The reborn 8 Series is less than a week old but already BMW has confirmed a range-topping M8 will be joining the range.
While the Concept 8 Series was showcased on the shores of Lake Como in Italy, 436 miles north at the Nürburgring 24 Hour race in Germany, BMW has rolled out a disguised M8 prototype.
No official powertrain details have been announced, but BMW insiders confirmed the Mercedes-AMG S 63 rival will feature the same 600bhp-plus 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine and four-wheel-drive set-up that features in the new M5 saloon.
“The conception and development of the standard BMW 8 Series and the M model run in parallel,” says Frank van Meel, President BMW M Division. “The future BMW M8 will build on the genes of the 8 Series and augment its DNA with added track ability and generous extra portions of dynamic sharpness, precision and agility. It all flows into a driving experience that bears the familiar BMW M hallmarks and satisfies our customers’ most exacting requirements.”
BMW also confirmed that the M8, which goes on sale next year, will feature beefed up brakes and a sports exhaust. The M8 will also form a basis of BMW Le Mans racer – the M8 GTE. No images have been released but bosses are expecting the GTE to makes its racing debut at the Daytona 24 Hours in January next year.
[Source:- Autoexpress]
