Latest M car gets flogged on the Green Hell
Our spy photographers have caught the upcoming BMW M8 Convertible once again, this time undergoing performance testing at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. That high-performance variant of the 8 Series will be available in multiple body styles, including as a coupe, convertible, and a just-announced four-door Gran Coupe.
Like other BMW vehicles wearing the M badge, this particular M8 prototype features larger lower front air intakes that should make it look more aggressive. Out back, there’s the requisite quad exhaust pipes found on all M vehicles. This prototype appears to be equipped with carbon ceramic brakes, as hinted by the gold calipers peeking behind the massive alloy wheels.
Even with the camouflage, it’s clear that the 8 Series Concept’s design has stayed mostly intact, featuring clean lines and thin headlight clusters that are slightly swept back. Unlike the smaller M4 Convertible, the M8 Convertible will have a power retractable soft top instead of a more complicated folding hardtop that takes a good chunk of cargo space.
The upcoming BMW M8 will likely come with the same 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 from the M5 where it’s rated at 600 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission will likely be the only gearbox available. The M5’s all-wheel drive system, which is capable of sending all of its power to the rear wheels, could come standard as well.
Photo source: CarPix