BMW 8-Series

The BMW 8-Series was a V8 or V12-engined Grand Tourer built by BMW from 1991 to 1997.

1994
If there were a market segment called Big Boomer Gran Turismo, BMW's 840Ci and 850Ci were right in the center, competing with the Mercedes-Benz S500 and S600, Jaguar XJS and Porsche 928. Except for a couple of exotic Ferrari and Lamborghini models costing $100,000 more, cars like the 850Ci represented the outer limits of mass-production passenger cars.

The 850Ci can accelerate from 0 to 60 in less than 7 seconds, cruise at a computer-limited 155 mph and turn a corner at nearly 1 g. But it also had all the comfort of a big luxury sedan, plus all the style of a sleek sport coupe. And there's even a back seat (although rear-seat legroom is almost nonexistent in this 2+2 coupe).

BMW's 8-series was essentially a short-wheelbase 7-series fitted with sleek coupe bodywork. The base car used the same 282-hp V8 as the 740i; the 850Ci used the 322-hp V12 with its locomotive-like 361 ft.-lb. of torque. Introduced this year was the limited-edition 850CSi, a hot-rodded version developed by BMW's motorsports department, known as M. It came with a 5.6-liter version of the V12 that produces 372 hp and more than 400 ft.-lb. of torque. A 6-speed manual gearbox, wide low-profile tires on 17-in. wheels and a tightened-up suspension made the 850CSi one of the best-performing sport coupes ever built. 

The 8-series offered such standard features as leather upholstery, automatic climate control, power everything and a computerized memory for the driver's seat, steering wheel and mirrors. Standard, too, was more performance and status than normal folks can stand.