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

Fernando Alonso Indianapolis 500 first tests - Info + Video and Pics

Fernando Alonso will drive today, for the first time, the new McLaren Indy challenger for the 2017 race. The covers are off and the car, in orange, looks fantastic. The number 29 will be the lucky number to Alonso's premiere in Indianapolis 500!

To review the livestream video of the tests just click play bellow:

If you missed it. Bellow are the first laps of Fernando Alonso around Indianapolis Oval Motor Speedway on the 2017 Indy 500 car:

Before Alonso gets in the car, Marco Andretti will shake the car down. Andretti told us at Phoenix how he got selected for the opportunity.

“It’ll be fun,” he said. “They know I can get up to speed; I’m always sort of the one picked to do that kind of thing. Basically, I’ll make sure he has a real comfortable balance for his first run.”

Alonso is trying to win the second leg of auto racing's Triple Crown, which includes the Indianapolis 500, Monaco Grand Prix and 24 Hours of Le Mans. Alonso won at Monaco in 2006 and 2007.

Fernando Alonso completed the Rookie Orientation Program with success running the 3 phasis stints with the programmed lap speeds and with no problems.

In the end Fernando Alonso completed 110 laps and a fastest unofficial lap of 222.548mph (358.166kph).

 

McLaren P1 GTR

  McLaren P1 GTR - The king of the tracks

  Without road-car regulations to hold it back, the McLaren P1™ GTR pushes everything to the limit.  Available only to McLaren P1™ owners, production of the track-focused GTR began upon completion of the 375th and final road car.

The mid-mounted powerplant has an output of 1,000PS (986bhp) and includes an ERS-style push-to-pass system.  The large fixed rear wing features a Formula 1™-derived Drag Reduction System and the wing mirrors have been repositioned to the A pillars to put them closer to the eye line of the driver and reduce aerodynamic drag.  The car sits at a fixed ride height on race-prepared suspension over 19-inch motorsport alloy wheels. Below the rear wing is the exposed, centrally mounted inconel and titanium alloy exhaust.  This all new straight cut twin pipe design has been developed exclusively for the GTR.

McLaren P1™ GTR ownership can include participation in driving events at some of the world’s most iconic circuits with specialist vehicle support.  Also available is access to McLaren racing simulators with driver training from experts that have helped develop and train Formula 1™ champions.  In addition, exclusive consultations with the McLaren driver fitness team and Design Director Frank Stephenson are included in the programme.
Together with one of the most exciting track-focused cars ever developed, the programme offers unprecedented access to the technologies, resources and people throughout the McLaren Technology Centre.  Every experience is unique and tailored specifically for each participant.

 New Interior Images Released

If you want to read more about the McLaren P1, we have a complete review of the top McLaren in our blog, just click here.

Source: http://cars.mclaren.com/ultimate-series/p1-gtr

McLaren 720S Makes Official US Debut at Amelia Island Concours

McLaren 720S first time on American roads

Just days after being officially unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, the McLaren 720S swiftly made its way to the Amelia Island Concours in Florida for its official stateside debut. Arguably one of the most significant supercars in recent history, the McLaren 720S is a wondrous mix of design, performance, and luxury.

Seeing the McLaren 720S in person for the first time drove home all the dreams I’ve had of it the past few weeks, from the time the first teaser hit Instagram to official unveil in Geneva. The aero work on the door is better in person, while the F1 design of the doors make the cabin experience more profound than we initially envisioned. Sitting in either seat gives a spaceship feel while the amount of exposed carbon on the interior and exterior is just tremendous.

This is the future of supercars, except it’s here. Now. Check out the new shots of the McLaren 720.

A video of the presentation is available bellow:

Source: http://porhomme.com/2017/03/geneva-debut-mclaren-720s-makes-way-amelia-island-concours/

Bottas fastest lap at F1 Tests in Barcelona 2017

Impressive how the Mercedes-AMG 2017 F1 curves and breaks, 300km/h to nothing in really nothing!

