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Writer's pictureNile Livesey

2019 BMW M850i xDrive Coupé


We're taking a look at BMW's new flagship halo car, the 2019 BMW M850i xDrive Coupé in stunning Barcelona Blue.

Check out our full episode of TestDrive Spotlight on this G15 BMW 8 Series' predecessor, the E31 1991 BMW 850i: https://youtu.be/hVNNCXFu7kY

We've been excited to get behind the wheel of the all-new BMW 8 Series since it was announced. There's a lot to cover on this vehicle so we made sure we covered as much as we could in our full tour and review of this new grand tourer. We go over everything about it, including some of its direct competitors, where it fits into BMW's lineup, and whether or not it deserves that M Performance badge on the back.

Our full tour of the BMW 8 Series starts with the exterior design and features, such as adaptive LED headlights with BMW Laser high beams, full suite of enhanced safety tech, power folding mirrors, front and rear Park Distance Control, power trunk, 360º camera system, soft-close doors, and puddle lights.

We jump inside the M850i xDrive Coupé to talk about the BMW Individual Merino leather seating finished in Tartufo with black accents, with front seats having power options, memory, heat, and ventilation. Other features include BMW's colour Head-Up Display, BMW Digital Cockpit, 12.3" iDrive 7.0 infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, dual zone automatic climate control, full leather trim throughout, and the M Carbon roof.

We then take the 2019 BMW M850i on a comprehensive road test, including exhaust sounds of cold start, 0-100 kph (0-60 mph) exhaust, flyby, and on-vehicle exhaust sounds. We talk about how this vehicle performs and handles on the road, along with the integral active steering, M Sport Differential, and M Adaptive suspension. We spend most of our driving time in Sport Plus mode but also talk about the vehicle's habits in EcoPro Individual mode with GPS-assisted Steptronic shifting and camera-assisted stop/start functionality.

We discuss the fuel economy we achieved during our week with the 2019 M850i along with our thoughts about how this car fits into BMW's current lineup, and whether or not it truly is a successor to the E31 8 Series from the 1980s.

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