Revelation of the new 2018 BMW M8 and BMW 8 Series GTE

The future BMW M8 - Hell Ride

27. May 2017

In 1990, a BMW was developed which left everything else in the dust. It was clearly well before its time and so it remained a prototype. But, in this case, out of sight...not out of mind. Of course, we’re talking about the BMW M8 – the legend. And now this fabled icon is going to be produced in a series soon. The fully camouflaged, early prototype of the future BMW M8 celebrated its first major appearance at the M Festival. At the M Corso, through the famous-infamous “Nordschleife” - two legends meet.

” The conception and development of the standard BMW 8 Series and the M model have run in parallel. The future BMW M8 will build on the genes of the 8 Series and augment its DNA with added track ability and generous extra portions of dynamic sharpness, precision and agility. ”
    Frank van Meel, CEO, BMW M GmbH

Luxury meets motorsport

Totally camouflaged, yet the centre of attention – the high-performance car fascinates thousands of M fans along the nearly 25-kilometre course. Classic M features like the enlarged air vents, the modified braking system or the sports exhaust system with four tailpipes not only highlight the significantly boosted performance and potential for driving dynamics, but are also guarantors for a highly-emotional driving experience.

“Developing a new racing car is always exciting, and in the case of the BMW M8 GTE the anticipation is that much greater still. We can’t reveal any pictures yet, but I can promise you that the BMW M8 GTE will look spectacular. We are planning an initial roll-out for the first half of this year and are looking at giving the car its race debut in the Daytona 24 Hours in late January 2018”, says Jens Marquardt, BMW Motorsport Director.

While it will be the first production M8, it's not the first M8 to be built by M, which crammed the McLaren F1's 6.0-liter, naturally aspirated V12 in a 1990 8 Series Coupe. While it remained a one-off prototype, it did carry M8 badges on its trunklid. BMW's M division will also be the basis of a new GT Le Mans racer, the M8 GTE, which should debut at next January's Daytona 24 Hour race.

The Engine

We’ve gotten no specs as of yet, so we don’t know what sort of engine or power figures the M8 will have. We feel as if it could go in one of two directions. It could either get the same S63 4.4 liter twin-turbo V8 as the F90 BMW M5 or maybe the same 6.6 liter twin-turbocharged V12 as the BMW M760i. They both make around the same 600 hp, so either way it would be properly quick. The original BMW 850CSi, and prototype M8, had a V12 engine and it seems that as BMW’s flagship it should have its biggest engine. On the other side though, the new S63 V8 is just as powerful and significantly lighter, allowing the M8 to handle better and have sharper steering. So it will be interesting to see which engine it gets. It will be awesome either way, though.

The new BMW 8 Series Concept - Unveiled at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on the shores of Lake Como in Italy

The luxurious new two-plus-two coupe is planned to return to the BMW line-up in 2018 after an almost two decade hiatus as part of what company bosses describe as the biggest model offensive in the company’s history. The Concept 8 Series is being displayed this weekend at the Concorso d’Eleganza on the shores of Lake Como in Italy, and is the first in a series of ultra-premium cars from BMW.

Speaking at the Concept 8 Series unveiling, BMW board member Ian Robertson said: "We want to bring more cars into the upper luxury segment. We have already announced we are in the development phase of the X7. We are working on other products as we feel there is a lot of opportunity there. The new 8 series is part of this. In the next couple of years we will see the most comprehensive change in the history of BMW."

The Interior

In the cabin, a large centre console stack pours downwards, featuring a large infotainment screen perched atop of it. BMW says that there's a "smooth connection" between the car's three control clusters - the centre console, the instrument panel and the doors. Slim sports seats feature, while the cabin is trimmed in 'Marino' leather in dark brown and white. To lend a sporty feeling to the cockpit, naked carbin fibre trim is applied liberally.

The first renderings 

The video bellow shows the first renderings provided by BMW. The car looks amazing.

Source: https://www.bmw-m.com/en/topics/magazine-article-pool/the-future-bmw-m8-hell-ride.html

New BMW HP4 RACE - 215HP to fly 171 Kg

Advanced technology and innovation in development especially performed to the maximum performance in circuits.

Fascinating technical solutions for maximum performance in circuits always distinguished the selected factory competition bikes with special care and made according to criteria of perfection down to the last detail. BMW Motorrad presents the new HP4 a thoroughbred racing in a limited edition of 750 units. High quality is guaranteed by the manufacturer and by a small team of highly skilled technicians.

