BMW Reveals New Details On M8, Sets Market Release for 2019

TopSpeed

By Ciprian Florea

Published Nov 9, 2018

The V-8 will generate more than 600 horsepower!

For the first time ever, the 8 Series will spawn an M8 version. We know it's coming, we've seen it in concept form, and also as a race car. We still don't know too many details about the drivetrain, but BMW just released a bit of information and more photos of a camouflaged car.

What's Under the Shell?

BMW confirmed what we already assumed: the M8 will feature a "high-revving V-8 engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology." That's a beefed-up version of the 4.4-liter V-8 we can already find in the M850 xDrive version. How powerful will it be? The Germans claim the engine produces "north of 600 horsepower," so it will be a notable increase over the M850i's 523-horsepower rating.

The engine will mate to a fully variable M all-wheel-drive system that can send all oomph to the rear wheels for the proper BMW experience. Actually, the M8 will have a 2WD mode. BMW also says the M8 will have a lower center of gravity, even weight distribution, and wider tracks front and rear. The M-specific suspension will deliver "exceptional directional stability, steering precision, and cornering dynamics."

What About Fuel Economy?

That's only marginally more than the M850i, rated at 10.5 liters per 100 km. Combined fuel consumption on the British cycle is estimated at 26.2 to 26.4 mpg. U.S. estimates are not available at this point.

CO2 emissions are pegged at 246 to 243 grams per km combined. That's a bit more than the M850i's 240 grams per km rating, but it's notably more than what non-performance vehicles emit these days.

When's it Coming Out?

The market launch will take place in 2019, but BMW didn't specificy a date or period. The 2019 Detroit Auto Show in January could be a bit too early, so we might see it in Geneva in March. Worst case scenario, BMW will unveil the M8 at the Frankfurt Motor Show next autumn.

The German firm also confirmed that the M8 will also adorn a convertible and a Gran Coupe model. These will probably arrive in 2020.