[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW X8 M Rumored to be PHEV and First Electrified M Car

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Take this one with a grain of salt as no source is cited by Car, but they are claiming that the X8 M (recently trademarked) will be a plug-in hybrid (PHEV).

The report claims that the X8 M PHEV would feature approximately 750 HP and 737 LB-FT by pairing electric motors to a 4.4L twin turbo V8.

An X8 M PHEV wouldn't come as a total surprise however, as BMW M CEO Markus Flash said last year that:

"I can assure you we’re working on electrification... I've driven petrol-electric vehicles from the M team. I've driven plug-in hybrids from the M team."

But, for now, electrification of M models will be limited to the larger, heavier cars like SUVs. In the same interview from last year, Flash said:

"The models that will see electrification won’t be the pure, the core, the most distilled projects such as the M2, 3 and 4. If we do something that will bring weight it’s very likely to be to a heavier, larger car. The X5 M today is a heavy and large car."

[sward]

No surprise. They need to go electric and PHEV is the way to do it in an M

[AlexFL]

Jesus, I don’t even want to know the price. Probably starts at 160k.

[SabineBimmer]

Why are they supposedly/allegedly using the new X8 platform to market an electrified M? I would think they would use a more established platform.

[AlexFL]

Originally Posted by SabineBimmer

Why are they supposedly/allegedly using the new X8 platform to market an electrified M? I would think they would use a more established platform.

Well, they need to offer more hp for their flagship model and it makes sense to just take the established V8 and make it PHEV.

[wdeerfield]

Originally Posted by SabineBimmer

Why are they supposedly/allegedly using the new X8 platform to market an electrified M? I would think they would use a more established platform.

You make it the flagship vehicle and then see how it gets accepted and then the technology trickles down to the more volume m cars. If they did this with the m3 the internet would be flooding with fanboys up in arms. At least this way they limit that and those fanboys are not even prospects

[SabineBimmer]

Originally Posted by wdeerfield

You make it the flagship vehicle and then see how it gets accepted and then the technology trickles down to the more volume m cars. If they did this with the m3 the internet would be flooding with fanboys up in arms. At least this way they limit that and those fanboys are not even prospects

Hmm... Ok. I'll buy that. Thanks.

[GOLFFRR]

prob will be pricey

[P1]

Originally Posted by AlexFL

Jesus, I don’t even want to know the price. Probably starts at 160k.

Wouldn't be surprised if this is a $200K vehicle.

[cfm56d7b]

Far too speculative to offer meaningful comments. The cannot-fail near term goal for BMW is the success of i4.

[ghaffari46]

Hey Bmw: How about giving us a handsome, manual coupe instead of a 750 hp tank?

(I said handsome!)

[AlexFL]

Originally Posted by ghaffari46

Hey Bmw: How about giving us a handsome, manual coupe instead of a 750 hp tank?

(I said handsome!)

They did. It’s called the M2 CS.

[vladberca]

More hp and 2,5 t 🤔
How exciting can not be!

[ghaffari46]

Originally Posted by AlexFL

They did. It’s called the M2 CS.

Well, it's a great car, but far from being a new 911. How about a new M sports car?

[535i MSport]

Originally Posted by AlexFL

Well, they need to offer more hp for their flagship model and it makes sense to just take the established V8 and make it PHEV.

Not sure I would use the word "need". No one really needs 750hp. I don't need 510hp in my car (although it's nice).

[535i MSport]

Originally Posted by ghaffari46

Well, it's a great car, but far from being a new 911. How about a new M sports car?

Do it, do it, do it!

[AlexFL]

Originally Posted by 535i MSport

Not sure I would use the word "need". No one really needs 750hp. I don't need 510hp in my car (although it's nice).

It’s all about power-to-weight ratio. 750 hp in this tank may feel like 500 hp in a smaller car.

[Deda]

And this is how S63 engine becomes legend and F90 keeper forever.

[stefan]

This is amazing. If they can manage to get enough electric range from the plugin hybrid powertrain of, say, 40-50 miles, X8M owners will be able to get their groceries without even using the V8.

[frankchn]

Originally Posted by P1et

Wouldn't be surprised if this is a $200K vehicle.

Not that expensive. I see it fully loaded at $175k at most. I doubt they will price the car at or above the Cayenne Coupe.

Originally Posted by SabineBimmer

Why are they supposedly/allegedly using the new X8 platform to market an electrified M? I would think they would use a more established platform.

They want a competitor against the Cayenne Turbo S e-Hybrid (which has 670 hp and 663 lb-ft, and is the 2nd most powerful SUV on sale today, after the Trackhawk).

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by 535i MSport

Not sure I would use the word "need". No one really needs 750hp. I don't need 510hp in my car (although it's nice).

In this context, "need" refers to the necessity of matching what the competition is doing in order to remain relevant. Here's what's coming:

https://www.motorauthority.com/news/...-its-73-series

When it comes to premium vehicles, especially at the high end of the market, customers' actual needs are far less important than customers' expectations, and those expectations are built in no small part on the features other manufacturers have managed to offer in their products.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by sward

No surprise. They need to go electric and PHEV is the way to do it in an M

Yeah, full electric I am very against for a sporty car but a PHEV is like the best of both worlds. You get sound and you get electric power delivery.