The New BMW 8 Series Is Getting Seriously Close To Production Ready

And it could debut as soon as this March.

BMW was never shy about showing off its upcoming reborn 8 Series. Even in concept form last July it looked fairly close to production ready. Today, BMW has released even more images of a pre-production prototype strutting its stuff on the track. Taking this into account, we expect the official reveal to happen this March at Geneva. The 8 Series coupe prototype you’re looking at here is undergoing final preparations, as indicated by BMW.

“The test drives under the most severe conditions show that we are right on target with our concept for the new BMW 8 Series Coupe. The vehicle dynamics values already achieved are absolutely impressive. Our customers and fans can look forward to a genuine sports car,” says Klaus Frohlich, member of the board of the BMW AG, Development and Research. The new 8 Series will essentially replace the 6 Series as BMW’s big GT style coupe, and a convertible variant will happen as well. The M8 is also a guaranteed thing and BMW says the initial racetrack debut for the M8 GTE will happen this week at the Daytona 24-hour race followed by Le Mans in June.

Other 8 Series trims will likely closely resemble what’s currently available on the 7 Series, considering both cars share a platform. In Europe, a 3.0-liter V6 diesel is possible. A plug-in hybrid variant is expected to be available worldwide, as is the 850i with a 4.4-liter V8 and a range-topping (aside from the M8) 860i with a V12. As for the M8, more than likely it’ll come powered by the M5’s V8 with around 600 hp. The all-wheel drive xDrive system is also expected. Assuming the 8 Series range will debut at Geneva, sales will likely begin next fall.

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