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MAYBE I'M SLOW in the head, but only now, four years after its launch, am I beginning to realise just how far ahead of its time the BMW 7 Series is, and has always been.
It was the first photos of Mercedes-Benz's upcoming, new S-Class (see CarBuyer 31) that did it.
Peek at the new Mercedes flagship's interior, and note supposedly cutting-edge features which have been available on the 7 Series since 2001: an electronic parking brake, a controller-and-display screen interface, a transmission lever on the steering column, and so on.
It will be interesting to see if rivals will be able to top the 7's trump card - the fact that it's a bit of a hotrod. Spending a few days with the 730Li (see last issue) confirmed that even the entry-level 7 Series model is an implausibly sweet drive.
So with 367 horsepower from its 4.8-litre engine, could the 750Li be anything but non-stop fun?
In many ways, the main picture says it all. The instant you disable the electronic nannies, the 750Li turns into a tyre-smoking beast, as the hooligan in the picture can attest.
It was the first photos of Mercedes-Benz's upcoming, new S-Class (see CarBuyer 31) that did it.
Peek at the new Mercedes flagship's interior, and note supposedly cutting-edge features which have been available on the 7 Series since 2001: an electronic parking brake, a controller-and-display screen interface, a transmission lever on the steering column, and so on.
It will be interesting to see if rivals will be able to top the 7's trump card - the fact that it's a bit of a hotrod. Spending a few days with the 730Li (see last issue) confirmed that even the entry-level 7 Series model is an implausibly sweet drive.
So with 367 horsepower from its 4.8-litre engine, could the 750Li be anything but non-stop fun?
In many ways, the main picture says it all. The instant you disable the electronic nannies, the 750Li turns into a tyre-smoking beast, as the hooligan in the picture can attest.
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Yep, the V8 engine pumps out torque like a faucet spewing water, and there's a seemingly endless supply at the disposal of your right foot. Surprisingly though, the 750Li doesn't rocket off the line when you floor the throttle, but it does accelerate with an urgency that quickly swells into a frenzy, especially if you keep its silky six-speed transmission in sports mode.
There's a syrupy sweetness to the smooth manner in which the V8 spins, and the throaty snarl it makes is candy for the ears. But despite the excellence of its drivetrain, the 750Li is noticeably hampered by the extra weight it carries over its nose, courtesy of that hefty V8 engine.
Compared to the 730Li, its turn-in response is palpably blunter and less immediate. The 750Li may be quicker on its feet than the 730Li, then, but it feels less agile.
All that aside, though, the 750Li hits all the notes a premium player should. Cabin room is vast, especially in the rear, and the infinitely-adjustable seats enfold occupants in heavenly comfort. I've even grown to like the improved iDrive controller, which within the BMW universe is simplest to operate in the 7 Series, and is less fiddly than Audi's Multi-Media Interface system.
Needless to say, build quality is simply immaculate and cabin materials are top notch, and the vast array of comfort features, like the keyless entry and soft-closing doors, are a great fillip to the feel-good lobes of your brain. The ride quality even goes from plush to firm-but-not-jiggly at the push, twist and press of the iDrive knob.
In short, the 750Li is just about everything you want a luxury car to be. Trouble is, that applies to the 730Li, too, and for $83,000 less. It's difficult, then, to justify the extra expense for a 750Li, other than for reasons of simple one-upmanship.
NEED TO KNOW
Model BMW 750Li
Engine Type 4,799cc 48-valve V8
Max Power 367bhp at 6,300rpm
Max Torque 490Nm at 3,400rpm
Gearbox 6-speed automatic
Top Speed 250km/h
0-100 KM/H 6.0 seconds
Price $381,000 with COE
Warranty 3 years/ 60,000km
Contact Performance Motors
Telephone 6319-0100
SIMILAR CARS WE HAVE DRIVEN
AUDI A8 1.8 L 4.2 quattro $370,000 with COE
A little less pricey, a little slower but no less comfortable or roomy, Audi's flagship is a worthwhile alternative to the BMW 750Li to consider. It's every bit as plush and luxurious inside, and has a huge amount of presence on the road.
There's a syrupy sweetness to the smooth manner in which the V8 spins, and the throaty snarl it makes is candy for the ears. But despite the excellence of its drivetrain, the 750Li is noticeably hampered by the extra weight it carries over its nose, courtesy of that hefty V8 engine.
Compared to the 730Li, its turn-in response is palpably blunter and less immediate. The 750Li may be quicker on its feet than the 730Li, then, but it feels less agile.
All that aside, though, the 750Li hits all the notes a premium player should. Cabin room is vast, especially in the rear, and the infinitely-adjustable seats enfold occupants in heavenly comfort. I've even grown to like the improved iDrive controller, which within the BMW universe is simplest to operate in the 7 Series, and is less fiddly than Audi's Multi-Media Interface system.
Needless to say, build quality is simply immaculate and cabin materials are top notch, and the vast array of comfort features, like the keyless entry and soft-closing doors, are a great fillip to the feel-good lobes of your brain. The ride quality even goes from plush to firm-but-not-jiggly at the push, twist and press of the iDrive knob.
In short, the 750Li is just about everything you want a luxury car to be. Trouble is, that applies to the 730Li, too, and for $83,000 less. It's difficult, then, to justify the extra expense for a 750Li, other than for reasons of simple one-upmanship.
NEED TO KNOW
Model BMW 750LiEngine Type 4,799cc 48-valve V8
Max Power 367bhp at 6,300rpm
Max Torque 490Nm at 3,400rpm
Gearbox 6-speed automatic
Top Speed 250km/h
0-100 KM/H 6.0 seconds
Price $381,000 with COE
Warranty 3 years/ 60,000km
Contact Performance Motors
Telephone 6319-0100
SIMILAR CARS WE HAVE DRIVEN
AUDI A8 1.8 L 4.2 quattro $370,000 with COE
A little less pricey, a little slower but no less comfortable or roomy, Audi's flagship is a worthwhile alternative to the BMW 750Li to consider. It's every bit as plush and luxurious inside, and has a huge amount of presence on the road. |
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