This is a short video I'd like to share with you folks. The 8 gets started up right after the launch event ends. After dinner, the chaps at BMW Malaysia started up the M850i xDrive for a bit. Both of the cars were started up and we got to hear is sing. A little. Not a whole lot as this was a static display and we all know engines like this sing best when there is some load put to it.
The M850i xDrive variant which you see in the video (and photos) herein is equipped with BMW's latest 4.4 liter twin turbocharged V8 engine. In M Performance form (which somehow still isn;t a full 'M8' but gets many uprated M parts), it delivers 530hp between 5,500 – 6,000 rpm. The maximum torque of 750Nm from 1,800 to 4,600 rpm. 0-100kmh is in 3.7 seconds and BMW says it posts a fuel consumption of 10.4 litres per 100 kilometres. Maximum speed is limited to 250kmh like most German cars are these days (of course, sometimes there are those super special ones lah). More details can be found at the launch article here.
Anyway, nice V8 sound! Rorty at idle and when blipped it sounds nice. Of course, most V8s are nice but the only drawback these days is the entry price for such a car. The price quoted was RM1,088 Million for it AND this, is the only variant of this flagship coupe on offer. Since we're in Malaysia, we';ve for 4,400cc of annual road tax to cater to. Which, shouldn't be an issue if you can afford the asking price in the first place.
It's quite a unique proposition this BMW 8 Series. It has to fend off challenges from other high end manufacturers, especially those niche sports car makers like Porsche, Maserati and the likes. The two mentioned have cars that only start off at over RM600,000 here and onwards to over RM2 million. So aside from the usual German rivals, this large coupe would have to be fend off more exotic, less mass market, rivals.
But one thing that this new 8 series shows is that the market for high end luxury cars is growing again. There are more net worth people in the world today. More than when the original 8 Series was on sale. So BMW must have done their research before making such a car. Quite obvious.
Anyway, watch the video. Sounds start past the 1:32 mark if you'd like to skip the usual beauty shots and all that.
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