BMW 840/850

The even numbering is reserved for the coupes (8..). Mostly they are based on the sedans of the below numbers. After the model series has started successfully, they at the end receive the strongest engine and a lightweight construction. So it happened with the 6 - series and is planned for the larger 8 - series. The 6 - series coupe is of course based on the 5 - series sedan, whilst the 8 - series is based on the 7 - series sedan. At first the 8 - series receives a 12-cylinder engine. Later on, BMW inserts a stronger variant of the twelve-cylinder engine, and an eight-cylinder engine. Traditionally, BMW is not doing well with its coupes. This holds true even more for this 8 - series coupe. Although rather successfully started, the production of this 8 - series must be stopped in 1999 in the absence of demand, without successor. Originally there were plans for a light weight version with high-capacity engine (M 8), but also these plans are cancelled.

Maybe its lack of success is also due to the fact that the vehicle cannot be classified properly. Its astonishingly plain front, in spite of the engine underneath, with the pop-up headlights resembles the M1, in contrast to the certainly not plain rear. Even the 43 pages long sales prospectus avoids a close-up just of the back. Unfortunately, the sporty impression of a mid-engine sports car suggested by the front is not confirmed when driving the car. The car with nearly 2 metric tons of weight does not carry a distinct sports car feeling, in spite of its 12-cylinders, though, this subjective impression turns out to be deceptive when comparing the sheer figures. The road performances lie far beyond that of normal cars, once the lower numbers of revolutions are left behind. A quite dreamlike Grand Tourisme, if it was not for its excessive fuel consumption which may amount to 25 liters / 100 km on the highway and during stop and go traffic in the city almost twice as much.

Already during the development of this BMW the data processing is fully used for the first time. Also sections of the display are digital, and there is already a check-up of many functions during the drive and there are a lot of electronically controlled assistants. There are electronic assistants for the engine, the automatic transmission, and also the chassis. Long before the launch in normal cars, this car features a dynamic stability control. The rear axle has - copied from the 7 - series - an electro-hydraulic adjustment of the rear axle track, depending on the steering angle of the front axle, indeed, limited to less than 3 °. You may find further details on mechanical influencing of the rear-axle steering angle here.

The interior is extraordinary. A considerable amount of keys at the bottom side of the front seats permit their adjustment in all directions. Where the headrests are fixed to the outside of the seat back rest there is guidance for the safety belts. The dash board including the middle air nozzles is oriented towards the driver seat. The outer air nozzles are integrated into the door-inside linings. The darkly grained wood fits excellently to the leather lining. The engine is barely hearable, the automatic transmission adapts itself to the individual driving manner of the driver, and there are a lot of precautions integrated into the chassis.