850i

BMW introduced the 850i in 1989 as the first model in the original 8 Series E31 coupe line. It was positioned as an exclusive, high-tech grand tourer and represented BMW’s return to a flagship two-door model after the earlier 6 Series had ended. The 850i became notable for pairing the new 8 Series body with BMW’s twelve-cylinder engine, giving the car a prestige and technical significance that set it apart from the brand’s mainstream range. In BMW’s own history, the 850i is remembered as a showcase for the company’s design and engineering ambitions at the start of the 1990s. In 1992, BMW updated the car and the 850i nameplate was replaced by 850Ci, marking the end of the original 850i designation. The E31 8 Series continued on in revised forms after that, but the 850i itself remained the launch-era identity of BMW’s modern grand touring coupe.