The heart of the BMW M8 GTE: The most efficient BMW Motorsport racing engine ever.

Munich. Every successful race car needs a powerful and
reliable engine to accelerate to top speed. In the case of the new
BMW M8 GTE, which will compete in the FIA World Endurance
Championship (WEC) and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
in 2018, this is the BMW P63/1. The story of this special powerhouse
began back in February 2016.

 

With the start of the conception phase for the new GTE engine, the
engine designers at BMW Motorsport embarked on their most
comprehensive project since the development of the power unit for the
DTM comeback in 2012. In total, more than 500 engine design drawings –
and another 500 drawings for the powertrain – were created in the
following months. The result of that work is the most efficient engine
that BMW Motorsport has ever developed, delivering between 500 and
more than 600 hp (depending on the specifications of the sporting authorities).

 

The P63/1 passed its first performance test at the modern BMW
Motorsport test rig in Munich (GER) on 20th January 2017
with flying colours. That was a special moment for the engineers – as
was the roll-out of the car on 1st July 2017 and the race
debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona (USA) on 27th January 2018.

 

The goal during development was as clear as it was ambitious: to
develop the most efficient engine ever to power a BMW race car. To
achieve this, it was initially very important to decide upon a base
engine ideally suited to the high demands encountered in motor racing.
Working closely with the developers at BMW M GmbH, the decision was
made to use the BMW S63T4, a V8 engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo
Technology, which was first used in the new BMW M5 (combined
consumption: 10.5 l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 241 g/km)*.

 

As stipulated in the regulations, the cast parts in the engine block
and cylinder head were adopted without modification from the
production power unit. Both components were made in the
light-alloy foundry at BMW Group Plant Landshut (GER).
Here, innovative and sustainable manufacturing methods are used to
make technologically-sophisticated engine components from light-alloy casting.

 

Aside from the regulated cast parts, the engine in the BMW M8 GTE –
containing approximately 2,300 further components, including 985
unique parts – required comprehensive modifications. Of these parts,
181 were derived from series projects, while more than 700 were
specifically developed for the P63/1 or added from other BMW
Motorsport racing engines. The engineers reduced the capacity from 4.4
to 4 litres, in line with regulations for the GTE class. The new
design of the crank drive involved the implementation of a flat
crankshaft, which brings with it the advantage of a regular firing
order and gives the engine an even sportier sound.

 

The geometry of the combustion chambers, including the inlet and
outlet ports, was also modified to ensure that the P63/1 is ideally
designed for the demands of racing. Comprehensive modifications to the
intake and exhaust system, and the complete redesign of the
turbocharger, have also helped to improve efficiency.

 

Among other things, this results in the fuel burning very quickly and
comprehensively at the optimal time, at a maximum temperature of over
2,100 degrees Celsius. This allows the P63/1 to achieve efficiency
levels well above 40 per cent. This makes it the most efficient BMW
racing engine ever in sports car and touring car racing. This
efficiency gives teams far greater flexibility with regard to race strategy.

 

As well as being efficient, driveability is another outstanding
feature of the P63/1. This helps the drivers get the most out of the
BMW M8 GTE on the track. A completely new approach to engine control
made it possible to achieve instant throttle response and linear power
delivery from the engine.



Technical data for the P63/1 engine for the BMW M8 GTE.

 

Model:                         V8 engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology

Capacity:                     3,981 cc

Output:                       500 to over 600 hp (depending on the
specifications of the sporting authorities)

Number of cylinders:  8

V angle:                       90°

Bore:                           89 mm

Stroke:                        80 mm

Cylinder spacing:        98 mm

Engine speed:             approx. 7,000 rpm

 

* The fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures shown were
determined according to the European Regulation (EC) 715/2007 in the
version applicable at the time of type approval. The figures refer to
a vehicle with basic configuration in Germany and the range shown
considers the different size of the selected wheels and tires.

 

The CO2 efficiency specifications are determined according to
Directive 1999/94/EC and the Pkw-EnVKV, and based (for classification)
on the fuel consumption and CO2 values as per the NEDC cycle.

 

Further information on official fuel consumption figures and specific
CO2 emission values of new passenger cars is included in the following
guideline: “Leitfaden über Kraftstoffverbrauch, die CO2-Emissionen und
den Stromverbrauch neuer Personenkraftwagen” (Guideline for fuel
consumption, CO2 emissions and electric power consumption of new
passenger cars), which can be obtained free of charge from all
dealerships and at https://www.dat.de/en/offers/publications/guideline-for-fuel-consumption.html.