Hi! I'm Angus Mackenzie, Editor in Chief of Motor Trend and we're here Dresden, Germany to drive the brand new BMW 750Li. This is the fifth generation of BMW 7 series and the most technologically advanced yet. Under the hood, is a 4.4 liter twin-turbo V8, with 400 horsepower and 450 foot-pounds of torque. This car promises plenty, but does it deliver? Let's take it out on the road and find out.
This is what this car was designed for in Germany. We are cruising at 120 miles an hour on the autobahn and it is absolutely effortless. The twin-turbo V8 generates a mountain of torque and the transmission just serves that torque. It's deceptively fastest car, you are barely aware of the engine churning at all. At a 150miles an hour it's doing about 4500 RPM. And it gets there with surprisingly little effort on the gas pedal.
The high speed stability is terrific, as you would expect in a car that's being designed for roads like this. It's really a shame to think that most people in the United states would never, ever, get to anywhere near a fraction of this car's potential as a long distance cruiser. This is almost like a ground based jet; you can cross a continent at a 120-130 miles an hour and arrive at your destination, really refreshed and ready for a chilled Martini on the terrace.
One of the things I love about BMWs is having adjust the car to suit your driving needs. Get off the autobahn, and flick a few buttons and your inter-continental cruise missile becomes almost like a large size sport sedan. As I would switchover into manual mode, select sport on the suspension controls, drop down a gear and go for it.
It's really surprising how this car shrinks around you. It drives a lot smaller than it is.
Well, you have to ask yourself whether BMW is backing away from its uncompromising styling and design with this car. This is a much less confronting 7 series in the car replaces. But it's still very much a BMW. It's extremely fast and comfortable on the autobahn, relaxing even at a 140-150 miles an hour.
It's also great fun on the black top, with the suspension setting sport mode and the transmission in manual. It's nice to schmooze around town too in the luxurious cabin. It very much is an improvement on the old 7 series, but is it enough of an improvement to finally topple its long time nemesis, a Mercedes Benz S-class.
Stay tuned for a Clash of Titans, and the new 7 goes on sale this year.
Transcription by:
Scribe4you Transcription Services