2020 BMW M850i is a flying purple people pleaser

Earlier this year, I took the BMW M8 Competition for a spin, and while I was impressed with its corner-carving prowess, I found it entirely too much car for most situations and it sacrificed many of its grand-touring credentials in favor of outright performance. 

Now, after a week with the still-plenty-potent 2020 M850i, it's clear that BMW's big-body coupe can be a proper GT, even if some parts of the experience aren't fully realized.

The 2020 BMW M850i is smack-dab in the middle of a ton of competition.

If you want something a bit more lithe, the Porsche 911 is the default go-to, and the Mercedes-AMG GT offers decent comfort in an even more constricting wrapper. 

The Mercedes S-Class Coupe errs more on the luxurious side, as does the Lexus LC, which is more like a rolling art exhibit than anything else.

You could opt for the Maserati GranTurismo, I suppose, if you want a drop-dead gorgeous car that's otherwise utterly outclassed by every other name mentioned.

There's nothing wrong with wanting the best of both worlds, which is what the BMW M850i embodies. 

It's not as insane as the M8 Competition, but it's not as focused on serenity as the 840i.

The result is a capable sports coupe that has no problem stretching its legs and getting comfortable for long road trips. 

Keep scrolling or clicking to check out even more pictures of the 2020 BMW M850i.