BMW M8

The BMW M8 was never actually featured on the BMW line. Instead, it is a rarely featured prototype which the company worked on in order to compete with Ferrari. There was only a single M8 prototype car produced, which had a special version of the S70 engine. This modified engine was very similar to a hollowed M70, though it had multi-valve cylinder heads which gave it its 550bhp. At the time, many car buffs and enthusiasts who were exposed to the prototype believed it to have a McLaren F1 engine, however this is not true, as the idea was rejected by the McLaren’s designer, Gordon Murray. Murray believed that the engine was too long and weighed too much to give the M8 the speed BMW sought. Realizing this, they designed an entirely new engine which eventually resembled the S50B30 BMW M3 engine.

Eventually, the M8 protect was scrapped because BMW believed there would be no market for the car. Ferrari’s foothold on luxury sports cars was all encompassing, with Lamborghini shortly behind. With BMW still competing with Mercedes for the supreme title of best luxury sedan, the M8 was scrapped, as BMW decided they didn’t want to play on two different playing fields.

The only prototype of the car that was ever produced was reported to be not even road safe, and it was eventually locked away in the company’s Giftschrank, or poison storage. However, many people believe the car was destroyed, as it wasn’t safe to drive, and since the car would not go into production, there was no need in making it safe to drive.

Though BMW never produced the M8, it should be noted that the BMS 850CSi was tuned by the same division which worked on the M8 and the car’s VIN number helps to identity this. Instead of being given the BMW AG prefix, the car was given BMW Motorsport. This classification essentially means the 850CSi is a detuned M8, even if the engine similarities are quite different.

The M8 was never driven beyond a few shows in order to gauge reception to the idea, and because reception was lukewarm at best, BMW decided it was best to scrap the entire project. Resources that were to be put toward building the scrapped M8 were eventually put forward in BMW’s other lines, which is likely why the 850CSi received so much work from the M8 team.

The BMW M8 is the only known car from BMW to be produced as a fully working prototype and not be sent into production. With this status, it leaves many car buffs wondering about the capabilities of the failed car, as the company has never officially stated that the prototype was destroyed. If it is still in storage, the car could be worth millions, as BMW enthusiasts around the world would love to have it in their collection of cars. If the car has been destroyed, BMW’s attempt at entering the luxury sports car market to rival Ferrari met a quiet end.