C53A_4G63T
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2005
- Messages
- 843
- Location
- Farmington, Connecticut
- Car(s)
- 99' Infiniti Q45t, 89 Mitsubishi Mirage Turbo
In 1990, BMW launched a project that targeted the exotic sportscar and supercar markets.
BMW handed the M division an unlimited budget and one brand new 1991 850i. The result was the M8 prototype.
The S70/1 V12
The M8 was supposed to close the gap between BMW and the supercar group. The Ferrari Testarossa was noted as a particular rival. BMW M was told to go crazy with it.
To reduce weight, the whole body of the car was made of a carbon-kevlar composite. It was similar to the corvette concept, but lighter and even stronger. It was also given a slightly wider body than the standard 8-Series.
The S70/1 V12 that was developed by M for the M8 had 6.0 litres of displacement, and pushed numbers above 550HP. The exact performance numbers were kept secret, and remain such to this day. The only information leaked was that test results indicated that the car was superior to the current Ferrari Testarossa in all aspects.
Unforutunatly, a decline in sportscar sales during the early '90s led BMW to cancel the project. It never made it past the prototype stage(notice this car did not even have headlights.) Only one was ever made and it now sits in some secluded BMW warehouse in Germany. Access to the car is restricted. According to BMW, the car is behind lots of boxes, and awaiting destruction in the near future, as the 8-Series is no longer in production.
When the M8 project was canceled, they slightly modified the S70/1 engine and transplanted it into the McLaren F1.
Although there were no "M8" badged 8ers, BMW did send the 8er for a massage by M. The result was the 850CSi. Although they have no M badge, they are true M cars, with a 5.6l S70 engine and WBS vin number. They are so rare, that even a used high milage car will sell for over 55K.
I really with they had made this. One of the best looking BMW's ever made.