Fastest lap per team

Team	Driver	Date	Tyre	Time
Mercedes	Valtteri Bottas	Day Six	Supersofts	1:19.310
Williams	Felipe Massa	Day Six	Ultrasofts	1:19.420
Red Bull	Daniel Ricciardo	Day Five	Ultrasofts	1:19.900
Ferrari	Sebastian Vettel	Day Five	Softs	1:19.906
Renault	Nico Hulkenberg	Day Six	Supersofts	1:21.213
Force India	Sergio Perez	Day Six	Supersofts	1:21.297
Haas	Kevin Magnussen	Day Five	Softs	1:21.676
Toro Rosso	Daniil Kvyat	Day Five	Softs	1:21.743
Sauber	Marcus Ericsson	Day Three	Supersofts	1:21.824
McLaren	Stoffel Vandoorne	Day Five	Softs	1:22.537

Fastest lap per driver

Driver	Team	Test Day	Tyre	Time
Valtteri Bottas	Mercedes	Day Six	Supersofts	1:19.310
Felipe Massa	Williams	Day Six	Ultrasofts	1:19.420
Daniel Ricciardo	Red Bull	Day Five	Ultrasofts	1:19.900
Sebastian Vettel	Ferrari	Day Five	Softs	1:19.906
Kimi Raikkonen	Ferrari	Day Four	Softs	1:20.406
Max Verstappen	Red Bull	Day Six	Softs	1:20.432
Lance Stroll	Williams	Day Six	Supersofts	1:20.579
Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	Day Six	Softs	1:20.702
Nico Hulkenberg	Renault	Day Six	Supersofts	1:21.213
Sergio Perez	Force India	Day Six	Supersofts	1:21.297
Esteban Ocon	Force India	Day Five	Supersofts	1:21:347
Jolyon Palmer	Renault	Day Three	Softs	1:21.396
Kevin Magnussen	Haas	Day Five	Softs	1:21.676
Daniil Kvyat	Toro Rosso	Day Five	Softs	1:21.743
Marcus Ericsson	Sauber	Day Three	Supersofts	1:21.824
Carlo Sainz	Toro Rosso	Day Six	Softs	1:21.872
Romain Grosjean	Haas	Day Six	Ultrasofts	1:21.887
Antonio Giovinazzi	Sauber	Day Four	Ultrasofts	1:22.401
Stoffel Vandoorne	McLaren	Day Five	Softs	1:22.537
Fernando Alonso	McLaren	Day Three	Ultrasofts	1:22.598
Pascal Wehrlein	Sauber	Day Six	Softs	1:23.000
Alfonso Celis	Force India	Day Three	Ultrasofts	1:23.568

McLaren 720S - The presentation at the Geneva Motorshow

 

 The 2017 McLaren 720S official presentation at Geneva Motorshow

McLaren have officially taken the covers off the McLaren 720S, the replacement model for the Super Series McLaren’s, at the Geneva Motor Show 2017. It is probably the biggest release at the Geneva show this year and does not disappoint! McLaren will be hoping that it builds upon the hugely successful 650S model it replaces.

The McLaren 720S is a completely new design language for McLaren. The body panels are mostly aluminium, wrapped around the carbon fibre structure. It looks delicate and futuristic yet manages to retain familiar elements of McLaren’s previous models. The side profile has a clear teardrop shape to it with slim windscreen pillars and a complete panoramic glasshouse feeling. It should feel light inside with plenty of visibility.

It is a two-seat supercar based on an all-carbonfibre tub, with aluminium space frames carrying the front and rear suspension, and it is powered by a twin turbocharged V8. However, within that envelope, it has been redesigned and updated in every detail. The exterior introduces a new ‘double skin’ door construction that eliminates the need for the prominent side air scoops previously thought essential in supercar design, while the engine grows to 4.0 litres, up from 3.8-litres, and now produces 710bhp.

The 720S’s peak output of 710bhp is produced at 7000rpm, while maximum torque of 568lb ft is delivered at 5500rpm. Max speed is 212 mph, around 341 km/h. Zero to 100 km/h in just 2,9 seconds...it's a rocket. The engine, longitudinally mounted behind the occupants, drives as before through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox mounted end-on to the engine, but McLaren says further refinement of its control software brings smoother gearchanges at low speeds and faster, sharper shifts at higher speeds. The launch control has also been improved, and as before, there are three driving modes — Comfort, Sport and Track — that govern both engine and dynamics.

One crucial aspect is the conspicuous absence of radiator intakes on the side. McLaren have designed a unique double skin to the dihedral doors which channels air into the radiators. Cooling is actually improved by 15% over the 650S. The front bumper features digital LED headlights integrated within aerodynamic ‘eye-sockets’ which channel air to the low-temperature radiators. The headlights incorporate Static Adaptive Headlight technology with five LED’s producing the base, static beam pattern and the remaining 12 operating in accordance with the direction the front of the car is moving.

The Interior

 

See it in motion..and listen the beautiful sound

Sources: http://cars.mclaren.com/super-series/720s and  http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/motor-shows-geneva-motor-show/212mph-mclaren-720s-officially-revealed and  http://gtspirit.com/2017/03/07/official-2018-mclaren-720s/