2020 BMW M850i Gran Coupe review: Bigger is better

The new BMW eight Sequence is just about a 12 months old, and it continue to feels new as a daisy. But no carmaker enjoys splitting its design strains into myriad variants like BMW, and in just this small sum of time, we now have the 840i, M850i, M8 and M8 Competition, all of which can be experienced as a two-door coupe, convertible or four-door Gran Coupe. That usually means there are 12 various variations of the eight Sequence from which to opt for, and I believe this M850i Gran Coupe is essentially the decide on of the litter.

The Gran Coupe is so named for its greater proportions about the two-door eight Sequence coupe, with a for a longer time wheelbase, a broader footprint and, most obviously, two far more doorways, enabling improved access to the greater rear seats. Controlling Editor Steven Ewing set the base 840i Gran Coupe as a result of its paces previous 12 months, and mentioned the 3.-liter turbo I6 motor provided a lot of grunt, but this M850i tester goes major with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, very good for 523 horsepower and 553 pound-ft of torque.

That is far more than sufficient ability for this four-door, even with the additional 300 lbs it carries about the two-door coupe. The chassis is very properly sorted — there is certainly hardly any physique roll and the Adaptive M suspension strikes a very good balance amongst organization and soft. The level of overall stiffness and composure is essentially quite astonishing, presented this vehicle’s sizing.

The eight-speed computerized transmission is a desire, so considerably so that I hardly ever come across it essential to use the paddle shifters. This transmission hardly ever has to hunt for the correct equipment, it retains revs steadily in Sport and Sport Plus modes and eagerly downshifts under braking so there is certainly normally rapid ability readily available whilst exiting a corner.

Cornering attributes are created improved many thanks to the optional rear-axle steering, which can help the M850i Gran Coupe rotate as a result of restricted curves. This exact same tech, which can turn the rear wheels in or out by 2.5 levels based on speed, will make lane-adjustments much easier on the freeway, too.

This up-level Gran Coupe delivers a number of other M goodies, which includes a activity rear differential, which retains torque moving facet to facet amongst the back again wheels as essential. The M Sport brakes are wonderful, scrubbing off speed with relieve, without remaining tough to modulate. I even like the $4,a hundred M Carbon Exterior layout offer which, blended with this car’s twenty-inch wheels, give the major four-door a really intense search.

Even when you aren’t blasting about, the M850i is nicely sorted in its default Ease and comfort manner, with a comfortable suspension that soaks up most pavement imperfections. Listed here, the transmission shifts so easily it is really nearly imperceptible. If this motor vehicle experienced massaging seats, my commute would be heaven.

That mentioned, it is really not like the M850i is just not chock-a-block with capabilities. I have acquired heated and cooled seats, heated armrests and a heated steering wheel. The diamond-lower glass equipment selector is a interesting if flashy bit of beauty, and the $3,four hundred 16-speaker, 1,four hundred-watt Bowers & Wilkins audio system is absolutely divine.

In addition to remaining comfy, commuting in the M850i Gran Coupe is largely anxiety-free of charge, many thanks to all the readily available driver-help capabilities. The only lousy news is that most of them are optional extras, which would seem silly on a motor vehicle that starts at $109,895, which includes $995 for desired destination. I like the Website traffic Jam Aid, which combines adaptive cruise command, steering aid and lane-keeping aid to aid freeway commuting. The system stays energetic for thirty seconds when website traffic arrives to a end, too, so I don’t have to hold flicking the “resume” toggle in purchase to reactivate this tech.

The M850i Gran Coupe also has parallel and perpendicular parking help, in addition to a back again-up assistant that can bear in mind the previous 165 ft of your push and quickly trace the exact same route in reverse. It really is tremendous handy in restricted, crowded parking loads. The 360-degree camera has a crisp, obvious feed, and you can even see your motor vehicle whilst parked from the BMW Connected application.

Cabin tech is managed by BMW’s iDrive 7 computer software, housed on a 12.3-inch central display, as properly as a ten.2-inch reconfigurable gauge cluster. iDrive has a fairly steep learning curve, with a lot of menus for menus’ sake, but a lot of other Roadshow staffers like it, and at the time you might be applied to the system, it is really not so lousy. Apple CarPlay is now provided, and free of charge (eventually!). CarPlay is also wireless, which is brilliant. And whilst BMW doesn’t yet offer Android Vehicle, the tech is coming this July.

All of this tech is the exact same as what you’ll come across in the rest of the eight Sequence Gran Coupe products, but the feather in the M850i’s cap is its overall effectiveness balance. The M850i delivers a major step up about the lesser 840i Gran Coupe, but is just not as about-the-prime as an M8. It really is a whole second faster in the -to-60-mph run than the 840i, capable to do the dash in 3.7 seconds. And at no point does 523 hp and 553 lb-ft ever feel like it is just not sufficient — the M850i’s V8 has a lot of ability for just about just about every problem. So considerably so, in truth, that I don’t consider the additional expense to step up to the M8 is really essential.

Even versus opponents, the M850i Gran Coupe delivers a persuasive offer. The Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class is softer, and the Porsche Panamera is way far more high priced. In truth, the Gran Coupe is the minimum-high priced edition of the BMW eight Sequence — if you want a smaller sized two-door, you’ll have to pay far more income.

The 2020 BMW M850i Gran Coupe delivers the most effective bang for your buck in the whole eight Sequence range. The M850i Gran Coupe has far more than sufficient ability, but maintains a level of composure that will make it appropriate for day by day driving. It really is far more practical than the coupe or convertible, and honestly, it appears to be like improved, too. Of all the new eight Sequence products, this is certainly the a person to get.