What's the news?
This is our clearest look yet at the impending high-performance version of the BMW 8 Series GT, which will be called - of course - the M8.
BMW has given these teaser images of a heavily camo'd 'F92' M8 Coupe pounding the Estoril circuit in Portugal, as it goes through final testing ahead of market launch sometime in 2019.
Already, BMW is giving us some snippets of information about the newcomer, beyond the tantalising PR-speak of the M8 being a 'performance-oriented vehicle concept with minimised weight, low centre of gravity, even weight distribution, optimum wheelbase and wide tracks'. For example, it mentions a 'high-revving' V8 M TwinPower Turbo engine that produces 'north of' 600hp, so thoughts inevitably turn to the uprated 4.4-litre unit that powers the M5 Competition, where it delivers 625hp.
The M8 is also slated to have WLTP economy and emissions of between 10.8 litres/100km and 10.7 litres/100km (26.2- to 26.4mpg), with CO2 emissions in the range of 243- to 246g/km. BMW further claims that 'M-specific suspension delivers exceptional directional stability, steering precision and cornering dynamics'.
Anything else?
While the 'F92' is shown here, BMW has already confirmed that an M8 Convertible is in the pipeline, while there will be an M8 Gran Coupe (with four doors) too. Expect these to employ F93 and F94 codenames, respectively.