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BMW 8 Series turns 25 [w/video]

From the very beginning, the BMW 8 Series was a head turner. It was hardly a common sight in the first place, and the angular lines and low, pointed nose made the GT look like something special on the road. It's been 25 years since the Bavarian brand's flagship coupe of the '90s debuted, and owners celebrated the anniversary in style in Germany.
The 8 Series still looks great today, but its popup headlights give away its age a little. You just don't see them anymore. It was introduced at the 1989 Frankfurt Motor Show as the 850i with a 5.0-liter V12 under the hood capable of 295 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. Later, even bigger V12s would find their way in there. Production lasted until 1999, but they were rather exclusive with 30,621 built in its lifetime.
To celebrate the anniversary, several BMW clubs organized 120 examples for display at the company's headquarters in Munich. The brand took advantage of the display to show off the ultimate 8 prototype as well. The one-off special packed a 550-horsepower V12 and a body with optimized aero. That engine eventually became the basis for the one in the McLaren F1.

2016 BMW M4 GTS hidden in plain view in Tokyo

We almost missed the 2016 BMW M4 GTS at the Tokyo Motor Show. As you can see in the photos, the car is sort of tucked into a little corner behind a wall, and it's way in the back of BMW's show stand. You'd never see it unless someone told you it's there. And that's a shame. This is one of the coolest cars BMW has launched in quite some time. Only 700 examples of the M4 GTS will be sold globally, with 300 earmarked for the United States. Aside from the aerodynamic and appearance upgrades, the GTS stands out by being the first production road-car to use a water injection system. We detailed this technology when the M4 GTS officially bowed, but the end result is more power. The GTS makes 493 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque – gains of 68 hp and 36 lb-ft over a stock M4. The other big news for the M4 GTS is its weight reduction – some 200 pounds have been removed, thanks to the use of carbon fiber-reinforced materials. The car's rear seats are gone, and several interior pieces have been redone in lighter materials, as well. This thing should be a monster out on the track, and we can't wait to get behind the wheel. But first, we're hoping BMW at least lets it out into the spotlight a little. See the car for yourself, live from Tokyo, in the gallery above. The new 2016 BMW M4 GTS an exclusive high-performance special edition M4 available for the first time in the US. - First production road car with a Water Injection System - World-exclusive OLED light technology - Specially designed full three-way adjustable M coilover suspension - Intelligent lightweight body design - Most agile, radical and powerful M4 ever Woodcliff Lake, N.J.: BMW today announced the new 2016 BMW M4 GTS giving BMW M GmbH a new and exclusive technological masterpiece which elevates the potential of the BMW M4 Coupe to an impressive new level. With its powerful, motorsport-inspired looks and high-performance technology, the BMW M4 GTS has its sights set squarely on the race track. Thanks to an innovative water injection system helping boost power to 493 bHP and track ready chassis, this Special Edition M vehicle recorded a lap time of 7 minutes 28 seconds around the legendary Nurburgring-Nordschleife, the world's most challenging race circuit, making a clear statement about this model's exceptional dynamic abilities. At the same time, the sharpest BMW M4 of all can also hold its own on public roads.

BMW i8 will be first production car to use Gorilla Glass

What do smartphones and the BMW i8 have in common? Glass. Scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass, that is. The i8 will be the first production car to use the chemically hardened material, which is more durable, lighter and provides more sound deadening than conventional laminated automotive glass. We thought it would be a natural replacement for windshields, but, according to Autoweek, BMW said it will be used for the rear window for sound deadening purposes. The Gorilla Glass will still be laminated, with two 0.7mm thick layers of it sandwiching an acoustic sheet, reports Autoevolution.
BMW reportedly claims the i8 will weigh less than 3,285 pounds, and to offset the heavy hybrid powertrain to reach that goal the automaker has implemented lightweight materials normally not found in mass-production automobiles. With a carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) monocoque used for both the (relatively) pedestrian i3 and the upscale i8, it's not surprising BMW was also the first to jump onto Gorilla Glass, especially given the timing of a report that a high-end automaker would introduce it within the year.
Be sure to check out our First Drive review of the i8 to see if BMW's newest sports car is living up to the hype.