Listen to the sound of the BMW M8: this is how a real sports coupé roars

The BMW M8 was unveiled this weekend in camouflaged form during the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. Its spectacular roar suggests it will be a V8.

Just a day after revealing the Series 8 Concept, the Bavarian brand surprised everyone by presenting a camouflaged version of the upcoming BMW M8 during the 24 Hours of Nürburgring held last weekend. We don’t yet know too many details about the most sporting version of the Series 8, but there is one thing we can confirm: its sound will be spectacular!

The M8 prototype was shown to the public during the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, and thanks to a video posted by an enthusiast who attended the event, we can get an idea of the sound this sports saloon will produce.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE6ktMWakBc

The footage was filmed around the German circuit, and in it we can see the future M8 in its element: at high revs. An engineer from the brand revved the vehicle in neutral, and as might be expected, the car left everyone present open-mouthed. The truth is that its incredible roar and fierce backfiring make it a true sports coupé; in fact, the current M6 seems rather timid by comparison. The exhaust system of this prototype – the M8 – will probably receive some fine-tuning before going on sale for good; hopefully the changes will be minimal and imperceptible to the human ear.

There is still no official confirmation of the engine the BMW M8 will use, although everything suggests the sports saloon will incorporate the 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 from the M5, an engine that produces 600 CV of power in that model. If that powertrain is used, the M8 would adopt the same all-wheel-drive system (with a rear-wheel-drive mode) as the M5. In any case, it has a tough rival in the Mercedes AMG S63 Coupé, a model that also features a V8 engine, although its power output is somewhat lower: 585 CV. It is worth recalling that in 1990, BMW already launched an M8 prototype with a 6-litre V12 engine producing 550 CV. Unfortunately, that model never reached the production lines, but now BMW is back in the fight…

“The future BMW M8 will retain the genetics of the 8 Series, but will enhance its DNA with superior track driving capability and increased dynamics and agility. It is a driving experience that carries the hallmarks of the BMW M family and meets the most demanding requirements of our customers.” said the head of BMW M, Frank Van Meel, when presenting the car at the Nürburgring circuit.