Munich. Alongside the ongoing development of the
standard 8 Series, the engineers at BMW M are also working flat out on
the M model. A fully camouflaged, early prototype of the future BMW M8
will be unveiled in a driving presentation as part of the support
programme for the Nürburgring 24-hour race. Classical M features like
larger air intakes, modified brakes and a sports exhaust with four
tailpipes hint at the significantly boosted power and dynamic
potential of the car and whet the appetite for a driving experience of
intense emotional richness.
“The conception and development of the standard BMW 8 Series and the
M model run in parallel,” explains 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.”
Development is also underway of a race-spec car – the BMW M8 GTE – to
spearhead the return of BMW Motorsport to Le Mans: “The BMW M8 GTE
development programme for our Le Mans comeback is in full swing,” says
BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “Developing a new racing car
is always exciting, and in the case of the BMW M8 GTE the anticipation
is that much greater still. We can’t reveal any pictures yet, but I
can promise you that the BMW M8 GTE will look spectacular. We are
planning an initial roll-out for the first half of this year and are
looking at giving the car its race debut in the Daytona 24 Hours in
late January 2018.”