely a V8, but a new sound - very AMG-Like. Potentially a switch to BMW’s 500cc per cylinder strategy, with a new 4.0L TT V8. There’s speculation about whether it’ll be a hybrid, which is quite possible, given Frank van Meel’s (BMW M Head) comments about the inevitable hybridisation of M. BMW won’t make a V12 M car at this stage, the RR 6.6L is too cumbersome and would be dynamically castrating if put up the front. It is very likely that there’s going to be an 860i/M860i regardless. Another note: I don’t know why Shmee is saying it’s based of the 5er, when it’s assumed to be based off the 7er? Can anyone confirm?