[JRobUSC]

The EVO review was pretty awesome, 4.5 stars out of 5. U.S. reviews are starting to come in, as well, and have been positive thus far. The guy at Automobile Magazine practically creamed in his pants reviewing the car:

Automobile Magazine
"BMW’s Back, Baby! The new 8 Series is shockingly good—no matter where you drive it"
https://www.automobilemag.com/news/2...e-first-drive/

And even Johnny Lieberman at MotorTrend, who typically hates BMW's (and goes out of his way to mention that) raved about it. He even (gasp) said the steering feel was "spot on".

MotorTrend
https://www.motortrend.com/cars/bmw/...-drive-review/

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by AD18

+1 . I feel there has been a spark missing, especially when things started going turbo.

The majority of the current BMW market audience prefers luxury ride quality, easy to turn electric steering, interior gadgets, road isolation, quiet cabins, etc.

BMW is successfully catering to that market. The enthusiasts don't pay the bills. They are part of a very vocal but fairly immense minority of buyers.

BMW claims that they can make program old school steering like feedback into the current electric/electronic steering systems. But their core customers are not interested in a muscle building steering rack as it was in BMW products of yore.

[ezmaass]

I'm the core demographic for this product.

I bought my 2017 650xi Gran Coupe almost 2 years ago now - $113k, nearly fully loaded. It gets me from point A to B (usually a client or airport) in style, comfort, and luxury - all while doing it at speed. I don't want, nor do I need, the car to be a "sports car." It's not. It's an extremely heavy car, and driving it hard in the corners is not pleasurable. Driving it fast on the highway? That, however, is very pleasurable. It's rock stable, quiet inside, and it just effortlessly sheds away miles... with tons of leather, gadgets, and everything else to keep you entertained.

For a SPORTS car, I have my R8 V10. That's designed to actually be fun - not only in a straight line but on twisty back roads. It's refined as far as nice leather and carbon fiber appointments, but it's not going to be a super comfortable conveyance for hours on-end, nor does it give me the technology and insulation from the surrounding world like a GT car. I bought it to have fun, though, as most sports car are designed.

And there's the truth of it. The 8-series is a 6-series replacement. It fills the EXACT same market need, and I suspect most of the buyers will be current 6-series owners. I likely won't be among them, however, as I've not found the 8-series to be compelling enough. Maybe I'll be swayed at some point, but it's not offering any substantial improvement over my current 650xi GC, and I actually find the styling to be a let-down from the concept.

Anyone who is calling this thing a "sports car" really needs to re-examine that thinking. It's NOT. It's a grand touring car, plain and simple.

[JRobUSC]

Originally Posted by ezmaass

I'm the core demographic for this product.

I bought my 2017 650xi Gran Coupe almost 2 years ago now - $113k, nearly fully loaded. It gets me from point A to B (usually a client or airport) in style, comfort, and luxury - all while doing it at speed. I don't want, nor do I need, the car to be a "sports car." It's not. It's an extremely heavy car, and driving it hard in the corners is not pleasurable. Driving it fast on the highway? That, however, is very pleasurable. It's rock stable, quiet inside, and it just effortlessly sheds away miles... with tons of leather, gadgets, and everything else to keep you entertained.

For a SPORTS car, I have my R8 V10. That's designed to actually be fun - not only in a straight line but on twisty back roads. It's refined as far as nice leather and carbon fiber appointments, but it's not going to be a super comfortable conveyance for hours on-end, nor does it give me the technology and insulation from the surrounding world like a GT car. I bought it to have fun, though, as most sports car are designed.

And there's the truth of it. The 8-series is a 6-series replacement. It fills the EXACT same market need, and I suspect most of the buyers will be current 6-series owners. I likely won't be among them, however, as I've not found the 8-series to be compelling enough. Maybe I'll be swayed at some point, but it's not offering any substantial improvement over my current 650xi GC, and I actually find the styling to be a let-down from the concept.

Anyone who is calling this thing a "sports car" really needs to re-examine that thinking. It's NOT. It's a grand touring car, plain and simple.

Congrats on your success, but in fairness you are in the minority, most people don't own a $113k daily driver and a $150k weekend toy. I could afford one of them, but I couldn't have two, and for someone like me, the M850 does an admirable job of combining the attributes of both. Maybe it's not quite as plush as an S-class or as sporty as a 911 (or R8), but it does a good job of being plush LIKE an S-class, AND sporty LIKE a 911 or R8, which is something none of those cars can do (and it looks like an Aston Martin, which to me is sexy as hell). The Gran Coupe version should be downright fantastic, especially in full M guise.

[brad850csi]

Replying to both of the two recent posts - I did consider an R8 V10 manual, last of the first gen as well as getting a 535d F11 or an M140i - but a big part of the GT aspect for me is 500-1000 mile trips past a bunch of wineries for a week and the R8 just wouldn’t have the luggage capacity. The AMG GT in a good enough spec would have been ok as it has quite a bit of room but they are outside my price range plus I’d still need a more practical car.

