It never feels smaller than it is on the road and the steering (also active) isn’t as alive as it should be. But then you realise that you’re somehow travelling rather faster than you thought (0-60mph in 3.7 seconds gives you some if not all of an idea), and it’s apparent that this is one of those cars that repels the real world. That’s a highly desirable quality. It rides and stops well, too. And on the fast sweeps and elevation changes that are characteristic of the Estoril circuit, in the Algarve, the 8 Series remains impressively accomplished. Its engine and gearbox are world class and an electronic differential allows you to locate and exploit the car’s more extrovert elements if that’s your thing.

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