FIRSTDRIVE BMW 760iL:LET'S IMAGINE, for a second, that things are a lot better than they are – because it seems that BMW has done just that. Incredulous as it may seem, we've just returned from the launch of BMW's new 7-Series. It wasn't a hybrid – although there is one on the way – and it didn't run on hydrogen, biofuel or anything else that is a substitute for poor old petrol. No, this one was a V12, writes PADDY COMYN
Full-fat, high cholesterol, no apologies, tree-melting, carbon coughing and designed for people who are either too rich to care or who need to get to that all-important business meeting as quick as humanly possible.
Sitting in BMW’s exclusive handover bay is an experience. In a quiet part of BMW Welt, like Disneyland, but with BMWs instead of oversized mice, owners of large and expensive flagship BMWs who don’t like mixing with the rest of us are given the car keys only after it has spun around a revolving platform a few times to the strains of an electric guitar solo, the likes of which are usually heard on Gillette Mach 3 Turbo ads. With flashing lights and dry ice – if required – your car arrives like David Copperfield in a Las Vegas show. It is cool, in a very German kind of way.
So, supposing a six- or eight-cylinder BMW 7-Series isn’t enough to float your particular yacht. This means that, according to the statistics, you live in the Middle East, the US or China, where most of the world’s 7-Series seem to reside. You’re not too worried about CO2 emissions, but you are worried about having the best, smoothest one – the flagship model. Well, despite the horrific rumour (that appears to be true) – that there is to be an M version of the 7-Series – this, for now, is the best 7-Series you can get.
We know it is unlikely to darken too many Irish driveways, but we needed to try the new V12 and the eight-speed automatic transmission, so we couldn’t really say no.
So, under the bonnet is a newly developed V12 engine that also uses TwinPower Turbo technology, high precision injection and double-Vanos infinite camshaft adjustment to deliver a mammoth 544bhp and 750Nm of torque from the 6-litre unit. It uses an eight-speed transmission gearbox that adds more gears and aids in smoothness and emissions, but not at the expense of weight or size.
There isn’t a lot to distinguish the V12 model from the rest of the 7-Series range, but there are a few clues. There is an extra-wide, slightly concave chrome frame, as well as powerfully contoured bars in the BMW kidney grille, 19” alloy wheels, the V12 badge on the side and an additional chrome bar at the rear, as well as twin tailpipes in rectangular design.
Inside is stainless steel entry trim, with an illuminated V12 model designation, the instrument panel is finished in Nappa leather and has special stitching, the roof lining and sun visors are in Alcantara as well as high-quality burr walnut interior trim featuring throughout.
The cars we tried were the 760iL models, which come with individually adjustable single seats at the rear, knee-room of 208mm and headroom of 988mm – enough to make a first-class airplane passenger jealous. Standard equipment includes four-zone air conditioning, BMW professional navigation system, comfort seats, park distance control and automatic soft close on the doors. But after that, you can pretty much add whatever you like, from a TV screen in the rear to an internet browser.
Even though we did for long periods, we weren’t really there to try out the back seats – rather, we took the seat of chauffeur and, despite all the comfort in the rear, this is still the best seat in the house. You are surrounded by some of the best driving technology ever developed.
iDrive is now better than ever – and doesn’t require work experience in PC World to figure out – and there are brilliant features such as head-up display, radar cruise control and road sign recognition, which tells you what speed you should be doing at any given time. None of these features are too intrusive. They just work really well.
But the star of this particular show is the engine. Using every piece of engine tech that BMW has in its locker, the 6-litre unit is a revelation. In the 7-Series, you can adjust dampers and suspension to suit whatever type of driving, ranging from super-squishy Comfort to nail-biting Sport+ and, while our first stretch was flat out on an unrestricted autobahn where the 760iL showed the sort of acceleration from 120km/h that we had not though possible, we then ventured onto some sharp and twisty back roads where the car felt half its size, amazingly agile and all the time accompanied by a hushed but assured V12 soundtrack.
Power delivery from the V12 is just so good. 0-100km/h takes 4.6 seconds. Think about that for a second. This is a huge luxury saloon and it is getting to 100km/h over a second faster than a Ford Focus RS and 0.1 of a second faster than BMW’s own M5, yet it puts out 41g/km less CO2. You could almost not feel guilty about buying one.
For this writer, this is now the best luxury car you can buy without breaking a sweat and, in the unlikely event that I should win the lottery, I will be buying one. All we can implore is that someone, somewhere in Ireland, buys one of these. We appreciate that all the wealthy people are in hiding, but for the sake of motoring and engineering fans everywhere, let someone buy this car. Expect prices to start at €226,000 for the 760iL, available in Ireland from October.
Factfile BMW 760iL
Engine:5,972cc V12 petrol engine with BMW TwinPower turbo and high precision injection with 544bhp @ 5,250rpm and 750Nm of torque @ 1,500-5,000 rpm
0-100km/h:4.6 seconds
Max speed:250km/h
Fuel economy:13l/100km
CO2 emissions:303g/km
Tax:annual road tax of €2,100 (Band G)