First revision of the BMW 8 Series Convertible 2019: open top vehicle

National Highway 124 crosses the Portuguese region of Montes Novos and constitutes a stretch of road almost perfect for car testing. Located 45 minutes northeast of Faro, it offers not only great views of the mountains and the valley, but above all, an extremely entertaining mix of straight lines and turns that will put a vehicle to the test. This is the kind of road you would dream of driving in a Mazda MX-5 Miata, a Porsche 718 Boxster or in another nimble and nimble sports car. Yet, my runner for today's test is much larger.

The BMW M850i ​​Cabriolet 2019 is a big car. It is long and wide, and weighs nearly 4,000 kg (258 more than a M850i ​​coupe). Editor-in-chief Steven Ewing praised the track performance of the Series 8 Coupe last year, but I have doubts about this large convertible and loaded on such technical terrain. Fortunately, my skepticism is put to bed after only a few turns.

This is a runner

With the M850i ​​Convertible In Sport Plus mode, the steering wheel is operated in both directions, the return to the steering wheel is immediate, the weight is good and the return of force behind the wheel, which allows you to know Bridgestone Potenza S007 tires are at. Frankly, the direction of communication is quite refreshing: many recent BMWs have been lacking in this area.

In almost all situations, the convertible feels uncomfortable thanks to its rock-solid chassis, the suspension Adaptive M leaving only a touch of roll. The wheels and tires of 20 inches of my test car are very adherent, which allows to keep the foot on foot. That's not to say that the big convertible never crosses turns – it will be if you push it, or drive like a jester. But for the liveliest driving on the road, standard equipment such as rear-facing all-wheel drive, rear-wheel steering, and a torque-vectored rear differential perform almost magical work.

Power is another reason why the M850i ​​feels lighter than it is. A 4.4-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 delivers 523 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque to the party. The latter is available between 1800 and 4600 rpm for severe vertigo and without delay of the line or exit corner. The M850i Convertible will reach 60 miles per hour in an estimated BMW 3.8 seconds. It's a little slower than the (much lighter) Chopped off A sprint of 3.6 seconds, but one of the benefits of the convertible lies in the fact that the pleasant bass rumbling is easier to hear when the hood is lowered. This clearer soundtrack deserves the compromise of a slightly slower acceleration time.

An eight-speed automatic transmission from ZF bolts to the V8, allowing for perfectly synchronized gear changes. Manual pallets are quite responsive, not to mention the satisfaction to use. Together, it is estimated that the powertrain returns 17 km per gallon in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.

Life in free fall

That the M850i Convertible is even more than the task of strolling confidently through tough road sections is a good thing, but let's be honest, this thing is no longer a great tourer. For that, it's always a winner. The multi-layer fabric roof perfectly isolates the cabin from the wind and road noise and creates an attractive silhouette. In just 15 seconds, the top is lowered at the push of a button and can be used at speeds up to 30 mph.

At the top, the big 8 looks amazing, with its wide stance and fluid body lines. There is also a certain visual attitude with aggressive bumpers, a sharply tilted windshield and a curved trunk lid. Inside, everything feels premium, with soft leathers on the dashboard, door panels and seats, and a beautiful layer of flashy pieces like a glass speed knob. There is no cheap looking surface anywhere.

The seats themselves offer both adequate side reinforcement for tough driving and support at appropriate places to keep people comfortable on long journeys. Wind turbulence is also not a problem because the retractable baffle allows my co-pilot and myself to converse without shouting at each other. The only hiccup inside is the tighter back seat: it's pretty easy to get in and out (top down), but the legroom is very limited.

For the cruise, put the M850i in Comfort mode, it is the ticket that allows to simmer the transmission and soften the chassis. The response of the gases is not so nervous, the steering ignites and the suspension is more tolerant. This is certainly not as comfortable as a Mercedes-Benz convertible class E or S, for example, but it is perfectly compatible with everyday driving.

First class technology

Completing this modern package of grand tourism is technology. The quarter infotainment is the last BMW iDrive 7 software controlled by a 10.2-inch responsive touchscreen or redundant controls on the center console. The system features crisp graphics and intuitive menus for navigation, a 12-speaker Bowers & Wilkins surround sound setup, a Wi-Fi access point and Bluetooth. If you're not a fan of iDrive, a year of experience in Apple CarPlay capabilities is a common problem, although BMW requires you to pay a subscription to use it later, which remains a headache. (Android Auto, in the meantime, can not be found.) Gesture controls are also included, allowing you to adjust the volume or accept and reject phone calls with hand movements. I know, it's a gadget, but it works surprisingly well.

A comprehensive list of driver assistance techniques is available in a $ 1,000 set of professional assistant. Checking this box on the build sheet adds an adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, Lane Departure Alert with Lane Keeping Assist and BMW Extended Traffic Assist System for partially automated manual operation. If you do not pay for the package, all 8 Series models are always delivered with collision warning and pedestrian with automatic braking, automatic parking assistant, head-up display and 360-degree camera.

An all-in-one GT convertible

As the Chopped off, the BMW M850i ​​Convertible 2019 does not really have a direct competitor. Its base price of $ 121,400, not to mention $ 995 destination, makes it more affordable than the larger, more luxurious and more expensive ($ 134,300) Mercedes-Benz S560 Convertible. From a sizing point of view, the 8 series is closer to the E Class Cabriolet in its most powerful form, the E53 AMG, it is neither as powerful nor as expensive, with 429 horsepower and a price of $ 80,350.

The new Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet 2020 matches the sportier personality of the Bimmer. The problem here is that the base price of $ 134,650 is a bit richer for a car that does not offer the same level of standard content, power, or luxury bindings.

That said, the M850i ​​Cabriolet really exists on its own island in the world of the automobile. It has a brutal power level, high-end cornering reflexes and a fantastic and luxurious ride. In addition to this, it is attractive and offers a multitude of technical equipment. This is perhaps the most complete GT roof available on this side of the Bentley Continental GT.