BMW’s Re-Entry into the Supercar Market Edges Closer with the M8
It is quite surprising to know that ‘The Ultimate Driving Machine’ does not make a supercar. The priciest BMW that you can buy is a high-end 7 Series which is fast car, but not really a ‘supercar’ as such, more like a luxury limo.
BMW used to make a supercar called the M1, but bad timing ensured that it was a piece of history soon after it was launched.
Three decades after the M1 passed on into history books, BMW has decided to reemerge on the supercar market with an all-new model, tentatively named the M8.
BMW’s M division is in charge of developing the new supercar grounds up. When Mercedes wanted to build a supercar, they turned to the AMG division and the SLS was born. Let’s hope M can do something equally awesome.
The M8 is slated to be launched in 2016 when BMW celebrates its 100th birthday. Here is what we know about the this new supercar –
- BMW unveiled the M1 Hommage concept car at the 2008 Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. There is a very good chance that it was the first glimpse of the M8 supercar.
- The M8 shares its carbonfibre and aluminum chassis with the i8 plug-in hybrid. It will weigh about 1,280 kg.
- It will have a twin-turbocharged V8 making around 600bhp. The engine is loosely based on the S63 and S63Tu found in today’s M vehicles.
- A lightweight chassis and a powerful engine onboard means the BMW M8 can sprint from 0-100 km/hr in 3.0 seconds.
- BMW will not put limits on the top speed, making accelerate till about 320 km/hr
- It will borrow heavy influences from the i8. Serious efforts to reduce weight and aero drag will be made.
