BMW Group Malaysia Launches The 8 Series In M850i Guise
Last week, BMW Group Malaysia launched The 8, the newest member of the premium automaker’s portfolio of luxury vehicles. This is subsequent to the teaser with the Concept 8 a year ago. It is available in Malaysia in the M850i xDrive Coupe guise and is priced at RM1,088,800 (on the road without insurance). The retail price includes BMW Group Malaysia’s latest 5 Years Unlimited Mileage Warranty, Free Scheduled Service Programme and BMW Tyre Warranty Programme.
From its name, we can derive that this car features an all-wheel-drive system (xDrive) as well as a performance-oriented powertrain (M). Power goes to the intelligent rear-biased all-wheel-drive system from the new-generation 4.4L V8 with two twin-scroll turbochargers producing 530 hp and 750 Nm of torque, via the latest 8-speed Steptronic sports transmission. The car does 0 – 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds and has top speed capped at 250 km/h. Official average fuel consumption is 10.4 litres per 100 km.
“At the BMW Group, we’ve always had our sights on the future, and the First Generation BMW 8 Series is testimony to that. First introduced in 1989, the luxurious sports coupe was bold and ahead of its time in terms of performance, innovation and luxury. It was the first BMW vehicle to introduce electronic drive-by-wire throttle, Dynamic Stability Control and Integral Active Steering with the use of multi-link rear axle technology. Three decades on, we have taken the future-looking legacy of the BMW 8 Series and we are bringing this luxurious sports coupe into the modern era to set standards for the future.” said Mr. Harald Hoelzl, Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia.
Except for some bits that may not be practical in a production version, the 8 looks very similar to the Concept 8, though the standard BMW Laserlight – the slimmest headlights of any BMW model to-date, aren’t as slim as the concept’s; and the LED tail lights gain a more practical housing.
The BMW M performance model is recognisable by its exclusive exterior appointments in Cerium Grey, an M rear spoiler and illuminated door sills bearing the model name. It also comes standard with an additional front spoiler to minimise lift that occurs at the front axle at high speeds. The 8 comes with powerful 19” M Sport brakes along with blue painted M calipers and 20” M light-alloy wheels in with mixed-sized tyres. Specific to the Sunset Orange exterior colour offering is the option for jet black wheels.
In addition to the Adaptive M Suspension, the 8 also comes standard with Integral Active Steering which reduces the car’s turning circle when manoeuvring, increases agility at moderate speeds and optimises handling when changing lanes and cornering at high speeds.
The interior also bears many touches from the concept car, most notably the centre console and stack, and especially the gear lever and control knob. The M Sport package for the interior includes the M leather steering wheel, anthracite BMW Individual headliner, M pedals, M driver’s footrest and special floor mats.
The newly-developed multi-function sports seats are upholstered in Merino leather. With the low seating position of the rear seats, it was possible for designers to integrate the head restraints into the backrests. The rear backrest splits 50:50 and when folded down, increases the capacity of the 420-litre boot space.
For the first time, active seat ventilation is also made available where cooled air is sucked in from the cabin then guided along the body to the seats’ built-in fans for more direct temperature control of the seat cushions and backrests.
Other features of the 8 includes active cruise control with Stop & Go function, and Driving Assistant Professional. The driving assistance features include Lane Departure Warning, Lane Change Warning, Pedestrian Collision Warning, Crossing Traffic Warning (front and rear), Emergency Stop Assistant, steering and lane control assistant, Lane Keeping Assistant with active side collision protection and Evasion Aid, which now reacts to pedestrians.
Standard too is the BMW Live Cockpit Professional which is the latest-generation display and control concept consisting of a high-resolution 12.3″ instrument cluster behind the steering wheel as well as a 10.25” Control Display which run on the new BMW Operating System 7.0. Other components of the BMW Live Cockpit Professional include an adaptive navigation system, a hard-drive-based multimedia system with 20 GB of memory, two USB ports, and Bluetooth and WiFi interfaces.
The built-in SIM card and unlimited data allows for the use of BMW’s Concierge Service, Remote Services and Intelligent Emergency Call to automatically summon swift assistance in an emergency, and receive regular updates for the navigation system’s maps.
Also making its debut in the car is the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant which answers to “Hey BMW”. This Personal Assistant learns your routines and habits, and applies them in the appropriate context. But unlike most digital assistants, this one allows for a name change so it can be prompted with “Hey Bimmer” or “Hey Friday”.
The BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant will also benefit from constant technical upgrades and be able to learn more preferences and favoured settings. Based on the driver’s favourite settings, it can activate a combination of them to enhance well-being. For instance, “Hey BMW, I feel tired” triggers a vitality programme that adjusts the lighting mood, music and temperature, among other things, in order to make the driver feel more awake.
Another first in the 8 is the BMW Digital Key which employs Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to allow the luxury sports car to be locked and unlocked from a smartphone. The smartphone simply has to be held up to the door handle to open the door. Once inside, the engine can be started as soon as the phone has been placed in the Wireless Charging or smartphone tray. Via the BMW Connected App, the Digital Key enables the driver to share the key with up to five people.
The BMW M850i xDrive Coupe comes with the choice of Carbon Black metallic, Black Sapphire metallic, Sonic Speed Blue metallic, Barcelona Blue metallic, Sunset Orange metallic and Mineral White exterior colours, matched with Black, Cognac or Ivory White BMW Individual Merino full leather trim sports seat.
Owners of The 8 can also experience the complete BMW Group Malaysia Premium Ownership experience which includes:
- BMW 5-Year Unlimited Mileage Warranty with Free Scheduled Service Program
- BMW 2-Year/ 24 Month Tyre Warranty Program for its Run Flat Tyre offering and services
- BMW Roadside Assistance and Accident Hotline
- The BMW Group Loyalty+ Mobile App – BMW White Card
- BMW Service Online
With the Balloon Financing Plan from BMW Group Financial Services Malaysia, the BMW M850i xDrive Coupe can be owned with monthly instalment plans starting from RM 12,418 (based on estimates of an 80% loan on a five-year tenure).
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