---
title: "Buy a BMW i8 With M5 Power—for 750,000 Euros"
description: "Proof that money can purchase speed, if not sense."
date: "2015-12-09"
modified: "2015-12-09"
authors:
  - name: "Michael Frank"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/michael-frank"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/supercars/1195/buy-a-bmw-i8-with-m5-power-for-750-000-euros"
categories:
  - "BMW News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "BMW"
  - "Supercar"
---

# Buy a BMW i8 With M5 Power—for 750,000 Euros

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/archive-images/120815_weirdbmwi8_hero.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com\</em\>*

In a bit of Krampus-style finger-in-the-eye pranking, Gabura Racing Technologies GmbH, a a small racing tuner based in Munich, [is gutting an i8 plug-in hybrid](<https://www.bmwblog.com/2015/12/04/bmw-i8-gets-v8-engine-with-800-horsepower/>) and inserting the 500-horsepower V8 out of the M5 sedan. And the latter is tuned, for good measure, to 800 hp. This non-electrifying makeover will birth the so-called [Gabura GRT V8i](<https://gabura.de/automotive/>), and the tiny 1.5-liter, rear-mounted gas three-cylinder motor goes away, replaced by the massive 4.4-liter V8 under the hood.

There’s even a wink here for Bimmer-philes.

Putting the “i” at the end of the name feints away from [BMW](<https://www.thedrive.com/?s=bmw>)’s proud work of reinventing the electric car, complete with sourcing carbon fiber from a hydro-powered plant in Washington State and finding vegetable-based materials for the interior… and back toward the proud tradition of cooking fossil fuels into horizon-bending propulsion.

Beyond the green vs. not-even-slightly-green “optics,” this isn’t much of an i8, even down to the chassis.

Gabura used its motorsport know-how to impart the look of an i8, but this is a wholly new carbon monocoque that’s several inches wider than the original body, and supported by a tubular space-frame. The engine is stuffed in the front as near to the firewall as possible to partially balance weight distribution, and power is funneled to a six-speed sequential gearbox with integrated differential. The suspension is said to be racing-stiff, and optimized for track use, but the exhaust and emissions will be street legal, at least in relatively NOx-tolerant Europe.

Hand-wring all you want over the un-eco messaging. We’re talking about maybe 10 of these cars seeing the light of day, tops. Got beef with the Gabura GRT V8i? BMW will gladly sell you an i8.

![120815\_weirdbmwi8\_art\_1.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/120815_weirdbmwi8_art_1.jpg>)
**Gabura Racing Technologies**

![120815\_weirdbmwi8\_art\_2.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/120815_weirdbmwi8_art_2.jpg>)
**Gabura Racing Technologies**

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