Test drive BMW M850i Coupe: Big Boy
Driving one of the most impressive Bavarian models
BMW's Sixth Series has been upgraded two notches to include M5 technology, aggressive styling and luxurious interior design. What are the chances of an elite sports coupe competing against the Aston Martin DB11 and Porsche 911 Carrera?
The Bavarians have long been known for their warm-hearted nature, calm outlook and lack of unnecessary inhibitions. Sincere people who have breakfast with a sausage sandwich and see nothing wrong with pork drumsticks accompanied by two liters of beer for lunch.
Recently, however, in this pretty society there has been a glimpse of suits and laptops, which take precedence over warm blankets. In such temporary moments of insanity, the sports BMW models with three cylinders are born, an engine paired with an electric motor ...
Just during the end of Oktoberfest 2018, common sense responded to the blow. With the debut of the new Series 1,90, a true thoroughbred Bavarian enters the scene - 1,35 meters wide and barely 4,4 meters high, with a predatory snout like a hungry shark and a new 8-liter VXNUMX Biturbo.
Ready for the track
And then this ... while Bavaria blesses with the warmest and goldenest autumn, our first encounter with 530 horses under the hood of the new Series 1 was organized in Portugal, where the Estoril racetrack is just as flooded as it was with Ayrton's first win Senna in Formula XNUMX.
The Munich-based engineers naturally took advantage of those extreme conditions to demonstrate the benefits of dual gear with an emphasis on the rear axle wheels.
With DTM driver Philip Eng as driver, you learned about the excellent grip - "When you exit a corner, you can safely press the throttle more firmly (in DTC mode, the stabilization electronics intervenes later) and you can exit with controlled drift."
The inclusion of Sport Plus mode, in which the eight-speed automatic transmission selects the optimal gear changes, even on the race track, allows you to enjoy driving even on such a track.
In order to somehow avoid collisions with bumpers on bends, you involuntarily press the brakes and pull the steering wheel. However, the electronics continue to keep the car stable and so beautifully that the movement is as safe as possible, but with a powerful rush of adrenaline.
The lesson you learn from the ride is that the dual gear accelerates 1,9 tonnes much more efficiently, but the braking system still has the same four contact points with a limited area. Despite the natural limits of physical laws, it cannot be denied that the GXNUMX is fully race-trackable, fast, and handles smoothly and reliably.
Finally, there is the turn of highways, highways and travel through the picturesque Portuguese province. In these conditions, the new sports coupe also presents itself as a completely confident car - especially in a comfortable suspension mode, it absorbs imperfections in the road surface with the ease with which the Bavarians cope with wheatgrass for brewing beer.
And the soft bass of the mighty V8 Biturbo serves only for a pleasant chat background in the interior and does not require increasing the volume when making phone calls. Only the width of the body, which is impressive for narrow roads, and the limited headroom for the rear passengers are a little worrisome.
But at the end of the day, the four-seat space allows for a significant increase in luggage space after folding the seats. This can always be used as a good opportunity to extend your vacation.
Conclusion
The new eighth series accomplishes the intricate twine between the day-to-day Gran Turismo and the sports car much better than its predecessor. But the impressive size and weight still refuse to influence the dynamics and behavior of the robust man.
