2019 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 vs 2019 BMW M850i xDrive

It’s been twenty years since these 2 iconic German cars grappled for preeminence. The year was ’99 and eventually proved to be a poor year for both of the heritage cars. Porsche had simply launched the first water-cooled 911, much to the irritation of 911 purists. Rubbing salt in the wound, the new bodywork and interior cabin styling was met with resistance and to this day is considered the least attractive Porsche 911. BMW was having their very own concerns, in spite of packing a V-12 under the hood the BMW 850i wasn’t particularly quick, agile or economical. Poor performance coupled with slow sales compelled BMW to kill the 850i. So, 20 years later we have an additional brand-new 911 and an all-new 8-series. As ‘noted philosopher’ Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura once said, Learn from history or you’re destined duplicate it. Let’s begin this comparison and see precisely what the manufacturers found out over the past twenty years. So who wins in the battle between the 2019 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 vs BMW M850i xDrive?

2019 porsche 911 carrera 4 vs bmw m850i xdrive comparison - porsche of milwaukee north


PERFORMANCE

Twenty years earlier, these competing cars couldn’t be more different, the BMW was a luxury cruiser while the Porsche was a corner carving beast. There is a bit of déjà vu with today’s variations of these automobiles, Porsche is still the lighter automobile that can carve up turns. The BMW is still the much heavier, high-end cruiser however it starts with greater than 100 horsepower than the 911. The 911 includes a 7-speed standard transmission, the m850i is equipped with an 8-speed auto that can be driven like a manual. The BMW beats the Porsche in horsepower, torque, and engine size, but weighs virtually 1,400 pounds heavier. That means the BMW is carrying around a full-size cow’s worth of extra weight. Despite having all the additional power, the M850i xDrive can’t keep up with the 911 direct acceleration. The BMW is a well-rounded wonderful cruiser yet the 911 will certainly eat its lunch in the corners. The 911 slips by the BMW in performance.


DESIGN

Both vehicles are aesthetically appealing in their very own, specific way. The BMW is angular, contemporary and looks prepared to pounce. The Porsche has sweeping lines and looks more classy when contrasted to the 8-series. The BMW doesn’t have the same renowned feeling of its historical brethren. While the 911 is a developed design that hasn’t significantly been altered since the 60’s yet the new back end is a show stopper. It looks advanced and retro at the same time, and it’s lovely.

While Porsche has made a commitment to emulate the cockpit of days past– and it functions, beautifully– BMW has no such restraints. The Live Cockpit Professional and optional HUD in the M850i is genuinely a gold mine of motorist’s details. The optional Glass Controls exudes sophistication with hand-made, diamond-cut glass trim adorning the drive selector, volume control and various other buttons. The BMW’s drive shifter especially looks remarkable when contrasted to the Porsche. The tiny drive selector in the 911 seems out of place in an otherwise amazing interior cabin. As far as the back seats go, unless your name is Dorothy and you have some munchkin friends they are best left for quick trips to dinner or as a place to put a laptop.


TECHNOLOGY

This ought to be the area where the BMW gains ground in the comparison since the Bimmer is packed with technology. A system called ‘Live Cockpit Professional’ has a totally digital gauge cluster and info center. When included with the Heads-Up display it enhances the information required by today’s driver. The 911 has a similar setup however in such a way that is distinctly Porsche. The electronic gauges imitate the cluster of previous 911s yet if you look very closely, you will certainly see an analog tachometer. A mix of old and new, thy name is Porsche 911.

It’s clear that both Porsche and BMW did their homework when it came to developing their all-new 911 and M850i. The 8-series– previously the automaker’s best but problematic vehicle– now has some bite to match its bark. It is not a corner carving monster like the Porsche, yet the brand-new M850i is a worthwhile successor to the flagship car from the ’90’s. If the reports are to be believed, BMW will certainly be creating a pure performance variation likely to be called the M8. If that automobile is developed, BMW may finally have an automobile to beat the venerable 911. Up until then, the smooth incorporation of fond memories and innovation makes the Porsche unequalled. The 911 Carrera 4 beats the M850i xDrive.


Porsche 911 Carrera 4 2019 vs BMW M850i xDrive 2019 – Specs & Features

Porsche 911 Carrera 4 BMW M850i xDrive
PERFORMANCE
Available Engine 3.0 L Twin Turbo Boxer, 6-cylinder 4.4L Twin Turbo
V-8
Transmissions 7-speed Manual Transmission
7-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK)
8-speed Sport Automatic
Horsepower
Torque
370hp / 331 lbs. ft. torque 523hp / 553 lbs. ft. torque
DESIGN
Exterior Lighting LED Headlights with (PDLS+) (Available)
LED tail lights, LED DRL
BMW Laserlight technology
Wheels 19-inch alloys (Standard)
20-inch alloys (Available)
20-inch alloys (Standard)
Sunroof Sunroof (Optional) Not Available
TECHNOLOGY
Infotainment 7-inch touchscreen
Burmester® Surround Sound System (Optional)
iDrive 7.0 w/ 10.25-inch Display
Apple CarPlay Standard 1-year free trial
Parking Camera Rear vision camera (Standard) Rear vision camera (Standard)

 

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