A look back at the original BMW 8 Series should make you appreciate the new one even more. Unveiled almost three decades ago, the first-gen 850i enamored us with gorgeous styling, impressive tech, and tanklike solidity at triple-digit speeds. And its big V-12 and six-speed manual gearbox? Very enticing. But overall the 850i failed to elicit much in the way of a visceral reaction, we noted. Handsome but unfulfilling. --> The hard, cold numbers confirmed our feelings. It needed 6.7 seconds to reach 60 mph and 15.1 seconds to reach a quarter mile, trailing cheaper sports cars including a savage slew of Japanese imports like the Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 and Nissan 300ZX Turbo. BMW s M division eventually worked its magic with the quicker and more exciting 850CSi, but it came years later and was relatively rare. So with that in mind, is the second-gen 8 another lethargic luxobarge like its predecessor? Absolutely not. And it didnt take us long to reach that answerjust 3.5 seconds to be exact. Thats how quickly the M850i xDrive rocketed to 60 mph in our testing before crossing the quarter mile in 11.9 seconds at 116 mph. Impressive numbers considering its 4,365-pound curb weight. To make its big car go fast, BMW has stuffed a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 under the hood, good for 523 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. Thats hooked up to an eight-speed auto and xDrive system that divvies power to both rear and front wheels, resulting in explosive acceleration off the line with little to no wheelspin. Consistent, too, thanks to its launch control system, which is easy to activate. Things got interesting on the figure-eight course, where we discovered that its quite easy to get the rear end looseit may have all-wheel drive, but the system definitely favors the back wheels. The M850s 24-second lap is good for a car of this size, but road test editor Chris Walton said it didnt come easy. Jeez, theres a lot going on here, Walton noted. I was constantly sawing at the wheel on the skidpad to maintain a smooth line. It would understeer on entry, then go neutral, then transition into oversteerall by itself. We suspect the rear-wheel steering system is the main culprit here. According to BMW, the back wheels turn opposite of the front wheels at low speeds. And at higher speeds, theyre pointed in the same direction as the fronts. This transition takes place at 45 mph, which just happens to be how fast the M850i is traveling during those crucial moments when its entering and exiting the skidpad. Walton also said brake feel could be better and that the Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires were grippy but heated up and lost traction just after a few laps. OK, so the M850i wasnt exactly tuned to master our figure-eight course. And although the rear steering system is a nuisance on the figure eight, its oddly fun at low speeds, where snaking through a crowded and tight parking lot can feel like a carnival teacup ride. The M850i also shines on twisty roads, as long as you stay within six- to seven-tenths of its limits. But perhaps most important to most buyers is how smooth and calm it is while cruising the boulevard and highwayride quality is remarkably good considering its sporty suspension (with adjustable dampers) and 20-inch-wheel setup (245/35 up front and 275/30 at the rear). Yes, the sidewalls are extremely short for a car of this size and weight, so prepare to have a bad and expensive day if you encounter any potholes. If you live in a city thats slow to patch roads, wed recommend the 19-inch wheels with thicker rubbers, which should still pair well with the handsome sheetmetal. And yes, the M850i looks good. Ignore any comments about the 8 Series being a simple carbon copy of the 4 Series. That might be true if youre looking at a small image on the cracked screen of an iPhone 5, but in person, theres no denying the 8s commanding presence that the 4 Series simply cant match (no knock on the 4, which is also attractive). So right out of the gate BMWs new flagship coupe is properly quickly. It might not be the Ultimate Drive Machine at the limit, but most buyers wont care anyway. And it gives us more reason to eagerly await the upcoming M8. 2019 BMW M850i xDrive Coupe BASE PRICE $112,895 PRICE AS TESTED $118,945 VEHICLE LAYOUT Front-engine, AWD, 4-pass, 2-door coupe ENGINE 4.4L/523-hp/553-lb-ft twin-turbo DOHC 32-valve V-8 TRANSMISSION 8-speed automatic CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) 4,365 lb (55/45%) WHEELBASE 111.1 in LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 191.2 x 74.9 x 53.0 in 0-60 MPH 3.5 sec QUARTER MILE 11.9 sec @ 116.1 mph BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 107 ft LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.99 g (avg) MT FIGURE EIGHT 24.0 sec @ 0.84 g (avg) EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON 18/25/20 mpg ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY 187/135 kW-hrs/100 miles CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB 0.94 lb/mile The post 2019 BMW M850i xDrive First Test: Right the Second Time? appeared first on Motortrend .