Test drive BMW M850i xDrive Coupe: return from the future
Testing one of the most impressive production coupes on the market
It's no secret that the emergence of an avant-garde i8 in every sense has caused some confusion among hardliners in the BMW fan base. Now tradition is back in full force with the M850i and its 530 hp. and 750 Nm. Is this abundance enough to meet the high expectations of a new episode XNUMX?
The lush harmony of shapes, sizes and proportions of the Bavarian sportsman awakens the senses and opens doors and windows in memory through which memories invade uncontrollably ... Only from the early 90s, when the BMW 850i and its pointed torpedo with folding headlights, the impressive V12 and the sedan with integrated with seat belts, he caused surprise and awakened fantasies and dreams. As if he came from the future. Years later, but again from the same direction, the i8 emerged with its advanced powerplant and sci-fi shapes.
We now have eight more. Another sports coupe with the BMW logo. Another source of sensations and pictures that will fill your memories. Another powerful generator of expectations, fantasies and dreams. As big as the M850i itself.
But the generation with the G15 brand name clearly does not perceive this as a burden. The aristocratic style is deliberately created for applause, the creature under the boundless hood gushes with decadent joy of life, and the fact that the classic scheme with 2 + 2 seats is applied in a car with a total length of 4,85 meters directly and clearly speaks of self-esteem and cheerfulness. philosophy of the great Bavarian. Modern Gran Turismo.
You don't need a crystal ball to understand the nature of events after moving the shift lever's crystal ball to the "D" position. Abundance awaits you - from what you've already found in the exterior, when you open the monumental door, when you place your seat behind the wheel, and when you first look at the impressive screens on the dashboard in front of you. The rest is details - thin leather, precision-cut aluminum and glass. This brings us back to the gear lever and the number 8 shining in its polished ball. This is not accidental. Nomen is a sign.
Source of power
The automatic transmission has eight steps, eight are the cylinders of the 4,4-liter engine in front. About 70% of the components of the seemingly well-known V8 Biturbo have undergone modifications. This is not about trifles, but about changes in the crankcase, pistons, connecting rods and cylinder liners. And the Twin Scroll compressors, placed between two rows of cylinders, are already larger. Therefore, the effect of adding a particulate filter is not felt, and as a result of the changes, the potential of the gasoline V8 increased by 68 hp. and 100 Nm - about the same number of small class models manage to find a place in the sun and even please their owners for some time.
Of course, time also plays a role in the 850i. For 3,8 HP takes 530 seconds. and 750 Nm of torque V8 to stop the Bavarian and accelerate it to 100 km / h. A little later, the speed is interrupted by an electronic limiter, which allows the ceiling to be exactly 254,7 km / h. But the sharp acceleration and the corresponding performance of the braking system are not surprising here. Because the question in the GT category is not whether it really is, but how high-speed driving is implemented.
To respond properly, BMW has equipped the M850i with all available means to ensure impeccable dynamics - a sports suspension with adaptive dampers and active body vibration damping, all-wheel drive with adjustable steering, an electronic rear differential lock. and a dual transmission system that could direct all traction to the rear axle wheels. The result of all this? Brilliant restraint.
In terms of speed, the M850i is a real demon. You realize this even after the third kilometer of the route - there are prerequisites much earlier, but it takes time to process the incoming information. Since the rear wheels are pointed parallel to the front at high speeds, cornering stability is quite surreal – as evidenced by 147,2 km/h recorded on the test track with sequential lane changes. Between the pylons of the slalom, the figure-eight switches to a different mode, in which the front and rear wheels turn in opposite directions and thus significantly improve the maneuverability and dynamics of the large coupe. If the driver is ambitious enough, this assistance from the rear axle is added to the sharp response of the steering system and, in addition to noticeable aggression when changing direction, can create a playful mood in the rear, the DSC system takes this calmly and keeps everything in order. , soft and under full control with precisely dosed braking impulses.
