With a purchase price of $90,000 and wearing the blue-and-white BMW badge on its hood, allot was expected from this German Grand Tourer and it delivered.

Having spent over 1.5 billion Deutschemark on development, the 8 series made its first debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show(IAA) in early September 1989. And moved BMW beyond the market of the original 6 series with its substantially improved performance.

The BMW 850i "supercar” was the first model launched in 1990. It’s splendid 5l v12 engine, also found under the hood of the 750iL sedan, specialized in smoothness and tranquility all while producing 296 hp at 5200 rpm.

It was available with either a 4-speed automatic or a 6-speed manual gearbox (the first v12 engine mated to such a gearbox on any road car). The 8 series was also one of the first vehicles to be fitted with an electronic "drive-by-wire" throttle, and together with the Z1 was one of BMW’s first cars to use a multi-linkrear axle.

0- 60 mph took just 6.3 seconds, and the quarter-mile dash was over in 14.9 seconds at 96 mph. The mighty V-12 not only catapulted the 850i from a stand still, the speed just didn’t stop coming until the electronic limiter stepped in at 156 mph.

The use of CAD design tools, still unusual at the time, and extensive wind tunnel testing, birthed its pillarless "hardtop" body style. Originally designed to reduced drag, its sleek lines, aggressive shark-like grill and hidden headlamps make this car a timeless head-turner.