“Seven SUVs on the lineup is too few,” someone at BMW must have thought when they greenlit the eighth model into development. At any rate, the test vehicle recently spied by the camera-wielding crowd looks different from all others.
The alleged X8 hides behind confusing camo wrap patterns and false bodywork, but the roofline tells us it is definitely not an X7. Furthermore, despite the generous body dimensions, the car is a four-seater.
The sticker on the side says “Hybrid Test Vehicle”, which means it could come powered by the same electrified gasoline turbo-six system as the BMW 745e. The latter sedan churns out 400 hp (298 kW) along with up to 600 Nm (443 lb-ft) of torque; the SUV might benefit from a boost.
The Bavarian automaker registered the X8 M trademark a while ago, which means we should probably be looking forward to a performance version as well. As for the launch timeframe, late 2021 seems realistic right now.