Nother CarGuy

BMW has finally pulled the wraps off the new 8-Series Coupe at Le Mans, following various leaks, countless scoops and reports on the new Bavarian flagship model. BMW is keen to point out that the new 8-Series Coupe’s primary objective is to offer thrilling driving dynamics. The chassis, powertrain and suspension were honed to offer “supreme agility, precision and poise expected of a topclass sports car”, which sounds pretty bold if you consider that the 8-Series is also considered a luxury coupe as well. Perhaps this is why BMW chose Le Mans to unveil the new 8-Series, in order to establish the sporty credentials of its new flagship coupe. The exterior design of the new 8-Series is sleek and dynamic, blending muscular surfaces in a cleaner package that looks and feels 100 percent BMW. Of course, the huge kidney grille helps bystanders into figuring out rather quickly its Bavarian roots. The new BMW 8-Series measures 4,843mm in length, 1,902mm in width, 1,341mm in...

Toyota Gazoo Racing has used the 24 Hours of Le Mans of announce plans to build a next-generation super sports car. The company was tight-lipped on specifics but seemed to suggest the car was previewed by the GR Super Sport concept. While Toyota wasn’t ready to go into details, the automaker said the production model is already under development and will use “cutting-edge hybrid electric systems and fuel efficiency technologies” that the World Endurance Championship team has tested and refined over the past six years. In a statement, Toyota Gazoo Racing President Shigeki Tomoyama said “Competing in the World Endurance Championship – one of the most demanding motorsport series – and racing at Le Mans helps us to advance the development of our world-leading hybrid electric technology and enables us to transfer the knowledge we gain to our production cars.” He went on to say the automotive industry is “approaching an era of big changes” and Toyota still has a “passion for making ca...

Following three concepts and more scoops than we can count, BMW will reveal in full, the production version of the new 8-Series Coupe on June 15, at the eve of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This was deemed as the perfect moment to unveil their new luxury sports car as the Bavarian automaker is also celebrating its return to the Le Mans endurance race for the first time since 2011, with the M8 GTE. The new 8-Series Coupe will debut in M850i xDrive form, powered by a heavily re-engineered 4.4-liter V8, making 523 HP (530 PS) and 553 lb-ft (750 Nm) of peak torque. It will be paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission and will send its power to an intelligent all-wheel drive system that features an active rear differential. The chassis of the new 8-Series will also get an active rear-steering system, a next-gen adaptive suspension with active roll stabilization and will feature 20-inch lightweight alloy wheels shod with sticky tires. “There isn’t be a better setting for th...

GT racing cars are typically based on production models. And so it is with the new BMW M8 GTE. The difference here is that BMW has unveiled the competition version before the road-going model. The racing version of the Bavarian automaker's forthcoming flagship sports coupe, the new M8 GTE is set to replace the M6 GTLM and Z4 GTE as BMW's top sports racer – and mark its anticipated return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the new BMW M8 GTE packs a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 – based on the production block and cylinder heads – mandated by regulations to produce no more than 500 horsepower. Power is transmitted by a six-speed sequential gearbox. Since the production model (previewed by the stunning concept at Villa d'Este) wasn't already finished when development began on the M8 GTE, computer simulation played a big part in developing the traction control and the vehicle's form. The use of carbon-fiber bodywork helped kee...

The rumors, it turns out, have not been exaggerated: Porsche is shutting down its LMP1 racing program, and charging head-first into Formula E instead. If the move sounds familiar, it should. Less than a year ago, Porsche's sister company Audi called it quits as well on its victorious LMP1 effort while gradually ramping up its involvement with Abt's Formula E team to the point that it's now a full factory effort. Earlier this month, BMW also announced its entry into the electric racing series, and Mercedes followed suit just days ago – ending its long involvement in Germany's popular DTM touring car series, where it has until now competed against BMW and Audi. Rival luxury automaker Jaguar also has a team in Formula E, as do Renault and PSA's premium DS brand. “Entering Formula E and achieving success in this category are the logical outcomes of our Mission E project. The growing freedom for in-house technology developments makes Formula E attractive to us,”...

New hypercars from unknown manufacturers consistently appear out of nowhere and at last month’s Le Mans 24 Hours, the latest entrant debuted right under our noses. Beyond the weird decision to debut the vehicle at Le Mans rather than an auto show, the car in question comes from a company we bet you’ve never heard of; DSD Design & Motorsport. That name might not roll off the tongue like Ferrari or Lamborghini but we can tell you it hails from Spain and is dubbed the Boreas after the Greek god of the North Wind. From a design standpoint, the Boreas is certainly attention-grabbing. It adopts a typical supercar shape and has a front end dominated by a steeply raked hood, McLaren-inspired carbon fiber air intakes and a curvaceous windscreen that flows uninterrupted into the roof. The intriguing design touches then continue at the rear with a carbon fiber wing, two taillights, a Bugatti Chiron style central LED strip and edgy tailpipes. No details have been given about what wi...