BMW unveils AMDh hybrid hypercar

BMW Motorsport, the racing division of the Bavarian concern, has unveiled the BMW M Hybrid V8, an LMDh-class hypercar that will make its US IMSA debut in 2023.

So far, however, we are only talking about the future car’s appearance, design features and name, and it will be shown “live” at the traditional Festival of Speed ​​in British Goodwood on the last weekend of June.

But in the photos the car looks impressive, the brand “nostrils” that distinguish all BMW models immediately catch the eye. The 50th anniversary logos of BMW Motorsport are clearly visible on the aerodynamic fin and on the hood, and in general the design of the hypercar is very clear.

It is powered by a 4.0-litre V8 turbo engine based on the P66 engine originally developed for the DTM series, but integrated with a modern hybrid system.

Two such sports prototypes will enter service with the American BMW M Team RLL, with whom the Munich-based company has been working successfully since 2009.

“The most important and challenging part of the challenge faced by our designers was to create a prototype that should be immediately recognizable as a BMW M Motorsport car,” said Franciscus van Meel, head of this division. – And I can tell all the fans: one look at the car is enough to make sure that it is a BMW.

It definitely has BMW M genes. And I love these camouflage colors too, which evoke our brand’s rich history in North America. Congratulations to the design and aerodynamics departments at BMW M and Dallara for a job well done.”

Of course, the Italian company Dallara is not named by chance: the BMW sports prototype is based on the chassis of its production.

So far it has been officially confirmed that such cars will start in the US IMSA series, but BMW is also evaluating the possibility to compete in the Hypercar class in the World Endurance Championship, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans.