On a current episode of Jay Leno’s Storage, the famend automotive fanatic and former TV host turned his consideration to certainly one of BMW’s most elusive and spectacular fashions: the 1994 BMW 850CSi. With only one,519 constructed worldwide—and simply 225 bought within the U.S.—this automotive has earned a status because the hidden gem of the E31 8 Collection lineup. To assist inform its story, Leno invited automotive journalist Jason Cammisa to supply deeper insights into the historical past and engineering behind this unbelievable machine. In case you haven’t figured it out, Cammisa is the proud proprietor of this magnificence.
An M8 in Disguise
The 850CSi is extra than simply the top-spec model of the 8 Collection—it’s the closest factor BMW ever constructed to an E31 M8. Despite the fact that, they did construct a one-off that by no means went into manufacturing. Whereas BMW selected to not formally badge it as an M automotive, this mannequin was developed by BMW’s M Division, with in depth reengineering from prime to backside. At its core lies a reworked model of BMW’s V12 engine. Initially a 5.0-liter unit within the 850i, the engine was stroked to five.6 liters, incomes the brand new designation S70B56. This naturally aspirated masterpiece produces 375 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque, paired solely with a six-speed guide transmission—an uncommon providing within the V12 luxurious section on the time.
Cammisa notes that the S70 engine wasn’t simply extra highly effective; it was basically totally different from the usual V12. BMW’s engineers made important upgrades, together with a revised crankshaft, larger compression pistons, and optimized consumption and exhaust methods. The consequence? A automotive able to 0-60 mph in six seconds and a prime pace of 155 mph—electronically restricted, after all.
A Grand Tourer Born for the Autobahn
When the E31 8 Collection launched, it was a technological marvel. It was BMW’s first automotive designed fully with computer-aided design (CAD), enabling engineers to create a physique that was each gorgeous and aerodynamically environment friendly, with a drag coefficient of simply 0.28. The 850CSi constructed on this basis, including efficiency and dealing with enhancements to remodel the luxurious grand tourer right into a succesful sports activities automotive.
European fashions of the 850CSi got here with four-wheel steering, additional enhancing agility—a function that will later trickle right down to fashionable BMWs. The automotive additionally acquired aesthetic updates, comparable to wider wheels, redesigned bumpers for higher aerodynamics, and 4 spherical exhaust ideas that changed the sq. items on lesser 8 Collection fashions. BMW Motorsport-branded door handles and delicate trim upgrades underscored the automotive’s efficiency pedigree.
In its day, the 850CSi was a distinct segment providing, overshadowed by BMW’s different fashions and saddled with a hefty price ticket. However time has been variety to this uncommon machine. At this time, it’s celebrated as a showcase of BMW’s engineering brilliance through the Nineties and an emblem of the M Division’s skill to push boundaries. The S70 engine even went on to encourage the V12 used within the McLaren F1, including one other layer of mystique to the 850CSi’s story.
Let’s have a look!
