BMW X8 M name registered, hints at the development of a new flagship SUV?

The X8 is apparently rumoured to be a Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) that'll share its footprint with the full-sized X7.

Engines may be getting smaller with each passing year but the demand for SUVs only seems to be getting stronger. And BMW's ever-growing portfolio of high-riding vehicles is testament to this trend. If you thought BMW was done creating huge SUVs with the X7, well, we're afraid you couldn't be more wrong! Our confidence on this matter stems from the fact that recent media reports have unearthed an interesting document pulled up from the Deutsche Patent- und Markenamt (DPMA) website. It confirms a patent application filed by BMW last month for the name 'X8 M'.

This kind of confirms the news that BMW is working on a new X8 model. However, since no spy shots of it are out yet, we can only share speculations about it at the moment. As per our sources, the X8 is not likely to be a conventional SUV (like the X7 or the X5) and it's rather likely to be an ultra-luxurious, four-seater Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV), much like the X6 and X4. However, since it will be the new flagship/range-topping model, its dimensions will be more or less similar to the X7.

As for the 'X8 M', this one could very well be the first-ever hybrid M version from the BMW stable, likey to get the X8 M45e moniker. The power unit in the X8 M45e is rumoured to be a hybrid version of BMW's signature 4.4-litre M TwinPower Turbo V8. This motor's peak power output (in the Competition models) is pegged at 617bhp. The hybrid treatment, though, is likely to increase its power quotient!

Currently, there's no verified information about the X8's debut. As per our guess, expect it to make its commercial debut sometime in 2022. The X8 M, on the other hand, could arrive as late as 2023.

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