Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

BMW’s M8 coupe will head to the track to take on the world’s best

Stephen Edelstein
By

The road-going version hasn’t seen the light of day yet, but BMW is already preparing a racing version of its M8 coupe.

Christened the M8 GTE, this race car completed its first round of testing at the Lausitzring in Germany in July, and was unveiled to the public this week at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show. The “GTE” designation corresponds to the top class for production-based cars in the FIA World Endurance Championship. This series includes the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, the main reason for developing the M8 GTE.

Recommended Videos

BMW will return to Le Mans in 2018, ending a seven-year absence. It hopes to win the GTE class title with the M8 GTE, but it will have to beat the likes of the Ford GT, Chevrolet Corvette, Aston Martin Vantage, Porsche 911, and Ferrari 488 to make that happen. Since we don’t know much about the M8 road car, it’s hard to say how the M8 race car will stack up against that formidable competition.

Related

In addition to the globetrotting World Endurance Championship, BMW will bring the M8 GTE to the United States for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The M8 GTE will likely replace the M6 GT3 BMW currently races in that series, which makes sense, since BMW doesn’t sell the M6’s road-going counterpart in the U.S. anymore.

The M8 GTE is powered by a 4.0-liter V8 that will make at least 500 horsepower in race trim, backed by a six-speed sequential racing gearbox. The powertrain will likely change for the road-going version. The racing version is also much lighter than its road-going counterpart, thanks in part to extensive use of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic.

Some serious tech went into developing and building the M8 GTE. Engineers used an artificial intelligence program to tune the traction control, and 3D printed some parts, according to BMW. For assembly, the automaker employed a 3D measuring system to ensure accuracy. The system was especially helpful on the M8 GTE, since the car is built by hand rather than on an assembly line, BMW noted.

BMW isn’t ready to unveil the M8 road car yet, but between the M8 GTE race car and the 8 Series concept the automaker unveiled at the 2017 Villa d’Este Concours d’Elegance, we have a pretty good idea of what it will look like. The 8 Series nameplate was first used in 1989 on a sporty coupe that became an icon of its period, creating big tire tracks for the new 8 Series to fill. BMW will offer lower-level 8 Series models alongside the M8, which will be the flagship of the lineup.

BMW’s other notable racing plans take the company in the opposite direction of the brawny M8 GTE. When the M8 makes its assault on Le Mans in 2018, BMW will also step up its involvement in the Formula E electric racing series. BMW will participate as a manufacturer for the first time, supplying powertrains to Andretti Autosport. If nothing else, these high-profile racing programs will generate plenty of headlines for BMW next year.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Stephen Edelstein
Stephen Edelstein
Contributing Editor
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Rivian R2 vs Hyundai Ioniq 5: Should you wait for the Rivian R2?
Rivian R2

Rivian has taken the wraps off of the Rivian R2, an electric SUV that's similar to the much-loved R1S, but smaller and, crucially, cheaper. But the R2 goes up against some serious competition. The likes of Hyundai have been building solid EVs for some time now -- including the Hyundai Ioniq 5.

The R2 and the Ioniq 5 each make a compelling case for themselves, and they're likely to end up being similarly priced if the Ioniq 5 doesn't get much cheaper and the R2 does end up being sold at $45,000. To be fair, the cars are pretty different -- the R2 is more of an SUV, while the Ioniq 5 is much more crossover-sized. But because of their similar price, you might be deciding between the two. How do they compare? We put the Rivian R2 and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 head-to-head.
Design
The differences between the Rivian R2 and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 are perhaps no more apparent than when it comes to design.

Read more
The 6 best remote car starters in 2024
Best car remote starters

While some modern vehicles come standard with remote start features, it's still relatively uncommon. That's a shame because if you live somewhere where cold weather, snow, and ice are frequent concerns, a remote car starter is one of the best auto accessories you can have. If you're not familiar with them, a remote car starter works similarly to a key fob, except it will actually start your car from a distance instead of just unlocking the doors or trunk. That means you can start your car from the warm comfort of your home or office before venturing out. If you live somewhere hot, you can even start your car and let the AC run for a little bit. You'll never enter a freezing cold or scorching hot vehicle again.

The best remote car starters have long ranges, replaceable batteries, and other handy features — but how do you know which is best for you? We’ve compiled a list of the best car starters in a range of prices and features. Keep in mind that while you can install some yourself, some will require a professional.
The best remote car starters in 2024

Read more
The best portable jump starters for cars in 2024
The Clore Jump-N-Carry JNC660 portable jump starter connected to a truck battery.

Any time you hit the road, whether you're taking a short or long trip, it's a good idea to have backups handy. A spare or backup tire, some anti-freeze, windshield wash fluid, a road hazard kit, and, last but not least, one of the best portable tire inflators and a portable jump starter. You never know when cold weather, inadvertently leaving the dome light on, or plain old Father Time can curse you with a dead battery. Ensure you have one of the best portable jump starters that can save you in a jam, kickstarting your car even when there isn't anyone around to jump the battery. Naturally, that's why we’ve rounded up what we feel are the best portable jump starters for 2024.
The best portable jump starters in 2024

Buy the if you want the best portable jump starter overall.
Buy the if you want the best portable jump starter runner-up.
Buy the if you want the best portable jump starter and tire inflator combo.
Buy the if you want another name-brand option.
Buy the if you want the best portable jump starter for cheap.

Read more