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The V8-powered version of BMW’s 7 Series saloon has arrived, and even includes a stretched wheelbase if Sir needs it.
WHAT IS IT? THE V8 for the new 7 Series has arrived in both regular and long-wheelbase guises as it chases down the Mercedes S-Class and Audi A8 in the battle of the limos.
WHY WE’RE DRIVING IT This is an all-new 7 Series. Codenamed G11, the six-cylinder petrol and diesel variants arrived late in 2015, but these are the heavy-hitting, 330kW V8 models with even more standard gear. As well as the G12 long-wheelbase Li, the new range-toppers add more standard tech and a more rapid sedan.
MAIN RIVALS Mercedes S500, Audi A8 4.2TDI, Maserati Quattroporte
PLUS: Distinctive styling; charming interior with high quality fit and finish; increased feeling of luxury; class-leading fuel efficiency and benchmark dynamics MINUS: Clumsy gesture control; night vision screen far from driver’s eyes; M Pack loses Alcantara roof-lining
THE WHEELS REVIEW THE seventh-generation 7 Series dazzled at Wheels COTY 2016, but was limited to its six-cylinder powerplants. Now, the 750i has arrived with its twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 delivering 330kW in a measured but devastating fashion. Yet for the $65K over a 740i, there’s far more to the 750i than simply a more powerful engine.
The 750i cockpit takes familiar BMW architecture, loads it with tech then dips it in swathes of Nappa leather and Alcantara. The dash top is leather; there’s a head-up display and digital instruments; the silverware around the HVAC feels metallic, not plastic. The plush rear carpet takes your feet to a new level of fetish. The rear also has some of the 7er’s boldest tech, including a tablet that unlocks 24 functions. That includes television operation and adjusting your seating position as well as that of the chair in front. You can also manage climate change, surf the ’net, and even take it with you when you’ve left a rear seat that’s as supportive and comfortable as the fronts.
That V8 has a tough yet refined idle; a sophisticated baritone wedge that’s creamy and warm. Push the 750i’s progressive throttle hard, and it answers briskly. The eight-speed behaves more like Clark Kent deftly unbuttoning his business shirt to reveal a taut Superman chest, rather than him hastily ripping it open. It’s a feat to deliver a gob-smacking 4.7sec 0-100km/h acceleration claim, half-a-second faster than the old 750i, in such a polished fashion.
The driveline silkiness is not to say that the BMW lacks engagement. Despite being more than five metres long, with a wheelbase beyond three metres, the 750i handles and rides supremely. Standard is the ‘Executive Drive Pro’ adaptive air suspension, and in Comfort mode, its supple ride is impressive, a perfect partner for its near silent highway cruising. There’s a tiny amount of wind noise at 110km/h, but this is otherwise a luxurious sedan as intended.
That makes the 750i a more characterful, seductive limousine than its six-cylinder counterparts, and an impressive motor vehicle. While its innovations are hardly rousing, the 7 Series melds a much more drivable chassis with its characterful V8, class leading fuel-economy and performance, all chaired from a far more opulent cabin. It’s a significant step up from its predecessor.
SPECS Model: 2016 BMW 750i M Sport Engine: 2498cc V8, dohc, 32v Max power: 330kW@5500rpm Max torque: 650Nm@1800-4500rpm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Weight: 1820kg 0-100km/h: 4.7sec (claimed) Fuel Economy: 8.1L/100km Price: $289,600 On sale: Now
