Over the years, BMW’s design language has changed to a point where many fans are done liking it. The controversy around the massive kidney grilles has intensified since the launch of the earlier 7 Series and the latest M3 and M4 coupes. With the XM concept debut in 2021, we witnessed the illuminating kidney grilles for the first time, and it was sort of a hit-and-miss. Later, this unique aesthetic was implemented on the G70 7 Series, and it worked well. Now, it appears that BMW is applying its patent design to its LMDh race car, which looks surprisingly good at night. The current images of the LMDh prototype during nighttime tests prove it, and it might be the closest look to the M Hybrid race car before its September debut.

BMW could homologize the LMDh car

BMW is about to bring smiles to hundreds of thousands of motorsport enthusiasts with the launch of its first LMDh race car, the M Hybrid V8. BMW M is celebrating the whole of 2022 for its 50th anniversary, and the unveiling of the LMDh race car is a part of it. The M Hybrid V8 was recently photographed during late-night testing on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, and the photos illustrate how spectacular the race car's front fascia looks. However, the illuminated kidney grilles appear to be the center of attraction.

Over the years, BMW’s kidney grilles have changed their shapes, and with its recent launches, they look more trapezoidal. The M Hybrid V8 has a similar grille design but is larger horizontally than any other BMW car. Nevertheless, the illumination around the grilles and the headlight cluster give the front end of the M Hybrid V8 a unique look. As you know, 24 Hours of Daytona need headlights for its contestants for better visibility at night. The M Hybrid V8's large headlamp clusters do an excellent job in this area.

However, the taillights appear to be something we have never encountered in any BMW car. There are sleek LED strips that form a Y-shaped pattern, and in addition to the massive rear wing, the rear looks breathtaking. BMW has not built a true supercar after the M1, which was more like a mix-match of German and Italian engineering. However, BMW has confirmed that the hybridized V-8 engine will be seen powering the upcoming full-fat M cars. Nevertheless, we don’t know for sure if the Bavarian automaker is working on a road-going supercar.

The M Hybrid V8 packs a heck of a powerhouse

BMW’s 24 Hours Daytona contestant, the M Hybrid V8, is quite a powerful engine. It is a 4.0-liter 90-degree V-8 with two turbochargers whacked onto it. The result is a massive 640 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. The power from the electric motor is not separately known, but BMW says that the M Hybrid V8 will be able to drive with the gas engine completely cut off and at lower speeds. That said, BMW will compete with Porsche, Cadillac, and Audi, in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2023. In addition, BMW will launch its most anticipated compact sportscar, the M2 Coupé, and the super-SUV, the XM, by the end of 2022.