BMW M850i has some intriguing challengers
2019’s Bimmer 8 a sultry grand-tourer, goes toe-to-toe with posh alternatives
You want a new BMW 8 Series. BMW’s 8 Series has always been a bit of a strange beast. It is, both in this incarnation and its first appearance (from 1990 to 1999), a car for which almost no one asked. After all, it is a high-priced — the M850i starts at $123,500 — twodoor GT, a segment that is, well, a subset of a subset of a subset.
But it is a car that impresses. BMW’s latest 4.4-litre engine is one of the finest twin-turbo V8s in the luxury segment, with 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. More importantly — because you can do only so many 3.7-second zero-to-100 km/h bursts before the long arm of the law catches up with you — it sounds beastly, equal parts V8 rumble and BMW sophistication.
The other strength of the new 8 Series is its balance between ride and handling. This is an area in which BMW once excelled, though until recently I had assumed forgotten. Compared with such sludge-mobiles as recent 3 Series and pretty much any 5 Series before last year, the M850i really delivers on BMW’s old Ultimate Driving Machine tagline.
The ride is as supple as a Jaguar’s, all gentle compression compliance and excellent wheel control over stutter bumps. At the same time, there’s an amazing amount of feedback through the (electrically boosted) steering and a subtle amount of oversteer at the throttle’s command. Despite the M affixed to its moniker, the M850i is hardly a true M car, but it does err on the sportier side of grand touring.
Think of the M850i as the GT you’d take touring on, say, California’s Pacific Coast Highway or Italy’s Stelvio Pass. If you’re looking for more reason than the 8 Series’ incredible engine for plopping down $120,000 for a two-door BMW, then it’s the chassis that will seal the deal.
The interior isn’t half bad either. The gesture-controlled iDrive infotainment screen is de rigueur for top-flight Bimmers these days.
The M850i’s gauge set is also allnew and plenty attractive. Fully digital, it nonetheless keeps its focus on speed — engine and vehicle — while keeping you updated with all the most pertinent information. Throw in comfortable seats — OK, comfortable front seats; the rears are designed for parcels and child seats — and the overall package is pretty good.
In fact, my only criticism of the M850i is the styling. Now, let’s stipulate beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Let’s further acknowledge that the M850i is aimed at a sophisticated — read: elderly — clientele. All that said, while general swoopy enough, the details are a tad somnolent. If I could attempt to put my finger on it, it’s that in profile, the M850i is a little too round, jelly bean-like, and a touch formless. A few more sharp edges might add a little more pizzazz. Ditto for deeper fender flares.
The way to think of the new M850i, is as the antithesis to BMW’s own i8. Where that hybrid sportster’s louvres and ridges are pure drama queen, the M850i screams — actually, whispers — ‘“don’t look at me.” With an engine that commands so much attention and an interior so very, very modern, the styling seems a bit out of character.
Or not. If you’re a Benz person, the closest equivalent Mercedes-Benz is the S-Class Coupe. Like the M850i, it’s powered by a twin-turbo V8 and is also a bit of a banker’s car. That said, the Benz’s outward somnolence is matched by its comportment. The S560’s V8 sports but 4.0 L and 60 less horsepower than the BMW. It’s almost a second slower to 100 km/h and doesn’t sound nearly as sporting. And with a wheelbase 123 millimetres longer than the BMW, it’s not quite as svelte on back roads either.
It’s also about $30,000 more expensive, but it does have a semi-useful back seat, the whole vault-like stability thing, and, well, the gravitas that comes from sporting tri-star badging. You won’t have as much fun in the Benz, but people will assume you’re richer.
Or perhaps you want something sexier. There are lots of sexy supercars, but it may be surprising to find there are not that many come-hither grand-tourers. The one glaring exception is Aston Martin’s DB11 which, like all Astons, has enough raw allure for a runway full of supermodels. All deep curves and swoopy sight lines, there’s a reason Astons are James Bond’s favourite cars — even if they are no longer the fastest nor the most technologically advanced.
The DB11 is still a fairly rapid car. It, too, is powered by a 4.0-L twin-turbo V8, in this guise with 503 hp. It also handles a treat; not quite with Ferrari-like élan, but certainly enough to challenge the BMW and leave the Mercedes in the dust. It even sounds the part.
Where the DB11 can’t match the Bimmer, however, is in the ride department. It doesn’t match the BMW’s magic carpet ride. Nor does the interior quite keep up. But you can just stare into its eyes forever.
Or maybe you really want a BMW. Well, BMW has a bunch of two-door coupes in its lineup, but the closest thing to an 8 wearing a BMW badge is actually the 6 Series Gran Coupe. Yes, I know it has four doors, but it looks like a coupe, has the word in its name and is powered by a similar engine.
The M6 Gran Coupe is luxurious, opulent and maybe even a bit more attractive than the 8 Series, but it’s not nearly as engaging. It is, with 560 hp on tap, a little more powerful than the M850i, but also costs a touch more, unusual considering the 8 is supposed to be the flagship. Unless you need easy access to the rear seats, the 8 is the better choice.