2024 BMW X8

It seems like BMW won't rest until every available numeral has been ascribed to an SUV of some kind. The X8 is the next potential SUV to come from the Bavarian marque, but where does it fit in since the X7 is already here and the XM is on the way? Well, the 2024 BMW X8 crossover is expected to be a more luxurious sibling sold alongside the hardcore XM. It will seat occupants in two rows but in exceptional comfort, edging ever closer into Maybach and Rolls-Royce territory, while leaving the X7 to cater to customers who need up to seven seats. The X8 looks set to be an unsurpassed luxury crossover flagship for the well-heeled.

As far back as 2017, BMW was looking at the possibility of an X8. That was followed by a trademark filing for the X8 M. In the interim, we still don't know when the BMW X8's release date will be. It won't be before the XM, which will be coming out in early 2023 after going into production at the end of 2022, so don't expect to see the X8 in the USA before the end of 2023.

There is no official word on the 2023 BMW X8's price, but its positioning in the lineup suggests that $160,000 as a starting point wouldn't be a shock. The Audi Q8 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe won't be direct rivals for the X8, so we have to look beyond these models to the likes of the Mercedes-Maybach GLS SUV, which costs upwards of $165,000 MSRP, and the Bentley Bentayga with its $180,000-plus base price. BMW may try to undercut these rivals, but this is the price range we're expecting the XM to slot into, too - although it will focus more on performance, whereas the 2024 X8 will push the boundaries of technology and luxury for the brand.

Question marks remain about the BMW X8's exterior design, but if the XM is anything to go by, it will divide opinions. All of BMW's even-numbered SUVs have sportier, more coupe-like styling. While this impedes space inside the cabin, it does create a sportier aesthetic. In front, expect a large grille but hopefully one that hasn't been enlarged to XM proportions. The latest X7's split-headlight design is another possibility as this is how BMW is setting apart its flagship models.

We're a long way off from knowing what the BMW X8's colors will be like, but as the brand's flagship SUV, it should have access to the brand's full Individual color palette.

To provide second-row legroom that will match or even surpass the 7 Series, the BMW X8's dimensions will surely be ample. The base X6 is already 194.8 inches long, so the new BMW X8 SUV will likely have a length of over 200 inches. Its width and height will also cast a larger footprint than that of the X6. The three-row X7 measures over 203 inches; while the X8 may match that, it's expected to eschew a third row in favor of stretch-out space in the second row.

We don't expect that BMW will steal the XM's thunder with outrageous power specs for the X8. The XM, after all, is the brand's first standalone M car in decades. That doesn't mean that the BMW X8's engine won't be capable of tire-shredding performance. Two of BMW's most likely engines will be the 3.0-liter six-cylinder and the 4.4-liter V8, both with turbocharging. The V8 is more likely, considering that this will be the brand's flagship SUV, and it could even be a plug-in hybrid like the XM. But whereas the latter has 750 horsepower, the top X8 with a PHEV powertrain will likely be detuned to under 700 hp. That will give it a swift 0-60 time and the effortlessness that is a prerequisite for any ultra-luxury car.

BMW's xDrive all-wheel-drive system will probably be standard, as will the familiar eight-speed automatic transmission from ZF that does duty in everything from the 2 Series to the 7 Series.

If Bentley and Maybach are to be the X8's rivals, this will need to be the smoothest-riding crossover BMW has ever built. Noise, vibration, and harshness will also require special attention to compete with those models.

The top BMW X7 - the M50i with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 - returns 15/21/17 mpg city/highway/combined, whereas the more powerful X6 M returns 13/18/15 mpg. The new X8's consumption is likely to be similar to these two models when equipped with a V8.

If the X8 does come with a plug-in hybrid powertrain and large enough battery, it should be able to match the Concept XM's all-electric range of 30 miles while also returning better gas mileage, as the focus is more on comfort instead of outright performance. Another quick V8 PHEV SUV, the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid, manages 18 mpg combined on gas alone and 42 MPGe combined on gas and electric power - this could give us a rough idea of how efficient the X8 PHEV V8 will be. At this point, charging times remain unknown, but PHEVs can typically be fully charged in under 2.5 hours at a fast charger since they have smaller batteries than EVs.

Lately, BMW has taken interior design to new heights. Both the 7 Series sedan and iX SUV have set new benchmarks for design, quality, and technology. As the future flagship SUV, the BMW X8's interior will need to be flawless. With extra room in the second row and no third row, we expect reclining seats and the availability of BMW's spectacular theater screen that folds down from the roof. Other 7 Series innovations like the panoramic sky lounge LED roof and BMW Interaction Bar will likely also be adapted for the X8. In front, the latest iDrive system should be hooked up to a widescreen display with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, and all the other connectivity kit that's available.

The BMW X8's seats should be supremely comfortable, and they'll be covered in leather or potentially a few greener alternatives. BMW's glass controls and only the best wood trim will create an environment opulent enough to lure customers away from their Maybachs.

Trunk and cargo space in the BMW X8 won't necessarily be a top priority since the X7, with its folding third row, is perfect for the job of carting families and their paraphernalia around. As the X8 is a crossover, it will have room to spare for four passengers, however.