BMW M8

EPM

I'm sure Matt Simis will be along shortly but...

BMW M8 and 8 Series Cabrio





Very nice:D

MarkN

Sweet.

L-M

Sweet is right. The red is just epic.

unkel

550BHP out of the S70 engine nearly 20 years ago :eek:

I don't like the looks of the cabrio though...

Edit: wikipedia is quick with this update:

M8

Originally envisioned as a Ferrari competitor, only a single prototype BMW M8 was ever produced, equipped with a special 550 bhp (410 kW; 558 PS) version of the S70 engine, essentially a bored out version of the M70 with experimental multi-valve cylinder heads. A common misconception is that this engine powered the McLaren F1. However, when this was suggested to McLaren's designer Gordon Murray, the idea was rejected because the engine was too heavy and long for the McLaren F1. A completely new BMW engine was designed which has a closer resemblance to the later Euro S50B30 BMW M3 engine.

The project was eventually scrapped because BMW decided that there was no market for an M8. The only prototype ever produced (one that was reportedly not even road safe) was locked away by BMW in the company's Giftschrank (poison storage).[2] BMW and the M Division had strongly denied that the car was even a possibility since the initial stages of its development. A world exclusive feature in the February 2010 issue of BMW Car Magazine, however, revealed that the M8 prototype still exists in its entirety.[3] The car was unveiled for the first time in front of journalists on July 2nd, 2010 at the BMW Museum in Munich.[4]

While the M8 was never produced, it is interesting to note that the 850CSi was also tuned by BMW's M division. Aside from sporting an M-tuned engine (as identified by the S suffix instead of the M prefix that a non-M tuned engine would wear), the car's VIN identifies the car as being built by BMW Motorsport (identified by the WBS prefix) instead of BMW AG (WBA prefix). This effectively identifies the 850CSi as essentially a detuned version of the M8.[5]

E39MSport

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1486461

They may be gearing up for the new 6

Alanstrainor

What a car! The cabrio doesn't look great though...

Matt Simis

EPM wrote: »

I'm sure Matt Simis will be along shortly but...

Pish, there are other 8er owners here your know!

Got to laugh at this comment in the Article:

Interestingly, while we gazing under the bonnet Peter Ratz, the head engineer for the MCV project, whipped out his iphone and calculated that today BMW could extract the same power from a 2.8-litre straight six with twin turbochargers.

Funny comment from a man in charge of an electric, commuter vehicle (the BMW MegaCity Vehicle). I think he is missing the point and charm of a 48v 12 cylinder engine, which likely would have been more reliable and possibly economical than a massively boosted engine of half the capacity but same power.

If he wants to go down that path, he would do well to remember his competitors in Ingostadt made an even smaller 2.7L Twin turbo engine 10years (Audi S4 & RS4) ago that would do over 500bhp with relative ease. But thats not the point, he should stick to his EV drudgery mobile.

Mr Benevolent

The M8 must be phenomenal to drive. Interesting the way BMW has suddenly revealed its existence recently... seems like a prelude to something new. Oh, and the cabrio is horrible. Pity about the lack of good pics too.

EPM

Agreed on cabrio. Looks like an American market special to be honest. Hasn't aged as well as the coupe either

Voodoomelon

More here:

http://www.bmwblog.com/2010/07/02/exclusive-photos-bmw-m8/bmw-m8-75/

L-M

I'll pretend I didn't see the last pic... That's just ruined the car for me lol

Matt Simis

Limerick man wrote: »

I'll pretend I didn't see the last pic... That's just ruined the car for me lol

Well, test seats.
The proper, stock seats in 8 series (same as in some Rolls Royce) weigh nearly 80kg each and cost an absolute fortune. The seat belt and safety equipment is built into seat as the 8er has no B piller and is super cool.