The ease with which all this happens is impressive, as despite the carbon-fiber roof structure, the M850i weighs 1979 kilograms. That's 443 kilograms more than the i8 and 454 kilograms more than the 911 Turbo. However, the size of the large compartment, which takes up 9,2 square meters of road, makes it much more difficult to dynamically overcome turns in narrow mountain areas. In such places, the "eight" is a bit like an elephant in a glass workshop, despite the razor-sharp steering, minimal body vibrations and impeccable stability on the road.
The latter is due to the excellent mechanical traction provided by the adaptive dual transmission and rear differential lock, which, like DSC, do their job quietly, precisely and efficiently, without driver input. It is this introverted behavior of technology that distinguishes the true Gran Turismo from its more aggressive, restless and demanding sporting counterparts. Of course, the eighth series will perfect long journeys and take you on a highway that takes you to the other side of the continent before you know it. Here again we have to pay tribute to the magnificent V8 and its omnipresent powerful and uniform traction. The reported average consumption of 12,5 l / 100 km in the test is clear evidence of the efficiency of the processes taking place in it (it is quite possible to achieve average values below 9 liters), as well as an excellent connection with the automatic transmission with further expansion. gear ratio range. In addition, the multi-stage mechanism uses route profile data from the navigation system and is always ready to offer the best gear for any situation - quiet, smooth, fast and just like everything else in the M850i.
2 + 2
The only place in the new model where you can't buy into first-class comfort and aristocratic exuberance is the second row of seats. Fine leather upholstery fails to make up for the steeply sloping roofline and the lack of legroom weary of the plush driver and companion seats. Therefore, it is better to use the second part of the classic 2 + 2 formula to expand the (considerable) luggage space and preserve the distortion of the intonational environment in a perfectly soundproofed compartment with extra grumbling.
Despite relatively stiff stock suspension settings, the M850i does a great job of driving comfort. In Comfort mode, the impressive wheelbase chassis absorbs everything with very few exceptions, and due to the proximity of suspension, transmission and steering settings in different modes, comfort in the new model is quite acceptable even in Sport and Sport +. Part of modern convenience is the ease of control of many functions. This can be done with both gestures and voice, as well as with the optimized iDrive system, now called Operating System 7.0, which can provide you with the information you want anywhere and anywhere - on the head-up display or on one of the large screens. from Live Cockpit Professional. In this regard, the GXNUMX has both legs to the future.
Otherwise, the M850i is an extremely powerful, fast and dynamic Gran Turismo. An elite example of the best Bavarian tradition that will appeal to anyone for whom the i8 is too futuristic. Great return from the future ...
EVALUATION
The new Series XNUMX continues the tradition in a straight line and represents an impressive Gran Turismo classic in form and scale - luxurious and refined, with great dynamics and power galore. The compromises come down to rear seat placement and relatively high fuel consumption - details that no self-respecting connoisseur is interested in ...
Body
+ There is a lot of space for the driver and his passenger in front, materials and workmanship are impeccable, against the background of a huge number of functions, the ergonomics are very good
- The rear seats are suitable for carrying passengers only as a last resort, the trunk is large, but low and deep, rearward maneuvering visibility is relatively limited, the size of the body is not conducive to dynamic driving on narrow roads with a lot of turns.
Comfort
+ Very comfortable front seats, low noise level in the cabin, comfortable ride and long distances, despite the rigid basic suspension settings ...
-… with a few remarks when passing long undulating irregularities
Engine / transmission
+ Powerful, excellent tuning and harmonious V8, smooth traction, perfectly adapted to the automatic transmission engine
Travel behavior
+ Extremely high stability and safety – especially when driving at high speeds, excellent traction, neutral cornering behavior, precise and direct steering…
-… the steering of the rear wheels is sometimes too harsh
safety
+ Excellent brakes, numerous electronic driver assistance systems ...
-… for some of which there are still no prerequisites for perfect work
ecology
+ Standard built-in diesel particulate filter, acceptable against dynamic fuel consumption characteristics
– High fuel consumption in absolute terms
Costs
+ Very rich standard equipment, three-year warranty
– Fairly expensive maintenance, probably a big loss in value
Text: Miroslav Nikolov
Photo: Georgy Nikolov
