Monday 10th November

Fresh look for 2026 BMW M Hybrid V8

A BMW update with smaller kidneys than before? Never thought we'd see the day...

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It’s been a while since the front end of a BMW was a subject of discussion on PH, so here we are once more. This is the new M Hybrid V8, the car that will compete in both the World Endurance Championship and IMSA next year; it boasts a revised look for 2026, including - get this - smaller kidney grilles than before. Wonders will never cease. 

There’s a bit more to it than that, of course, BMW hoping that a tweak of the M Hybrid V8 will yield a more successful ‘26 than ‘25 in the top tier of world sportscar racing. But appearance is being discussed ahead of a Daytona IMSA test this weekend, so here we are. A new headlight design aims to benefit drivers in the 12- and 24-hour races like Sebring and Le Mans, better illuminating the unlit sections of track. Plus they’re getting a yellow tinge, like the M4 GT3, the roadgoing CSes (and scallywags in old M140is), which is never not cool. Sadly the kidney grille, though smaller, does still light up, which is less appealing. The new lights will sit in a front end that benefits from an ‘optimised’ splitter that should benefit both aero and cooling. 

The new M Hybrid V8 will test on Friday and Saturday at Daytona, driven by Marco Wittmann, Dries Vanthoor, René Rast, Kevin Magnussen, Robin Frijns and Philipp Enge. Head of BMW M Motorsport, Andreas Roos, said: “I am very excited that we can present and test the update of our BMW M Hybrid V8 at Daytona for the first time in the IMSA environment. The new design and headlights not only look spectacular but are also intended to further optimise performance... The time we have before the 24-hour race at the end of January will be used as effectively as possible to prepare both the cars with their updates and BMW M Team WRT for the first season highlight.”

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[garypotter]

Great looking car and an awesome race series BUT why oh why oh why do BMW have to light up the grill?? terrible ugly idea

[CH80]

garypotter said:

Great looking car and an awesome race series BUT why oh why oh why do BMW have to light up the grill?? terrible ugly idea

They can't help it...bless.

[SDK]

Good to know - Might switch to this in LMU when the updated models get released

[nismo48]

CH80 said:

garypotter said:

Great looking car and an awesome race series BUT why oh why oh why do BMW have to light up the grill?? terrible ugly idea

They can't help it...bless.

[Frogmella]

garypotter said:

Great looking car and an awesome race series BUT why oh why oh why do BMW have to light up the grill?? terrible ugly idea

I was at Petit LeMan last month and found the lit grill helped distinguish the car. Even the Valk tended to blend in with the competition.

[theicemario]

Much better

Would’ve been helpful to include a picture of the original, no?

[scenario8]

theicemario said:

Much better

Would ve been helpful to include a picture of the original, no?

Now that really is a big grille.

I don’t really even consider myself to be too old but when I think of the BMW kidney grilles of my youth (the E30/32/34 sort of period) and then you show me that! It’s hard to reconcile their disparate looks with their family connection.

I’ll take the newer version, please.

[Gecko1978]

Why was there no i8 replacement off the back of this.

[theicemario]

Gecko1978 said:

Why was there no i8 replacement off the back of this.

Because BMW are bean counters

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/bmw-i1...

[Night Owl]

garypotter said:

Great looking car and an awesome race series BUT why oh why oh why do BMW have to light up the grill?? terrible ugly idea

Because their has to be continuity with their boring line of New Normal carphones.