1994 BMW 850CSi Probably the Best BMW Ever!

We grew up in the very interesting era of the 80s and 90s. It was a time that closed a millennium and opened another. A time of strange perceptions and beliefs.

Ultimately a time that would define the present, setting the pace towards what is our reality today.

During this period in the motor industry, specifically the premium car segment, two brands stood tall, Mercedes Benz and BMW. Some brands like Lexus and Audi were still in their infancy while others such as Jaguar were just in the shadows.

Product lines of the time were merely a handful, about of five or six models to a brand, unlike today’s which are well into the teens or up 20. There were no X6, X5s or any X-rated BMWs, and neither were there any of the GLS or CLC coupés of today. These limitations caused fierce competition, as each car was in the global spotlight and one new one would tilt the balance significantly.

From the 70s and earlier, BMW was looking to make a car that would rival the Mercedes SL and they began to develop the eight series. In 1981, pens went to paper and eight years later, they unleashed a car that amazed the world and baffled its rival Mercedes-Benz. However, Mercedes was also busy releasing the 1990 Mercedes Benz SL, which you can catch in next week’s Top Revs.

The then-new eight series would change the outlook of the BMW brand forever, buying it a place among top end sporting brands like Porsche, Aston Martin, Ferrari, and Lamborghini, which came with a hefty price tag.

Launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show of 1989, it made a dazzling impression: within eight days of launch, BMW had received 5 000 orders and by the summer of 1990 it was reported that the entire production of up to 12 000 units annually had been sold out until 1993. Some people were prepared to pay twice as much for it. However, demand was dampened by its long waiting lists and exhorbitant price as it was launched on the eve of a recession.

Because of the design work by Klaus Kapitza, the eight series is drop dead gorgeous, even presently. It was released in an era when the world was smitten by the likes of the ‘Knight Rider’ Pontiac, Corvettes, Nissan Zs, Lamborghinis and Ferraris.

It wears a very small face with a miniature grille and deploying lights. Standing wide, long and with muscular shoulders it possesses a lithe look, one that can only be linked to the wind tunnel as its sculptor.

Our featuring CSi spec is distinguished by a deeper air dam, more pronounced side sills, four stainless steel exhaust pipes, modified bumper, reshaped mirrors, two tone sporty seats, and staggered star rims, with US spec cars having door handles embossed with ‘BMW motorsport’.

The interior features include: multi function speed sensitive power steering, steering position memory, auto dimming rear view mirror, sumptuous dark leather heated seats with memory position and lumbar support, car cellular, dual zone climate control, CD changer and front airbags to name a few.

Our featured eight series 850 CSi is driven by an S70 5576cc, 5,6-litre S 70 V12 engine delivering an output of 280kW or 375hp and 550Nm of torque. The 850 CSi has a sprint of 0-100 km/h in six seconds. Its production ended in 1996 because the S70 engine could not be modified to comply with new emission regulations without substantial re-engineering.

The 850 CSi came with a six-speed manual transmission. Quite obviously it was a car of firsts. It was the first V12 engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission on a road car, the first electronic drive by wire throttle and the first multi-link rear suspension axle along with dynamic stability control. It also has two drive modes, namely, ‘kamfort’ and ‘sport’.

The CSi is a thoroughbred ‘M’ model which includes: an ‘M’ developed gearbox; stiffer springs and dampers, and reduced ride fuel injection; four wheel steering; active rear axle, upgraded and ventilated disc brakes with floating front discs; and rear differential oil cooler as well as engine oil cooler .

The eight-series came at an opportune time with all the right ingredients, making it the best BMW ever. I take an objective view and point to its impact at the time, and its packaging speaks for itself.

We grew up in the very interesting era of the 80s and 90s. It was a time that closed a millennium and opened another. A time of strange perceptions and beliefs.

Ultimately a time that would define the present, setting the pace towards what is our reality today.

During this period in the motor industry, specifically the premium car segment, two brands stood tall, Mercedes Benz and BMW. Some brands like Lexus and Audi were still in their infancy while others such as Jaguar were just in the shadows.

Product lines of the time were merely a handful, about of five or six models to a brand, unlike today’s which are well into the teens or up 20. There were no X6, X5s or any X-rated BMWs, and neither were there any of the GLS or CLC coupés of today. These limitations caused fierce competition, as each car was in the global spotlight and one new one would tilt the balance significantly.

From the 70s and earlier, BMW was looking to make a car that would rival the Mercedes SL and they began to develop the eight series. In 1981, pens went to paper and eight years later, they unleashed a car that amazed the world and baffled its rival Mercedes-Benz. However, Mercedes was also busy releasing the 1990 Mercedes Benz SL, which you can catch in next week’s Top Revs.

The then-new eight series would change the outlook of the BMW brand forever, buying it a place among top end sporting brands like Porsche, Aston Martin, Ferrari, and Lamborghini, which came with a hefty price tag.

Launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show of 1989, it made a dazzling impression: within eight days of launch, BMW had received 5 000 orders and by the summer of 1990 it was reported that the entire production of up to 12 000 units annually had been sold out until 1993. Some people were prepared to pay twice as much for it. However, demand was dampened by its long waiting lists and exhorbitant price as it was launched on the eve of a recession.

Because of the design work by Klaus Kapitza, the eight series is drop dead gorgeous, even presently. It was released in an era when the world was smitten by the likes of the ‘Knight Rider’ Pontiac, Corvettes, Nissan Zs, Lamborghinis and Ferraris.

It wears a very small face with a miniature grille and deploying lights. Standing wide, long and with muscular shoulders it possesses a lithe look, one that can only be linked to the wind tunnel as its sculptor.

Our featuring CSi spec is distinguished by a deeper air dam, more pronounced side sills, four stainless steel exhaust pipes, modified bumper, reshaped mirrors, two tone sporty seats, and staggered star rims, with US spec cars having door handles embossed with ‘BMW motorsport’.

The interior features include: multi function speed sensitive power steering, steering position memory, auto dimming rear view mirror, sumptuous dark leather heated seats with memory position and lumbar support, car cellular, dual zone climate control, CD changer and front airbags to name a few.

Our featured eight series 850 CSi is driven by an S70 5576cc, 5,6-litre S 70 V12 engine delivering an output of 280kW or 375hp and 550Nm of torque. The 850 CSi has a sprint of 0-100 km/h in six seconds. Its production ended in 1996 because the S70 engine could not be modified to comply with new emission regulations without substantial re-engineering.

The 850 CSi came with a six-speed manual transmission. Quite obviously it was a car of firsts. It was the first V12 engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission on a road car, the first electronic drive by wire throttle and the first multi-link rear suspension axle along with dynamic stability control. It also has two drive modes, namely, ‘kamfort’ and ‘sport’.

The CSi is a thoroughbred ‘M’ model which includes: an ‘M’ developed gearbox; stiffer springs and dampers, and reduced ride fuel injection; four wheel steering; active rear axle, upgraded and ventilated disc brakes with floating front discs; and rear differential oil cooler as well as engine oil cooler .

The eight-series came at an opportune time with all the right ingredients, making it the best BMW ever. I take an objective view and point to its impact at the time, and its packaging speaks for itself.

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