By Mauricio Lezcano / carsntravel.com / photos BMW US Press Information
For 2020 BMW introduces the new four door M850i xDrive Gran Coupe, it offers the unmatched combination of a beautiful design, luxurious appointments, the latest driver assistance systems, connectivity and sports car performance expected from the top of the line of BMW automobiles.
Exterior
The new BMW M850i Gran Coupe, offers a stunning and powerful sweeping four-door body with wide flanks and sharp creased modern lines. with a rear track of 65.8 inches it stands on the widest rear track of any BMW automobile.
From the a-pillar back, the Gran Coupe design differs from that of the Coupe to both increase interior space and deliver a vehicle with strong presence and authority. The windshield features less rake than in the Coupe to allow the roofline to raise to a higher point above the front seats, providing increased headroom for both front and rear passengers. The roof then merges into the rear trunk lid with fin-like transitional lines to create the visual of a long and flowing body. The rear glass is mounted with increased rake to increase the size of the trunk opening and acts to from a fixed part of the body’s structure to increase torsional rigidity and reduce noise entering the cabin.
The standard panoramic glass moonroof stretches from the front windshield all the way back to the rear window, flooding the cabin with light. The multi-functional antenna is integrated into the rear glass, eliminating the need for the roof-mounted shark fin antenna and allowing the new larger glass roof. The M850i xDrive Gran Coupe will offer an optional Carbon Fiber roof which replaces the glass moonroof and lowers both the weight and center of gravity to further improve handling and performance.
Standard Icon Adaptive LED Headlights with Laser-light flank the one-piece hexagonal BMW kidney grille surround which frames active air intake slats inside. Large openings in either side of the front bumper give the low-slung front end an aggressive appearance. Functional Air Breathers let air flow through the front fenders improving both aerodynamics and styling. The Hofmeister kink in the expansive c-pillar ties the flowing side profile lines of the new Gran Coupe to heavily sculptures rear fenders and trunk lid. Slim LED rear lights stand high above trapezoidal twin exhaust pipes.
Interior
The welcoming interior features touches such as Nappa leather on the dashboard and upper door panels, electroplated air vent surrounds and door trim and quilting and decorative stitching on the seating surfaces. The extended center console is unique to the model and continues into the rear space, dividing the individually styled right and left seats while still allowing for the rear center seat space to be used when needed. The rear console offers passengers individual right and left climate controls, air vents, storage tray and USB-C ports.
The standard heated front sport seats feature integrated headrests and are designed with a thinner profile to allow for greater rear knee space. All four main seats offer generous levels of lateral support so that the performance capabilities can be enjoyed by all passengers. The rear seats can be folded down in a 40:20:40 configuration allowing for any variation of passengers and cargo on both short and long trips.
In addition, the ambient light feature emphasizes the forward-pointing lines inside the car to striking effect. Indirect illumination of the contour lines running along the center console and the door shoulders using precisely positioned LED optical fibers creates an exclusive mood.
Driver Assistance Systems
The 2020 BMW 850i Series Gran Coupe is available with a wide variety of standard and optional driver assistance systems. The systems really come into their own when driving longer distances by relieving the strain on the driver in monotonous situations, such as traffic jams or slow-moving traffic. They enhance comfort and safety both in urban traffic and on longer trips by providing targeted assistance in complex traffic situations.
The optional Driving Assistance Professional contains Active Blind Spot Detection, Lane Departure Warning, Surround View Camera, Parking Assistant, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Speed Limit Information; Another component of the Driving Assistance Professional Package is the Lane Keeping Assistant with Active Side Collision Protection. This system is designed to help the driver guide the vehicle back onto the correct path with an active turn of the steering wheel. Besides emitting visual warning signals and causing the steering wheel to vibrate, active side collision protection also uses active steering intervention to help avoid a collision. Moreover, this package includes Extended Traffic Jam Assistant for limited access highways, which allows for even more relaxed driving at speeds lower than 40 mph during highly congested highway traffic situations.
The latest generation of the BMW Head-Up display system features a larger projection area, optimized graphics and additional content. The Head-Up Display projects information directly into the driver’s field of vision where it can be viewed without any need for them to divert their eyes from the road. This includes details of vehicle speed, speed limits and overtaking restrictions, Check Control messages, status indicators and warnings from the assistance systems, detailed route guidance and turn instructions, as well as telephone and entertainment lists. The displayed information and style can be adjusted via the new M mode button on the center console.
V8 Power and performance
Under the hood, the BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupe is powered by the latest generation of the BMW TwinPower 4.4-liter eight-cylinder Turbo engine. Power production is rated at 523 hp between 5,500 – 6,000 rpm and 553 lb-ft of torque between 1,800 – 4,600 rpm which allow this model to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. The top speed is electronically limited to 130 mph when equipped with all-season tires and 155 mph when equipped with performance tires.
The new V8 engine serves up an enthralling sound, which is enhanced by the standard flap-controlled sports exhaust system. It boasts a wonderfully versatile character that can also adapt itself to effortlessly relaxed cruising. The Driving Experience Control switch can be used to activate both extremely sporty and distinctly comfort-oriented powertrain settings. In the SPORT and SPORT+ modes, accelerator response as well as the V8 engine’s power delivery and acoustics which take on a particularly distinctive note in the SPORT+ setting is all configured for an exhilarating driving experience.
The V8 engine transfers power to the driveline through the latest improved version of the Steptronic Sport automatic transmission featuring a weight-reducing design, a newly developed controller and a wider gear ratio spread. The eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission now shifts gear more sharply courtesy of an optimized hydraulics control unit. A new generation of torsion dampers that reduce rotational forces within the powertrain help improve both driving comfort and shift smoothness. Integral twin-damper systems for isolating vibrations reduce the degree of slip at the torque converter lock-up clutch.
Shift paddles on the steering wheel are included as standard for manual gear selection, while a Launch Control function allows for accelerating from a standing start with maximum available traction; The eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission’s controller can adapt its shift parameters to the current driving situation through intelligent networking with the standard Navigation system, enabling it to take the planned route into account. Navigation data is used to downshift early, for example, when approaching an intersection in order to use engine braking to slow the car down. Likewise, the intelligent controller can avoid unnecessary gear shifts between two corners that follow in quick succession, making it possible to drive through at a quicker pace.
Summary
The BMW M850i XDrive Grand Coupe offers a stunning and powerful sweeping four-door body with wide flanks and sharp creased modern lines; Standard equipment includes Full LED headlights with BMW Laser Light technology, BMW Individual Merino Leather upholstery, sixteen-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, Sport Automatic Transmission, Adaptive M Suspension with Active-Roll Stabilization, M Sport Brakes, Parking Assistant and BMW Live Cockpit Professional with 12.3 inch and 10.25 inch digital displays, navigation and offering the latest generation of iDrive.
The 2020 BMW M850i xDrive can also be ordered with optional Driving Assistant Professional, a 1,400 watt Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound system, Glass Controls for the gear selector, iDrive controller, start/stop button, audio volume knob, and a Carbon Fiber roof. Also available is a carbon fiber exterior trim package, including carbon inlays in the front and rear bumpers, large diffusor blades in the rear, and carbon mirror caps and rear spoiler. Prices start at $108,900 for the M850i xDrive Gran Coupe. Pricing does not include $995 Destination.
mlezcano@carsntravel.com
