A misunderstood GT archetype at its birth, the first 8 Series (coded E31 for those in the know) was probably too far ahead of its time. A masterpiece of engineering, the 850i's exceptionally high-grade running gear underpins a line whose elegance, mingled with restrained aggression, continues to take the breath away of connoisseurs, making it the original model in the series. Its V12 - the first German twelve-cylinder engine of the post-war era - borrowed from the 7 Series sedan, distills its 300 hp with the discreet ardor befitting a grand tourer of this caliber. All it takes is a seat in the beautifully finished, luxurious cockpit to make you want to hit the road - preferably heading east, because today, as in the past, it's on the Autobahn that this machine will really come into its own! A car that urgently needs to be rediscovered...