More than likely, the new BMW M8 will be revealed to the world this September at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. Until then, BMW's M performance division has a little time left to finalize all of the details and what better way to do so than driving this nearly production-ready prototype at the Nurburgring. It's also springtime and that means ideal weather for a day at the Green Hell.

The 2020 BMW M8 will have over 600 hp while the hopeful M8 Competition model could even exceed the current M5 Competition's 625 ponies. As expected, the M8 will share the M5's TwinPower Turbo V8 as well as its rear-biased all-wheel-drive system.

But don't worry… the M8 will offer a RWD mode for those seeking a more hardcore driving experience. Equally important, the M8 will be lighter than the standard 8 Series and will also have a low center of gravity, even weight distribution, and wider tracks. And yes, an M8 convertible and M8 Gran Coupe are also in the pipeline, though neither are expected to debut alongside the coupe.

At the moment, the most powerful and expensive 8 Series you can buy is the highly regarded M850i xDrive, which produces 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. In other words, the M8 proves there's still plenty of untapped potential with this platform and engine.

Based on what we're seeing in this new spy video, the test driver at the wheel is having a grand old time flogging the lightly camouflaged M8 around the Ring. That's his job, to literally beat the crap out of it on the world's most challenging race track. It's still too early to know pricing, but let's put it like this: if the 2019 M850i xDrive only starts off at $113,000 and ranges up to around $125,000, then the M8 likely won't go for anything less than $130k. We have zero doubt BMW will have any trouble selling each and every one it builds.