BMW returns to Le Mans on 15 June with the racing M8 GTE – but it’s not just the track-ready 8 Series Coupe that will make its debut. BMW has announced the new road-spec 8 Series Coupe will debut, too.
“There isn’t a better setting for the world premiere of the new BMW 8 Series Coupe than the 24-hour race at Le Mans,” reckons BMW AG board member of development Klaus Fröhlich. LM24 is about passion, dynamics and long-distance capability, he enthused, and revealing the new 8 there will “define our new sports car in a special way”.
BMW will launch it in M850i xDrive Coupe guise; that means twin-turbo V8 engine and intelligent all-wheel drive, rear differential lock, adaptive M suspension with Active Roll Stabilisation, Integral Active Steering and 20-inch wheels. And you thought race cars were high-tech…
Two FIA World Endurance Championship will race at Le Mans; they’ve already appeared at the Spa Francorchamps 24 Hours, and the UK-American IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Apart from the somewhat blurry image above, BMW’s not giving away anything else about the new 8 Series just yet, apart from telling us it is a “sovereign cruiser that pampers its passengers” and has “captivating agility and the highest degree of precision” and such like.
It is however, confirmed for market launch later in 2018, and will form BMW’s new halo car both in terms of dynamics and driving culture. Surely that’s something to look forward to?