BMW Motorsport revealed their all-new range-topping race car at the ongoing 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show. Before the 8 Series Coupe marks its return next year, the M8 GTE race car will compete on the track next season at the FIA World Endurance Championship. BMW Motorsport will also make its return to the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans with the M8 GTE.
The all-new M8 GTE will make its racing debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2018. Powering the GT race car is the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. BMW says that ‘the nominal base output is more than 500 hp, depending on the classification’.
The cylinder block and cylinder head are taken from the production engine. It is reworked in the light alloy foundry at the BMW Group’s Landshut facility. The power is sent to rear wheels via a six-speed sequential racing transmission.
The GTE measures 4,980mm in length and has a width of 2,046mm. It tips the scale at just 1,220kg, owing to the significant weight reduction achieved through the extensive use of ultra-light CFRP components.
The bodyshell of the M8 GTE previews the forthcoming BMW 8 Series and the BMW M8. The similarity between the two can be seen in the roof line and the design of the front and rear lights.
The Bavarian carmaker will make use of space-age technologies like the artificial intelligence for virtual development, rapid prototyping for parts development and advanced algorithm for CFD calculation to stay up in the game with the new M8 GTE.
The BMW M8 GTE becomes the benchmark race car for BMW. It will help BMW return to FIA WEC after six years. It could also receive the famous BMW Art Car treatment.