For my use which is 30-60 miles a day around the city, to parking buildings, occasional 3 or 4 seater plus fantastic touring credentials (comfort, fuel range in particular) for trips away, it really suits me more than any other car.

You’re right though - it too heavy to be a sports car but it is sportier than the S coupe or the Continental GT while having 4 seats and being significantly more comfortable than an M4 so I still can’t think of a single car I’d prefer.

My next car will most likely end up being an M8 Coupe unless Porsche release a new 928 or 2 door Panamera

[Cincinnatus]

Nothing we haven't heard before aimed at the 650 and M6. Everything old is new again, I suppose.

[mbchris]

M = Motorsport. Enough said.

[fiftee50]

Very positive review from Automobile Magazine: https://www.automobilemag.com/news/2...e-first-drive/

[Teutonic]

The memory radio hotkeys were available for a very long time now, including smaller models. Indeed a very nice feature, but nothing new.


either the glasses are crooked, either this guys right ear is really higher than the other...

[marcvtec]

Well done BMW - interior looks cheaper then a GTR.
Rear end looks like a messed up lexus.
Side profile is a mustang screwing a martin.

Wish they did much better. 8 is dead to me.

[Fritzer]

Originally Posted by cc3

Maybe a bit disappointing hope the M8 is more of a drivers car

Seems like they're going for more of a GT "S-class" thing with this car. Wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't a driver's car after seeing the way BMW corporate has been going.

[SUB-ZERO]

Originally Posted by Richy Rich

I have a 760whp M3, I don't see how BMW hasn't built a sports car.

It can go toe to toe with a 720s, even if it's tuned, then swap tunes and dominate on a track — it seats 4 adult sized humans and has 4 doors.

Don't know why you're bitching about a car that is in a far different class than their actual sports car...

What m3 can go toe to toe with a 720s? Get out of here with that nonsense man.

You could put wings on an m3 and it still wouldn't come close. Hahahaha

[Richy Rich]

Originally Posted by SUB-ZERO

What m3 can go toe to toe with a 720s? Get out of here with that nonsense man.

Use your brain, man child.

[AD18]

Originally Posted by 530iDriver

The majority of the current BMW market audience prefers luxury ride quality, easy to turn electric steering, interior gadgets, road isolation, quiet cabins, etc.

BMW is successfully catering to that market. The enthusiasts don't pay the bills. They are part of a very vocal but fairly immense minority of buyers.

BMW claims that they can make program old school steering like feedback into the current electric/electronic steering systems. But their core customers are not interested in a muscle building steering rack as it was in BMW products of yore.

Yep I agree. A bit of a shame for us enthusiasts though that want something a bit more special from the brand or look to the past expecting the same now. Unfortunately, money talks.

[Jono2112]

Originally Posted by hinckley

I'm a huge fan of the BMW brand, but I just can't understand why they (or anyone else, apparently) can't do what Porsche has done. Consider the 9114S, Porsche's closest performer to the M850. It weighs 1100 pounds less than the BMW. That's a crazy number. Exterior dims are much smaller, but the front seats are only marginally smaller. And both cars' back seats are equally unusable. The only real-life advantage for the M850 is the ability to fit a set of golf clubs in the trunk. Is that really worth another 1100 pounds of weight?

I know it's a first world problem, but I'd kill for the love child of my M4 and my 911!

Wasn't that supposed to be the Panamera?

[kzflags]

Originally Posted by pheerIx

I feel sorry for people who buy BMWs as status symbols

no need to - stay in your own lane.

whos the bigger asshole, the guy blowing cocaine or the guy judging you for blowing cocaine?

[scrammer]

Originally Posted by spatterson007

Not very many roads with a speed limit of 180 mph. 0 to 60 is what most daily drivers care about. Obviously you occasionally gun it on the highway, but unless you are on a track, 0-60 is a pretty significant factor.

it is all about 0-60 times ... Not!

its about acceleration, braking, hitting the apex, style, and 'that' feeling ...

[hinckley]

Originally Posted by Jono2112

Wasn't that supposed to be the Panamera?

Hmm . . . I'm not sure that that was Porsche's intent, but if it was, they failed badly. The Panny's a nice car, but its weight is much, much closer to a Cayenne than a 911 or a M4.

[brad850csi]

Originally Posted by hinckley

Hmm . . . I'm not sure that that was Porsche's intent, but if it was, they failed badly. The Panny's a nice car, but its weight is much, much closer to a Cayenne than a 911 or a M4.

I wonder if a 928 replacement based on the Panamera will come out.

[hinckley]

Originally Posted by brad850csi

I wonder if a 928 replacement based on the Panamera will come out.

There's been talk about that for years in enthusiasts' blogs, but there's no indication that Porsche is working on such a thing. Their focus seems to be on the 992, Taycan and next-gen Macan right now.

[rolandeis]

Here is another - I mean very good - test report, characterizing the 8 coupe:

[bmweston]

Am I the only one that things it's an underwhelming barge?