All You Need to Know About BMW 8-Series M850i. 19-years after the discontinuation of the E31 8-Series, BMW has actually exposed the launch of the G15 8-Series. While various designs are in the works, including an M8, the first car to hit the US market is the 2019 BMW M850i.
The E31 8-Series included a 840i and 850i, both 2-door coupes only. The 840i/Ci featured 4.0 L and 4.4 L V8’s, while the 850i models were the king of the castle with 5.0 L V12’s on the 850i designs and 5.4 L V12’s on the 850Ci’s. After spending nearly $9 billion in 2019 cash to develop the 8-series, BMW discontinued sales in North America in 1997 after just selling approx. 7,500.
The G15 8-Series will consist of both the 840i and 850i models, however BMW does not have any more V12’s in its lineup sadly. The M850i will feature BMW’s N63 engine, a 4.4 L twin-turbocharged V8 which is also utilized in numerous other 50i designs from 2008 to present.
The S63 engine, used in the F10 M5 and F06 M6, is most likely the engine we will see in the 2020 M8.
Innovation and Cool Features
2019 and automotive technology has actually become very advanced. At a near $112k base price, this car has a great deal of tech that you won’t see in other cars, as it should.
To start, the car can be locked, opened, and began all with your smartphone, instead of a normal secret. The transmission is incorporated with the GPS system to assist forecast equipment changes. The GPS will notify the transmission when you are approaching intersections, turns, etc which permits the transmission to move appropriately.
The car is powered by all four wheels, however, the BMW 8-Series M850i xDrive system controls the power circulation and just sends power to the rear wheels, unless it discovers an absence of traction, at which point it will disperse power to the front wheels. Additionally, the car will inform you to change your driving line to prevent over or understeer during heaving braking and tight turns. Rear-wheel steering abilities will also be automatically triggered to assist prevent this.
Some other features are semi-autonomous driving, a wireless mobile phone charging pad, ambient lighting features, and onboard WiFi.
In addition to all of that cool stuff, it likewise has the basic collision detection and driver help features that a lot of brand-new cars today have. In general, this car is loaded with some cool innovation that we’ve only seen before by BMW’s elite brother, Rolls Royce.
M850i vs. M8 Comparison
While the BMW M8 has been revealed, and has actually been seen hanging around the Nurburgring, it is not scheduled for launch up until the end of Q3 or early Q4. This is likely the around the very same time that the ‘8-Series Gran Coupe’, a 4-door variation of the 8-Series Coupe, will be introduced.
We have not received an official report of what engine the M8 will utilize, but we expect it to be the S63. The S63 is the engine utilized in the F10 M5 and F06 M6. It has actually remained in production because 2010 and follows the exact same 4.4 L V8 platform as the N63. The S63 uses pre-tuned turbochargers and a cross-engine exhaust manifold to get its performance jump over the N63. A new version of the S63, referred to as the S63B44T4, was released in the 2018 M5 and loads 617hp and 553lb-ft. of torque.
Our presumption is that the G15 M8 will use that same version of the S63, implying the M8 will be putting down a cool 600hp+ from the factory. Compare that to the 523hp from the M850i. Additionally, the S63, like the N63, has actually been out on the market for years which implies that aftermarket modifications will be incredibly simple to implement. A handful of flash tuners are currently on the marketplace for the S63, so you can expect the 700whp mark to be struck quite quickly on the M8 as soon as consumers get their hands on it.
BMW M850i Specs, Horsepower, 0-60mph, Price
M850i Engine: N63 – 4.4 L twin-turbocharged V8
N63 Horsepower/Torque: 523hp/ 553lb-ft. of torque
0-60mph: 3.6 seconds (Car and Driver tested it a 3.3 seconds, nevertheless).
Powertrain: Four-wheel drive (xDrive).
Transmission: 8-speed dual clutch.
Weight: 4,478 lbs.
Price: Beginning around $111,900.
Suspension & Handling.
The M850i has some crazy cool technology, some of it relating to the suspension setup. The front suspension is a double-wishbone setup with a 5-link setup in the rear. The car also has rear wheel steering for tight turns and high-speed stability. Further, it has adaptive suspension which can be changed to different levels of tightness, and variable-ratio steering. The sway bars are really equipped with electric motors that apply torque to produce counter roll and keep the ride as flat as possible … I had the same “what?” When I first discovered this too, reaction.
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The car is rather heavy, as expected, at 4,478 pounds. but the suspension and handling is right in line with what you would anticipate from an M-Performance BMW. With all the technology constructed into the suspension, this car is constructed to intimidate your guests on twisty roads.
M850i Power and Tuning Potential.
The M850i numbers are pretty stout from the factory, with over 500 horsepower and torque. The engine is the exact same engine BMW has actually been using for more than 10 years on some of its other cars, such as the 550i GT and X-Series. Utilizing an engine with a prolonged history has its benefits as BMW has actually had the ability to truly hone in the reliability and performance of the N63.
The M850i uses the N63B44T3 version of the N63. The B44T3 version in the M850i got a handful of updates in 2018. The engine got a new ignition system and improved crank case and cylinder head thermal protecting to improve engine reliability. Furthermore, the engine uses greater pressure (5000psi) fuel injectors, larger turbochargers, an improved intake manifold, and an upstream cooling radiator. These enhancements are what allow the engine to produce 70tq and 69hp more than the previous version.
The very best part of the tenured history of the N63: the DME has already been split and there are already a handful of tunes offered out on the market. A German tuning business has already gotten their hands on an M850i and had the ability to achieve 656lb-ft and 661hp. of torque. Transformed to horsepower at the wheels, this is available in at almost 600whp. Not bad!
