BMW has just released official images of the production 8 Series on test at a track in Aprilia, with minor changes being made to the driving dynamics of the model before its official unveiling in the coming months. It marks the return of the nameplate after an almost 20-year in retirement.
BMW engineers have previously been caught testing the 8 Series in convertible form with thin camouflage, with the most recent showing the soft-top’s shape in better detail than before.
The 8 Series will rival the 2-door Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Bentley Continental GT. Underneath; it will be technically related to the 7 Series sedan. Being so closely related to the 7 Series means the entry-level 3.0-litre 6-cylinder diesel found in the 730d will be used in an 830d. The 8 Series line-up will also likely include the more performance-oriented 4.4-litre V8 in the 750i xDrive, accompanied by all-wheel drive. A V12-engined model will come later in the 8 Series’ life cycle.
The M8 will likely to be powered by an uprated version of the latest M5’s 592bhp 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine and share the same M xDrive four-wheel-drive system. The new 8 Series Coupe is also being very closely developed with the BMW M8 GTE endurance racer. The BMW M8 GTE will be making its racing debut at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona and the lessons learned from that race will directly benefit the production BMW 8 Series.
