It’s been nearly two decades since BMW’s last 8-series rolled off the line, and it appears the luxurious grand-touring car is about to get a revival.
The second coming of the 8-series is purportedly hinged on BMW’s desire to push the into more dynamic sports car territory, opening up space above the 6-series for a flagship coupe.
BMW has never taken on the dominant toe-to-toe, instead offering up the less expensive and slightly less dynamic and sports cars as a Bavarian alternative to the rear-engined icon; a revitalized 6-series could bring the fight to Stuttgart while also taking aim at the and GT S models.
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News of the possible re-launch of the 8-series stems from recent trademark applications unearthed by Auto Express wherein BMW applied to protect multiple 8-series badges, as well as the M8 designation.
If launched, the new 8-series would compete with the and , finding itself in loftier company and no-doubt loaded with the very latest in automotive technology–including self-driving capabilities.
For those who prefer to steer their own wheel, news of the 6-Series re-birth as a more serious, focused sports car is the real story here. It’s likely that the coupe would shrink in size and go on a serious diet, shaving at least 100 kilograms off the curb weight, thereby enabling the uber-sporty M6 to battle the 911 Carrera S (or possibly even the 911 GT3) in the same welterweight class.
BMW enthusiasts have long dreamed of a fire-breathing supercar to follow in the footsteps tire tracks of the much-celebrated M1 supercar of the late 1970s. BMW secretly worked on a M8 supercar prototype in the early 1990s, but shelved the project before the powerful sports car ever saw the light of day.
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BMW’s inclusion of the M8 moniker in its trademark filing will therefore excite many generations of BMW fans; however, the M8 is far more likely to be a powerful GT than a proper supercar. We’re still waiting for a V8-powered M-version of the i8, but we’re not holding our breath.
