BMW LMDh Twin-Turbo V8 Hybrid Engine Revealed Produces 640 HP

The engine (or increasingly the electric motor) is at the heart of a car, and we can finally see the factory powering the BMW M Hybrid V8 competing in the LMDh endurance racing class. It goes with the internal designation P66/3.

The engine is a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with 90-degree vees between the cylinder edges. This engine has a regulated output of 640 horsepower (477 kilowatts) and 479 pound-feet (650 Newton-meters) of torque. Redline at 8,200 rpm.

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If you’re curious about the specs, each cylinder has a bore of 93 millimeters and a stroke of 73.6 millimeters. Cylinder spacing is 102 millimeters.

The engine is based on the naturally aspirated V8 P66/1 from the 2017 and 2018 M4 DTM racers. The team developed it gradually starting with making the P66/2 which added a pair of turbochargers to the factory. The P66/3 integrates a hybrid system into the power plant.

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BMW doesn’t offer much detail about the electrified part of the powertrain. It consists of a motor, inverter and high voltage battery. The separation clutch between the hybrid and combustion sections allows for a fully electric drive.

The P66/3 engine is the full load-bearing component of the BMW M Hybrid V8. It doesn’t require a separate subframe in the Dallara chassis.

“During the evaluation phase, we also looked at the P48 four-cylinder turbo engine from the BMW M4 DTM and the P63 eight-cylinder turbo engine from the BMW M8 GTE, but potential problems with the P48’s durability and heavy weight. The P63’s weight is a negative consideration,” said Ulrich Schulz. , Head of Drivetrain Design at BMW M Motorsport.

The BMW M Hybrid V8 will make its competitive debut at the Rolex 24 in Daytona which will run from January 28 to 29, 2023. Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing will campaign for two cars in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

BMW will have little competition in its class. Akura, Cadillacand Porsche will also have an entry on the Rolex 24 in Daytona. Ferrari would probably have a car there too. Lamborghini will have it for 2024.