BMW M8 2020: official spy shots, specs, prices and release date

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BMW will unveil a track-focused M8 version of its new 8 Series grand tourer at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show, according to reports.

Auto Express claims that the German carmaker will introduce the model at the event, which runs from 12 to 22 September, exactly two years after the M8 GTE racing version made its debut at the show.

The company is “nearing the end of its development programme” for the grand tourer, the motoring magazine says, and recent spy shots of prototype M8s have been cloaked in only a thin layer of camouflage.

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With the clock ticking down to the car’s release this autumn, here’s everything you need to know about BMW’s new M8:

Release date

As the sporty grand tourer is set to make its public debut in September, the M8 will hit showrooms at the end of the year or in early 2020.

Price

The M8 certainly won’t be cheap, given that the standard 8 Series carries a price tag of around £76,000.

Autocar says the grand tourer will “carry a heavy premium” over the standard model, so expect a figure that at least matches the £131,000 price tag of its rival – the Mercedes-AMG S 63 Coupe.

Design

A recent trend is for carmakers to release their own “spy shots” of their prototype models to get one over on the motoring world’s paparazzi.

In November, BMW launched a series of images showcasing a pre-production version of the M8 wrapped in light camouflage.

Although the black and white scheme makes it difficult to spot the car’s finer details, it seems the M8 will look almost identical to the regular 8 Series. In fact, the images suggest that only the M8’s aggressive bumpers and quad-exhaust layout distinguish it from the base car.

However, leaked images posted on motoring chat site GermanCar4um in December reportedly shows the even faster Competition version of the M8 in production-ready form.

The pictures show that the M8 will be adorned with carbon-fibre panels, a blacked-out grille and special multi-spoke wheels derived from the four-door M8 Coupe concept car that appeared at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show.

It also appears as though buyers will be able to spec a special matt blue paint, giving the car a far sportier look than the regular 8 Series.

Engines and performance

According to Auto Express, the M8 will be powered by the same 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine that powers the M5 super saloon. Drivers get around 600bhp in standard M8 guise, which is upped to 625bhp in M8 Competition form.

Both versions get eight-speed automatic gearboxes and the company’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system, the motoring magazine adds. The system will send most of its power to the rear axle, although drivers will have the option to activate a mode that makes the car completely rear-wheel drive.

There’s no word on performance figures just yet, but Autocar expects a 0-60mph time “in the low three seconds”.