The folks at Regular Car Reviews have recently put through test a 1991 BMW 850i as its replacement is just arriving on the market. There are certainly a few differences between the original 850i and the current M850i though, and that has nothing to do with the badge change.
The original was loved not only for its incredible design but also for its V12 engines, as the model line-up included a number of those. The 850i was powered by a 5-liter V12 naturally aspirated engine good for some 300 HP and 330 lb-ft of torque. Those numbers definitely don’t sound like they could provide neck-breaking thrust, right?
Today, the M850i lost four cylinders but gained two turbochargers and a lot more power. The 4.4-liter V8 engine delivers 523 HP and 553 lb-ft of torque, making the M850i xDrive one of the fastest accelerating cars in BMW’s line-up today. Furthermore, when adjusted to inflation, the M850i seems like a bargain compared to the original. That’s because the car in the footage below cost a bit over $100,000 when new which would translate to some $180,000 today, according to Mr. Regular.
Getting over the funny remarks thrown in this review, there are a couple of interesting notes made here. From the way the car feels on the road, being aimed more towards a comfortable cruise despite its looks, to the way it sounds, Mr. Regular does bring up some good points that you may not be aware of just by drooling over the shapes of the 8er.
We’ll leave you to find out the rest.
