Welcome to Fast News Friday, the weekly news roundup brought to you by the automotive content and experience experts here at Foxtrot Papa. This week, BMW has revealed what is sure to be a very collectable 8 Series Gran Coupe, Morgan provides a brilliant factory tour by drone and two Japanese car makers have announced a collaboration to breathe new life into the iconic V8 combustion engine. Enjoy.
BMW has unveiled its newest piece of rolling artwork – the 8 Series X Jeff Koons – and it’s available for the public to buy. As the badge suggests, it’s a special edition version of the M850i xDrive Gran Coupé born from a partnership with the American artist Jeff Koons, who is best known for his creative depictions of everyday items. While the 8 Series X Jeff Koons certainly looks like one of BMW’s famous art cars, the company is adamant that it isn’t, because it isn’t a racing car, it won’t be held in the brand’s private collection and it isn’t a one-off. So if you’re interested, we’d suggest placing your order soon, as there are just 99 examples available.
There aren’t many car factories left in the world like Morgan’s. Still built almost entirely by hand, and with a part-timber construction, the Morgan Motor Company continues to do things their way when most of the competition have upscaled and fully automated the production process. In this cleverly shot drone film, the viewer is taken on a factory and site tour of the Morgan premises, providing an insightful and charming glimpse into daily life in the Malvern-based car company.
Toyota and Yamaha develop hydrogen V8
Just when you thought batteries and electric motors had signalled the end of the combustion-engined V8… Toyota and Yamaha have this week announced that the two companies are collaborating to develop a hydrogen-fuelled 5.0-litre V8 engine for Toyota as part of the two firms’ ongoing commitment to internal combustion. The new engine is based on the unit featured in the Lexus RC F sports coupe with modifications to the injectors, cylinder heads, intake manifold and elsewhere. Power output is 449bhp and 398lb ft. According to Autocar, “Toyota and Yamaha – along with Mazda, Kawasaki and Subaru – have previously pledged to continue investing in combustion technology. The five Japanese manufacturers appeared in a joint press conference late last year to express their interest in “expanding fuel options”, while other global manufacturers embrace all-out electrification. The new hydrogen V8 has been detailed following Toyota’s deployment of a hydrogen-combustion Corolla in Japan’s Super Taikyu race series, and the subsequent reveal of an identically powered GR Yaris prototype.”