BMW M8! The car that supposedly never was!

[Breaker]

Taken from BMWBlog on Twitter:

"So tonight, we saw for the first time the BMW M8,the rumoured car that was never shown to the public."

 

[powerontap]

I like the integrated headlamps, but not that sideview mirror :thumbsdown:

 

[mikedav]

That wasn't in the Museum last month when I was there, is it staying as a permanent fixture? My photo:

Wikipedia on the still born M8: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_8_Series

Only a single prototype BMW M8 was ever produced, equipped with a special 550 bhp (410 kW; 558 PS) version of the S70 engine, essentially a bored out version of the M70 with experimental multi-valve cylinder heads. The project was eventually scrapped because BMW decided that there was no market for an M8. The only prototype ever produced (one that was reportedly not even road safe) was locked away by BMW in the company's Giftschrank (poison storage) and was reportedly destroyed. BMW and the M Division had strongly denied that the car was even a possibility since the initial stages of its development. A world exclusive feature in the February 2010 issue of BMW Car Magazine, however, revealed that the M8 prototype still exists in its entirety, though at the time of writing a malfunctioning engine management module still required attention before the S70/1 V12 could be declared in proper running order.

While the M8 was never produced, it is interesting to note that the 850CSi was also tuned by BMW's M division. Aside from sporting an M-tuned engine (as identified by the S suffix instead of the M prefix that a non-M tuned engine would wear), the car's VIN identifies the car as being built by BMW Motorsport (identified by the WBS prefix) instead of BMW AG (WBA prefix). The 850CSi as essentially a detuned version of the M8.[4]

I also love this, they definitely should have built it but there were concerns it would overlap to much with the E30. Which is hilarious in our modern world of BMW cramming a car into every niche possible....the X5 and X3 overlap by about 50%. How things change.

http://www.bmwblog.com/2009/10/30/bmw-m5-e34-convertible-the-car-that-was-never-built/

 

[Smokin]

At least you guys got the 8 series. :x

 

[mikedav]

At least you guys got the 8 series. :x

....so did you? Withdrawn in 1997, we got them until 1999

 

[AlanJ]

Love the 8 series. Saw one at the UK motorshow in 19...... - dakar yellow with full spec, stunning. Have wanted one eversince and still look at the adverts in the mags etc BUT not really a practical proposition as a second vehicle. Perhaps one day :roll:

 

[mikedav]

Apparently the V12 in particular is hideously complex to work on, and some BMW dealers refuse to touch them Early ones for £5k....

Thing I love about cars like this is the technology they had that we now consider the norm.....fly by wire throttle and traction control on the 8 were ground breaking at the time

 

[Smokin]

At least you guys got the 8 series. :x

....so did you? Withdrawn in 1997, we got them until 1999

In 1999, I couldn't afford BMW and I don't think I've ever seen an 8 series outside a concourse and only in pictures. Don't have one in the Zentrum in Greenville. They do, however, have an M1. Lovely beast.