BMW Begins Production on $112,895 M850i

BMW’s new flagship model, the returning 8 Series, has officially entered production in Dingolfing, Germany. However, if you’re interested in one, you’d better check your business card for the applicable tags — words like chairman, president, or doctor. The model starts at a sizable $111,900, plus a $995 delivery fee.

If you find yourself lacking those credentials or the necessary income, we can recommend the slightly less ostentatious 6 Series and a helping of shame, as you’re clearly not the kind of earner you’ve aspired to be.

Of course, if you purchase the 6 Series Coupe you’ll be stuck buying last year’s leftovers and missing out on prestige and power — and we don’t mean symbolically. The base M850i comes with BMW’s 4.4-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 and 523 horsepower with 553 pound-feet of torque. Meanwhile, the base 640i comes with an inline 3.0-liter powerplant. While you can upgrade to the 650i and its 4.4-liter V8, the unit will still be almost 100 ponies shy of what the 8 Series brings to the table.

While the 7 Series can be had with more power, it’s still not the faster car, and you have to spend a literal fortune in extras to gain access to its V12 and all-wheel drive. Meanwhile, the M850i comes with xDrive as standard and costs less but has two fewer doors.

It’s possible BMW might offer a lower-trimmed version of the 8 Series with a smaller engine in the future, though nothing of that nature had been confirmed. Instead, the company is focused on an even more powerful M8 variant, despite the M850i being no slouch. BMW claims it can hit 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and is capable of 155 mph. But we’re guessing the automaker will happily unlock that top speed for something greater if you have the cash.

We imagine most shoppers will be satisfied with the standard equipment in the 8 Series. Base offerings include LED headlamps with BMW’s multi-stage LaserLight system, a 16-speaker Harman Kardon sound system, adaptive dampers, Merino leather seats, and impressively large digital displays.

If you’re interested in spending more, BMW will happily replace the traditional shifter and control knobs with glass or cover the exterior with carbon fiber. We’re not sure how much weight that will save but, at 4,478 pounds in standard guise, every little bit helps.

Even though we poke fun at the price tag, the M850i is actually coming in a little lower than expected. It’s still extremely expensive, but manages to undercut the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe by over ten grand. Sales commence in the fall.

[Images: BMW]