New BMW M Hybrid V8 2026 presented

BMW has decided to give its Hypercar a visual update ahead of the 2026 WEC and IMSA championships. Just a few minutes ago, the new update package for the BMW M Hybrid V8 prototype was officially unveiled.

Focusing mainly on the front end of the car, BMW aimed to refine key aerodynamic components — most notably by reducing the size of the signature kidney grille, which in the previous version generated excessive aerodynamic drag. With this revision, airflow is now channeled more efficiently, improving overall air penetration and helping to lower the car’s drag coefficient (Cx) as much as possible.

From the photos, it’s clear that the car recently hit the track at Paul Ricard in France for preliminary testing, giving us the very first glimpses of the 2026-spec prototype.

Bmw and Dallara Co-work

For this update, BMW worked closely with Italian constructor Dallara — a collaboration expected to bring significant performance gains across circuits worldwide.. Subject to final homologation, its first race will be the 24 Hours of Daytona (USA) at the end of January 2026. Dallara also provided the carbon fiber chassis for the creation of this track monster. Based on an LMP2 design, it serves as the structural foundation of the M Hybrid V8. BMW then integrated its own twin-turbo V8 engine, the P66/3, derived from the power unit used in the 2017–2018 BMW M4 DTM cars, along with standardized hybrid components supplied by Bosch, Williams Advanced Engineering, and Xtrac.

Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): “Since we began racing in the IMSA series in 2023 and the FIA WEC in 2024, we have learned a great deal about our BMW M Hybrid V8. After optimising the brakes for the current season, it is now time for an aerodynamically improved version of the car. With these updates, we are responding to the insights gained from our previous race outings.

Following the tests we’ve already conducted, we are confident that the changes to the BMW M Hybrid V8 will allow us to compete more consistently at the front on all types of tracks, taking another step toward the top. A big thank you to everyone involved for their hard work. In the coming months, we will continue to work intensively to ensure we are optimally prepared for the start of the 2026 season at Daytona in January.”

Bmw M Hybrid V8 Technical data P66/3 Engine

Otto four-stroke bi-turbo engine in V-construction Displacement:  3,999 cc
Number of cylinders:  8
Cylinder construction:  Cylinder block and cylinder head in cast aluminum, cylinder bore as iron layer using the LDS process
V-angle:  90°
Bore:  93 mm
Stroke:  73.6 mm
Cylinder spacing:  102 mm
Valves per cylinder:  4
Speed:  max. 8,200 rpm
Power (regulations):  approx. 640 hp
Torque:  approx. 650 Nm
Injection:  high-pressure direct injection with 350 bar
Oil system:  dry sump system with six-cell oil suction pump and oil tank