What is in the EFTM Garage?

$281,900 before on-roads for a convertible, some people have way too much hard, cold cash. But in the EFTM Garage this week sits the ultimate in “go get stuffed” cars, the BMW M850i Convertible. This is one hell of a beast and nothing like I’ve ever driven from the BMW stable. With a nose longer than Mr Squiggle and a V8 that scares every feline out of the neighbourhood, this truly is a wonderous way to get from A to B.

ENGINE

4.4-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V8.

POWER / TRANSMISSION 

390kW / 750Nm at 1450-4700rpm. Eight-speed, all-wheel drive with four-wheel steering.

0 – 100KM/H

3.9 seconds

FUEL ECONOMY

10.6L/100km

TECHNOLOGY

• Wireless Apple CarPlay
• 10.25-inch touchscreen
• 7.0-inch Live Cockpit
• 20GB hard drive
• Full suite of active and passive safety features.
• Digital key / Card with Near Field Communication (NFC)

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Honestly if you ever get to drive one of these just head straight for a tunnel. The noise it makes coming both off throttle and on is a combination of a gunshot SFX or a full-blown cannon. Especially under 80km/h, I’m pretty sure most people in the M2 tunnel today thought something was actually wrong with the tunnel itself. 

This is a massive car with enormous road presence that weighs two-tonne. Yet remains as nimble as a BMW 3 Series. It’s a freakish bit of gear, someone said to me once; it’s the poor man’s Bentley Continental. POOR?

NEGATIVES? 

The mighty twin-turbocharged soundtrack actually starts to fade away over 80km/h, plus I reckon it looks much better with a roof. Plus, this is hitting the BMW price ceiling in general.

PRICE

From: $281,900

Full review next week!