Just recently, we speculated what a bespoke M car might be like, an M car not based on any series production BMW. M Division CEO Markus Flasch recently said it was actually likely such a car will exist in the future but gave no hints as to what it could be. We’d heard some whispers that it could be a potential BMW X8 M, an SUV entirely unique to the M Division. While we didn’t have any concrete evidence, it not seems as if our sources are correct.
According to this new report from Automobile Magazine, a BMW X8 M is currently in the works and it’s going to be a sort of crossover between the BMW X6 and M5 Competition. I know, have fun wrapping your head around that one. According to this report, the upcoming X8 M is internally called “Project Rockstar” and it’s going to be a hybrid SUV from BMW M only.
It’s still said to be powered by the brand’s 4.4 liter twin-turbocharged V8, which will likely develop around 600 hp. However, paired to that V8 is said to be an electric motor and some batteries to help it make upwards of 750 hp. That’s an extraordinary amount of power and would qualify the BMW X8 M as the most powerful production Bimmer in history.
The excitement doesn’t stop there, though. Because the BMW X8 M will be an M Division product, its on-road behavior is far more important to it than anything else. So there’s a chance that it could get the same all-wheel drive system as the current BMW M5, which would give it a rear-wheel drive mode. While doubtful, due to its hybrid powertrain, imagine a 750 hp hybrid SUV with just rear-wheel drive? It’d be an absolute terror to drive. It’d be brilliant, sure, but terrifying as well.
[Source: Automobile]
Good! i8 never got the love it deserved because it was marketed as green≥performance. Build this beast & see if anyone cane even compare, let alone compete!
i8 still a looker tho i’ll give em that one.
BMW have a long history of building gorgeous sports cars that are underappreciated when new – original 328 (inspiration for classic XK120), 507 (auctions for million$ now), M1 (ProCar created because homologation production delayed), 850i (recession dinged V12s), Z8 (criticized as “boulevard cruiser”), i8 (0-60≤4 secs. is “slow”). All classics now. Or will be. Oh, & they did the Isetta, also. Classic of another kind.
Alright BMW more excitement. Hybrids and EV’s can still be fun!
top render look ugly af
Ugly as shit.
Yours.
There’s a place for it, if done properly. It’ll need to be all-terrain with off-roaring capabilities similar to G-Class and Landcruiser, and still be a performance super SUV/SAV.
That said, it’s a lot of news on SUVs from BMW lately, with bad rumours about future of performance cars. Lest BMW not be seen as a SUV maker which seldom dabbles in making other cars, more news is needed on supercar and fate/future of 8er.
Don’t think you have much to worry about. BMW have already doubled volume this century on crossovers, their further predicted 50% increase is based on new BEV, fwd., ICE/PHEV/Diesel & Hydrogen. They have BEV co-productions in China & Indian, they won’t do big volume there on crossovers. They have become a full range manufacturer & are in the process of electrifying that range, i.e., cars. ICE SAV are good for margins, thus X3 M, X4 M, X7, X8. As with i8, replacement will exist as halo & for drivetrain to be used in volume models.
Per i8, will its replacement be based on M Next concept or just a direct evolution of current i8
Since most recent report says Next will evolve into full EV (plus autonomous showcase), assume it’s new. Too soon to know?
A bit too soon. We might get a regular i8 also
Makes sense, as weight still seems to be an issue, thus Ferrari, Porsche, McLaren hybrids. How much does Lucy weigh?
Honda just announced they are cutting back on prod.’n of Civic & Accord, maybe the times they are a-changin’ more than we know.