As we eagerly await the arrival of the BMW M8, tuning specialist Manhart has unveiled the next best thing; a pumped-up version of the M850i.
The BMW M850i currently sits atop the 8-Series range and while it does have an M badge, it isn’t a fully-fledged M model. However, with a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 delivering 523 hp and 553 lb-ft (750 Nm) of torque, some would argue that no one really needs anything more. Manhart thinks otherwise.
Modifications enjoyed by the M850i start with the engine and include a software optimization package that lifts grunt to 621 hp and 642 lb-ft (870 Nm) of torque. In all likelihood, those figures will be greater than both the upcoming M8 and M8 Competition models and should be more than enough for even the most power-hungry customers.
With the engine taken care of, Manhart turned its attention to tweaking the sexy coupe’s exterior. To do so, a set of H&R lowering springs have been fitted alongside a set of 21-inch wheels. Additionally, there’s four carbon tipped tailpipes, a small carbon fiber rear slip, and a carbon front splitter. Visual alterations have been completed with a number of gold graphics across the exterior. Thankfully, these accents are optional.
Manhart hasn’t released performance figures for its tuned M850i but the car will inevitably reach 62 mph (100 km/h) in the low 3-second range. Pricing details have yet to be announced. However, we suspect the starting price will sit at around $125,000, roughly $12,000 more than a standard M850i costs from the factory.
