This Racing Team Swapped A BMW i8's Hybrid System For A 550-HP V8

Just so happens to be a naturally aspirated V8 sourced from a Z4 GTE race car.

Meet the BMW i8 GTR, only it wasn’t built by BMW. Well, kind of it was. You see, the i8 GTR is the brainchild of Belgian racing team Hamofa Motorsport. In a nutshell, the i8 GTR is an i8 chassis and body with a BMW S65 V8 swapped inside instead of the factory-build hybrid powertrain. This engine is actually derived from the V8 found in the E90 M3 and it packs quite a punch with around 550 hp. This output goes a long way because the car itself weighs just over 2,400 pounds – nearly 1,000 pounds lighter than a factory-built i8 hybrid.

This engine comes straight out of an older Z4 GTE race car and is bolted into place behind the bulkhead that separates powertrain from the driver, according to Motor1. Also take note of the roof scoop that sucks in cool air to help the engine keep a stable temperature.

There’s also a massive rear spoiler to help keep the car stable at high speed. Hamofa also did more than just the engine swap. For example, a good chunk of its frame is now tubular and the body even comes apart like it should in any real race car.

In other words, this thing isn’t simply a V8-powered i8 without the hybrid system but rather a full blown race car with one hell of an engine and power-to-weight ratio. The i8 GTR has already participated in at least one race, which took place last month at the Circuit Zolder. Unfortunately it didn’t finish but like in every great project, time is needed to work out all of the kinks.

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This BMW M8 GTE Is The Racing Version Of The Upcoming M8 Road Car

Similar chassis. Different engines. Both are pure M.

This past week, BMW rolled out its M8 GTE for the 2018 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in Daytona and if you strip away its unique livery and racing components, you’re looking at the upcoming M8 road car. Two M8 GTEs will be taking part in the upcoming Rolex 24 at Daytona, the next milestone in “Mission8.” Not only is BMW in it to win, but it’s also using these endurance races as further development tools for the M8 itself. And speaking of endurance racing, the M8 GTE will also be taking part in the most grueling of them all in June, Le Mans.

What’s also interesting is that the M8 GTE represents the first time in BMW Motorsport history when a race car will be in action before its series counterpart. Obviously that will come in handy as the final touches are being applied to the road-going version, and the M8 GTE itself will be undergoing adjustments throughout the racing season. “After the car has been homologated, there are some areas in which we can, and may, make changes. We can still do some work on the software, in particular,” said BMW Motorsport director Jens Marquardt. “We will also continue to work on aligning the BMW M8 GTE with all its systems, and will integrate all the reference values we have acquired.

First of all, however, we are looking forward to the maiden race in Daytona.” Marquardt also noted how his racing team worked with M8 development team numerous times. We synchronized the focus of our development with the core areas of the production model,” he said. “The question was: what should the racing car emanate and embody? The core values of the BMW 8 Series Coupe should also be the strength of the BMW M8 GTE.” One of the key differences between the two, however, is the engine, which had to be significantly modified for racing purposes. Some aspects of the exterior design are notably different, but the roof line is the same.

The BMW 8 Series is expected to debut this March at Geneva, and it’s certainly possible the M8 will debut there as well. If not, a summertime unveiling, just prior to Le Mans, is the likely alternative. BMW already promised a debut sometime in 2018, so hold on to your hats because an instant icon could soon be upon us.