We recently were given a ton of new spy photos, featuring several different BMWs that are set to hit the market within the next few years. One of these BMWs was the upcoming 8 Series, which seemed to excite fans. Now, it seems BMW’s new 8 Series has been caught again, this time at the Nurburgring.
In the spy photos (which we don’t own but can be seen at Autoblog), you can clearly see that this is some sort of performance-oriented 8 Series. While we don’t think it’s a BMW M8, it definitely looks like some sort of M Performance model. Maybe a BMW M850i? We can’t be certain but the lack of quad exhaust pipes makes us think it’s something other than a proper M8. Admittedly, this could just be an M8 with different exhausts for testing, but we’ve seen M cars testing in camouflage before and they all have the quad pipes.
What we can tell is that, whatever sort this is, the BMW 8 Series certainly seems more geared toward luxurious grand touring than performance driving. Just from these photos, there seems to be significant body roll and brake dive. But, that would make sense, being that this is an 8 Series, not an M4.
We can also tell that this car looks damn good and we’ve barely seen any details of it yet. Its profile looks long and low, with classic sports car proportions. I said this before and I’ll say it again, it actually has a silhouette that reminds me of an Aston Martin DB9 and that’s one of the prettiest GT cars of the past few decades. If the 8 Series looks even half as good as a DB9, we’re in for a real treat.
[Source: Autoblog]
I’d agree it’s not an M8. I heard MUH5501 getting off throttle to make a right hand turn on the same day I heard the M5 doing the same thing. The M5 was rawer sounding, it burbled and popped, the 8-er did not… so I’d agree, maybe an M850… though I was really hoping it would get the V12….
That’s exciting to hear that the M5 sounds raw and burbly. Thanks for the pics and the input. Really good stuff.
860 will probably get the v12
Motor1 showed the M8 test car yesterday. This is a standard car… if you can call this standard.
The car in the second pic is what Motor1 and other media outlets called an “M8” but to me it looks like an 8 with the M Sport package or at best the M Performance model.
MUH5501 is the same car Motor1 saw at the ring. BMWBlog showed some photos of this car yesterday in this article https://www.bmwblog.com/2017/03/28/bmw-8-series-caught-testing/
That front end looks like the business end of an M car… could be M aero?
… this pic!
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/32286dc8fff0b8b0e8a499a7c0455ed7c47f508c58b96e93da5044c790083de4.jpg
looks great but i think if it was M8 it would have wider hips etc
Good point. I hope you’re right!
I don’t know how relevant they are but in the codes that we saw couple weeks ago there was the mention of a G1x 850i, so the petrol M Performance model can’t be an M850i. Doesn’t look like Matt heard a V12 so maybe it’s just the M Sport pack…
i think 860 will be the v12
Creo que esto va a ser un 4 agrandado…
I think this car will be a bigger 4 Series…
This new 8er better have absolutely gorgeous, compelling and jaw-dropping visual appeal if they want to convince buyers to shell out $100K+ on a two door street boat. If the M760iL/B7 handily outperforms the top end 8er, then it will be a lesson not learned from the E31.