‘A most extraordinary machine’

Three CAR readers come at BMW’s new flagship M850i from three very di erent directions. One will come away deeply impressed… By Ben Miller

‘I normally drive pretty steadily but this just wants you to beast it!’ CHARLES BENNIE

For all its gesture control and xDrive all-wheel drive, BMW’s M850i is an archaic automotive proposition – a big, heavy, quite beautiful hunk of metal with space for two, seats for another two and a monstrous 4.4-litre V8. It’s about as progressive as a Sunday roast. It also costs £99,525 before options and will rip through a gallon of unleaded in under 20 miles without trying.

So, it makes no sense. But finding CAR readers keen to drive it is easy nevertheless….

Charles is besotted with his Mercedes-AMG C43 – in many ways a kind of mini-M850i – and perhaps prime for conversion to the 8-series fan club, of which I’m founding member and chairperson. But we don’t get off to a great start…

Straight off, Charles notes that visibility of the car’s extremities is poor – an issue exacerbated by the ultra-low driving position that works well once you’re up to speed. And, powering from one tight corner to another, Charles is also quick to point out just how heavy the BMW feels. He asks for numbers. I don’t sugar the pill, and tell him straight that this carbon-roofed sports coupe weighs 1965kg. ‘Hmmm, yes, that is a lot…’

But then the M850i starts to fight back, first with an effortless thump of acceleration to get up to speed on a slip-road. ‘Shit! It’s got a lot of poke – what a wonderful engine. A purring beast that’s ready to blast off whenever you need it to,’ gushes Charles as the 4.4-litre V8 does its thing. ‘Fabulous engine but very discreet too, unlike AMG’s V8s. This suits me better. But for all its manners it needs no encouragement whatsoever to get up to speed.’

As we power on, trading dual carriageway for sweeping rural roads, the BMW sets about really snaring Charles’s heart. Driving with the unhurried confidence of a man who enjoys his work, Charles and the M850i gel.

‘I really like the brakes – they’ve plenty of feel – but overwhelmingly it’s the car’s effortlessness I love. It’s so planted on the road, it goes exactly where you want it to go – thanks in part to the four-wheel steering – and there’s so much grip and composure; it laughs off mid-corner bumps. I normally drive pretty steadily but this just wants you to beast it!’

Come the end of his drive, Charles is smitten. ‘The more I drive it, the more I like it – a most extraordinary machine. Yes it’s heavy but it’s incredibly solid and beautifully made, and I love the engine. I’ll have to make a bit more money so I can get one of these.’ ⊲