When BMW announced the end of the 6 Series, its departure also meant the end of the M6's participation in racing. The new 8 Series will replace it both on the road and the track, and its racecar variant is looking good.
The BMW M8 GTE gives us a look at the next generation of BMW's racecar. This car will hit the track before the 8 Series goes on sale at dealerships, which should help boost demand. It will participate in the next season of the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Sadly, I doubt the standard 8 Series or M8 will rock the racecar's massive fenders.
BMWYes, that includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans. BMW hasn't fielded a car at Le Mans since 2011, so that's pretty big news.
Under the hood of the M8 GTE is a 4.0-liter turbocharged V8 that's restricted to approximately 500 horsepower, depending on what class the car's racing in. The block and head are standard production units. A six-speed sequential racing transmission sends all that power to the rear wheels.
The M8 GTE looks gorgeous. It takes the lines of the 8 Series and exaggerates them with wild carbon fiber body panels and a honkin' wing out back. Thanks to all that carbon fiber, the M8 GTE weighs just 2,689 pounds, which is only about 300 pounds heavier than a new Mazda MX-5.
BMW claims that there's a good deal of production 8 Series design language in the M8 GTE. If you take a close look at the headlights, taillights and roof, you'll be seeing them again very soon.
