Turbo: The Porsche 911 S & The Performance Myth
G-Power's 820hp M8: Proof BMW's Lost the Plot?
BMW's new M5 getting a "mixed reception"? That's putting it mildly. It's like they actively tried to make it bland. And now G-Power's over here turning the old M8 into an 820hp monster... It's almost comical. Almost.
This G8M Bi-Turbo thing… "rocket in green and gold," they're calling it. Look, 820hp and 738lb ft from that 4.4-liter V8 is serious business. We're talking less weight than the new hybrid M5, and probably more soul too. I’m just struggling to understand why BMW isn’t doing this themselves? According to G-Power transforms M8 into 820hp G8M Bi-Turbo, the aftermarket tuner is squeezing every last drop of performance out of the platform.
The Price of (Aftermarket) Power
G-Power's claiming improvements in "engine efficiency, torque delivery, throttle response, and fuel consumption." More power for less fuel? Yeah, and I've got a bridge to sell you. Let's be real, that's marketing BS. But the core point remains: they're squeezing insane power out of a V8 that BMW seems content to let rot.
And those Hurricane RR wheels? Gold, 21-inch, wrapped in tires wider than my apartment… divisive is the right word. The carbon rear wing? Sure, it probably adds downforce. But it also screams "boy racer" on a car that used to have some class. And that vented bonnet? I get the need for cooling, but carbon fiber on an M8 just feels… wrong. Like putting ketchup on a prime steak. Is it just me?
Speaking of cost, £23,000 just for the ECU work, turbo upgrade, intercooler, and exhaust? And that's before the carbon fiber addiction kicks in. Offcourse, you could buy a used M8 for less than a new M135i. So, maybe it's worth it to unlock that V8's potential... maybe.
Nissan's Junkyard V8: A Lesson in Humility?
Then you've got this other story about a junkyard Nissan VK56 laying down nearly 700 WHP with a turbo and "little else." A Nissan Titan engine, of all things! A truck engine! And it's giving LS and Coyote swaps a run for their money. As Junkyard Nissan V8 Lays Down Nearly 700 WHP With a Turbo and Little Else reports, the engine is proving to be a cost-effective alternative to more traditional performance options.
Calvin Nelson, this guy Nivlac57 on YouTube, he's pulling crazy power out of this thing with a Forced Performance 7875 turbo, a Link G4X Xtreme ECU, and some cheap eBay parts. 660 hp at the wheels on 20 psi... limited by the torque converter, no less. He was aiming for 700, and he probably would've hit it with better parts downstream.
It's got me thinking, what are we even doing here? Are we so obsessed with the "right" engines that we're ignoring the potential sitting in junkyards? The VK56 is "the Coyote you can actually afford," Nelson says. And he's right. A quick look at Ford Five-Oh prices will confirm it.
And honestly, it's kinda inspiring. This dude's building a monster on a budget, while BMW is charging us an arm and a leg for… well, for what exactly? More tech? More "refinement?" Give me a break.
The Electric Elephant in the Room
Let's not forget the real reason BMW's probably phoning it in with the V8: electric is coming. They're throwing all their resources at EVs, and frankly, I'm not convinced. I’m not saying EVs are bad, necessarily. It’s just that…they feel soulless. Like driving an appliance. And the charging infrastructure? Don't even get me started. Try finding a working charger on a road trip. It's like searching for a unicorn riding a bicycle.
But hey, maybe I'm just an old-school gearhead yelling at clouds. Maybe the future is electric, and V8s are going the way of the dodo. Still, seeing G-Power and some junkyard hero out-innovating BMW with their own engines... it stings.
So, What's the Point of "Progress"?
BMW is chasing a future that nobody asked for, while ignoring the potential of what they already have. They're sacrificing soul for… efficiency? Profit? Whatever it is, it's a damn shame.