 Considering the motor, the electronics and suspension, the new HP4 RACE has a level equivalent to the official motorcycle World Superbike Championship. Thanks to the new carbon frame even exceed them. Considering the weight with a full tank of 171 Kg, HP4 RACE is even lighter than the bikes used by the brand in the Superbike Champ and just exceeds the weight of the MotoGP motorcycles.

Monocoque main frame manufactured industrially, picture self-supporting carbon wheels and rear.

BMW Motorrad, considering  this new HP4 RACE, is the first manufacturer of motorcycles in the world to mount a completely carbon main frame with just 7.8 kg and produced in a limited series, putting this futuristic technology available to any buyer (...well, almost, because only 750 unit will be produced). Also front and rear wheels are from this same technology, with the same level of rigor and with 30% less than the wheels made of light alloy.

Öhlins dampers, lower alloy tipper and Brembo monoblock brake calipers from the Superbike World Championship. The new HP4 Race also shines by the maximum technology competition in suspensions and brakes. Both suspension inverted telescopic type FGR 300, as the kind of support the Öhlins TTX36 GP Swedish manufacturer. Both are identical to those used in the World Superbike Championship and MotoGP Championship. The lower light alloy swingarm consists of milled parts and metal parts, is also a copy of the used in the Superbike World Championship.

The braking system of HP4 RACE also has two Brembo monobloc calipers GP PR, used only in World Championships. In combination with the T-Type steel discs-Racing with 6.75 mm and 320 mm in diameter, the braking is extraordinary.

Performance

The new HP4 RACE mounts a competition engine in all similar specifications 6.2 and 7.2 endurance World Championship and Superbike World Championship. The nominal power is your 158 kW/215 hp at 13,900 rpm, with maximum torque of 120 Nm at 10,000 rpm.

In comparison with the BMW S 1000 RR engine, the maximum revs are 14,500 rpm instead of 14200 rpm. In order to optimize performance, the bike is equipped with a gearbox "close-ratio" of competition with optimized and comes with several secondary relationships (includes the supply of various pinions and racks).

Weight optimized electrical system, 2D instrument panel, DTC dynamic traction control, engine brake control EBR, wheelies and other electronic functions. The new BMW HP4 RACE is equipped with various electronic systems of regulation and support, and has an optimised weight electrical system, designed for use in races. the Council. The dashboard with data memory (2D Logger) allows access to multiple information.

The dynamic traction control system, works by cutting off the ignition, the engine braking system, Engine Brake EBR and power control offer numerous possibilities for adjustment, depending on the road conditions on the circuits.

These functions can be programmed for each speed according to the driver's preferences, which can be exploited optimally all the enormous potential that mounts the new HP4 RACE. Pit limiter to respect the maximum speed permitted in the Pits, as well as the perfect match function to ensure the best start of racing, are other electronic functions are available.

See it in action in the track

Sources: BMW Motorrad and https://www.motosport.com.pt/motomais/nova-bmw-hp4-race-serie-limitada-competicao-cliente/

BMW X2 - Concept Car

The BMW Concept X2 fuses the flat silhouette of a coupé with the robust build of an X series model. The result: an awesome, sporty and unconventional ride in Luminous Red. Sporty and urban, compact and high-tech – a perfect match for action-seekers wanting Sheer Driving Pleasure with a function.

This SUV was recently revealed in Paris. It's the BMW X2, a Concept Car that introduces significant differences in style and design compared to his brothers X3, X4, X5 and X6. Apparently the reception was a success and the market is waiting for an untwisted version of this beautiful concept. The X2 is coming to the market eventually during 2018.

"The BMW Concept X2 combines the fast-moving body language and low-slung proportions of a coupe with the robust construction of an X model. This is a sporty vehicle with a bold character, and it allows us to open up some fascinating new design possibilities for the BMW brand," said Karim Habib, head of BMW Design.

The BMW Concept X2 – it’s like the BMW X series all pumped up. With the rear end’s dynamic lights, robust design language, beefed up curves yet with subtle edges, it’s no wonder all eyes are on the BMW Concept X2.

The flat headlamp tubes have broken away from the traditional BMW dual round lights and are now hexagonal in shape, while also featuring the characteristic blue X in the middle. This treasure is naturally never overlooked thanks to the use of BMW Laserlight technology. 

Source: http://www.bmw.com/com/en/insights/bmw_concept_x2/bmw_concept_x2.html