The public debut of the new model is scheduled for the end of 2022, simultaneously with the facelifted X7. Earlier there were talks that the X8 would get a coupe-like rear in the style of the younger X6, but the first spy photos show that the angular shape of the rear is preserved, although visually it seems slightly lower than that of the X7.
This hints that the X8 will retain a three-row cabin layout — either for seven seats or six seats with an emphasis on comfort. There is no official confirmation of this data yet.
The technical content of the X8 is kept secret, but according to forecasts, the car will borrow the platform and most of the units from the X7. This refers to a line of six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines with a mild hybrid setup, a likely plug-in hybrid, as well as a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with 523 hp in the X8 M50i version.
However, unlike the X7, the M50i version of the X8 will not be the flagship — the engineers initially included a full-fledged M modification in the development. The X8 M will get a plug-in hybrid setup combining a 4.4-liter V8 with an electric motor and battery. According to insiders, the total output could reach 750 hp, which would make the model the most powerful BMW in history.
The X8 M hybrid, bearing the internal code Project Rockstar, will be equipped with a petrol unit of about 200 hp and all-wheel drive. At the same time, it is likely to use a system with a disconnectable front axle, as on the M5 and M8, which allows activating rear-wheel drive at will. The hybrid component will also help BMW reduce average emissions — it is expected that the CO2 level will not exceed 100 g/km. It is not yet known whether the company plans to release a simpler version of the X8 M on traditional fuel with lower power and weight.
Given that the X7 M50i is priced at more than $115,000, it is hard to expect the base X8 to drop below the $100,000 mark.
