BMW X8 M could pack huge hybrid power

Thursday, 30 April 2020

Want to know the difference between an ordinary BMW and an iPerformance one? Watch this to find out.

BMW will almost certainly build an X8 'coupe' version of the massive X7. The bigger the better, right? That's what the rumour mill reckons in any case and with an X8 will likely come an M variant. The same rumour mill has linked BMW's biggest SUV coupe with an equally chunky powerplant, one that could produce as much as 560kW.

For reference, the current M8 is M's most potent offering and it's 4.4-litre twin turbocharged V8 makes 'only' 441kW. So where do those extra watts come from?

Apparently, the M engineers are working on combining the same boosted B8 with a powerful hybrid system. There's no word on the torque figure but we wouldn't be surprised if it breaks 1000Nm.

This is the X7. There's been no word of an X8 but apparently the M division is working on an X8 M.

Alongside the insane powertrain will be a similar all-wheel drive system to the M5, in that it will be able to route all power to the rear wheels if the (rather brave) driver chooses.

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The M850i uses a slightly detuned version of the twin-turbo 4.4.-litre V8 and still hits 100kmh in less than 4 seconds.

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The news comes from Car Magazine and requires more than the usual pinch of salt. The publication makes no mention of its source, so could simply be spitballing.

BMW certainly isn't talking but what makes the rumour a little more credible is the fact there isn't an M version of the X7 planned. That could free up resources to go all out on the X8 M and make it a properly loony machine.

Of course, for that to happen, a standard X8 needs to happen too. And given there has been no official word on that, an M version will be quite a way away.

Creating the monster of a hybrid powertrain will help future M development too, in that it will likely trickle down to other applications, in the same way the 4.4-litre V8 has been applied to the M8, M5, X5/X6 M Competition and other non-M models.

We're still waiting on the M8 to land here but the M850i present and accounted for. It doesn't get the full-fat version of the V8 but can still hit 100kmh in a supercar embarrassing 3.7 seconds and continue well into instant loss of licence territory in a few seconds thereafter.

It does cost the better part of $260k though, so you'd almost hope so.