To best talk about the BMW M850i xDrive Coupe we had a bit of track time at the BMW Performance Center West, at The Thermal Club in Palm Springs, California.
The folks at BMW say “The BMW 8 Series has not simply been revived, but reborn to redefine luxurious sportiness” and we agree. As excepted our Sunset Orange BMW M850i xDrive Coupe’s, stellar performance on the BMW Performance Center West at The Thermal Club track, complete with hairpin turns, a 2,500 foot straight, 4.5 miles of track, and elevation changes was thrilling.
To best measure the appeal of this exceptionally sexy coupe we spent some time in East Hampton NY and we caught the eye and undivided attention of many. The new 8 is equally at adept on the long stretches of the Montauk highway and in town while running errands.
BMW M850i xDrive Coupe sets a new level of luxury for sports coupes after a 20-year absence of such an offering from BMW in the US. The eye-catching design and state-of-the-art technology are pure, and fabulously, BMW. The new 8 is built at the BMW Dingolfing plant in Germany, home to BMW 7 Series sedan production. The number 8 in the model name indicates the new vehicle’s high-ranking status within BMW’s product range. As in the past with the BMW Z8 and with the current BMW i8, BMW says it is reserved such classifications for exceptionally sporty cars that stir the emotions.
BMW M850i
This luxury sports coupe’s performance is visualized in dramatic effect by the elaborate, jutting design of the front of the vehicle. The large air intakes assume an even more imposing ‘look at me’ appearance on the BMW M850i xDrive Coupe. The new BMW kidney grill is bigger and features a hexagonal outline that widens towards the bottom and a single-piece surround that encompasses its various features standard Full LED headlights with BMW LaserLight technology that is the slimmest headlight of any BMW model to date. Both light tubes are used to generate the daytime driving lights as well as the low and high beam lighting, thereby creating the signature brand look at all times.
The car’s interior has been designed to help the driver focus on the road ahead and enjoy the experience of driving. The car’s wide center console rises up towards the instrument panel at the front, separating the driver and front passenger areas. This center space encompasses the audio control unit, the air conditioning control panel and air vents as well as the freestanding and frameless Control Display, all arranged above each other in a clear, horizontally partitioned structure. The addition of the optional Swarovski crystal gear makes the M850i xDrive Coupe distinctive and elegant above all.
The launch of the all-new BMW M850i xDrive Coupe also marks the premiere of a new BMW TwinPower Turbo V8 engine. The latest generation of the 4.4-liter eight-cylinder engine has been radically revised with numerous detailed improvements. Two twin-scroll turbochargers with charge air cooling located within the V-shaped space between the cylinder banks, High Precision Injection, VALVETRONIC fully variable valve control and Double-VANOS variable camshaft timing all form part of the M Performance TwinPower Turbo technology, whose extensive overhaul has given a substantial boost to maximum power, torque and efficiency.
For the first time a selection of digital services are bundled together for the new BMW 8 Series called the Connected Package Professional. The Connected Package Professional includes Remote Services, Concierge Services, On-street Parking Information, and Real Time Traffic Information and is standard on the all-new 8 Series for 4 years. Customers can continue to download various new digital services individually as they become available or renew existing services via the ConnectedDrive Store.
The all-new BMW 8 Series Coupe gave us a thrilling driving experience both on and off the track and just knowing you have something “track ready” in your garage is really kind of cool. The 8.
Track photos: Chris Tedesco.
Other photos: David Lewis Taylor
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