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Drive in lavish style with the new BMW 7 Series

I confess. I have never been the greatest fan of large luxury sedans.

A few generations back these big lumps were generally not known for their agility on the road, were chronically difficult to park due to their girth and length and suffered from major understeer. They were not what you would call a dynamic drive. 

Granted, cars such as these are often about ferrying around VIPs, so focus has often been on the comfort and experience of those along for the ride in the rear.

But as a driver of these wieldy and bulky previous-generation vehicles, I was often left with the same feeling one has when wearing clothes a size or two too big – the fit is just off.

So, it is probably fair to say that I greeted the test of the new sixth-generation BMW 7 Series with much of this in mind.

But times they are a-changing and most of these problems are now moot.

Today of course, luxury cars literally park themselves. Something this exclusive Beemer can do… without you being behind the wheel!

Remote control parking aside, BMW has also been very canny with design tactics; once behind the wheel of the Seven, you don’t feel like a pimple driving a colossus. It feels and drives more like a mid-sized car and it’s a pretty dynamic drive too.

This highly sophisticated sedan is pure, unadulterated luxury. George Lombard, BMW product manager for the 7 Series, says that this sixth-generation Seven is the most luxurious and well-rounded car that the company has ever produced, and expects that it will not only match, but exceed customer expectations.

Those expectations will be high given the many busy executives and diplomats likely to grace the rear seats of BMW’s flagship model.

The line-up

The Seven is a big car. Available in the standard wheelbase body variant that finweek tested and the limousine model sporting a long wheelbase, it boasts a significantly greater number of comfort and safety features.

Yet it is 130kg lighter than its predecessor, courtesy of cutting-edge technology and ample use of carbon fibre. 

The German carmaker launched three variants of the standard wheelbase 7 Series locally. BMW’s 740i and 730d are both outfitted with the latest efficient twin turbo-powered six-cylinder in-line petrol and diesel engines, while the BMW 750i, available later this month, comes equipped with a V8 twin turbo petrol engine. 

Sleeker form

It’s not only what you put in say BMW, but also about what you leave off. And radical design change is something that the German manufacturer has left well alone with this latest 7 Series, familiar BMW DNA evident in both the exterior and interior. 

Subtle the changes may be, but these have rendered an exterior form that is sleeker and more sculptured than its predecessor.

The more obvious differences come from the kidney grille with active air-venting that aids engine cooling and the extended headlights, especially those with laser lighting (one of the few non-standard options) that doubles light intensity range to 600 metres.

Inside view

Boasting a generous and sumptuous interior outfitted with high-quality leather, wood, chrome and aluminium, this new 7 Series sports touchscreen display, voice activated navigation and Bowers & Wilkins audio among the plethora of features that one would expect to find in an uber-luxury sedan. 

But I am not a great fan of the front seats. Yes, they are pretty comfortable (at this price you would expect them to be), have multiple adjustments and a massage function but fall short on optimal comfort and support. Possibly it has to do with much of what this premium luxury model is designed for: those in the back. 

Luxury, comfort, space and sophisticated functionality.

Technophile heaven

This opulent vehicle comes standard with just about everything that opens and shuts including head-up display and BMW’s iDrive interface.

It is also outfitted with an overabundance of tech, one of the most innovative being ‘gesture control’. No need to push buttons or touch screens; now you can use hand gestures – detected by a 3D sensor in the roof – to control your audio and mobile phone. Very sci-fi. And quite comical when you are not familiar with the correct sign language! 

It even ticks the box when it comes to interior smell, the Ambient Air package scenting the interior with selected fragrances.

Then there’s BMW’s Display Key, controlling everything from opening and locking the car, to service notification and history, climate control and fuel range.

Also to be offered via this smart key come March is Remote Control Parking. And it’s a snip at R7 200. Position the car facing or backed towards the parking bay, hop out, press the button and voila, the car will park itself.

Very handy for tight parking spaces. Beats climbing through the sunroof, something I admit I once had to resort to.

Driving dynamics

Power and speed are integral to large luxury sedans. But in the past these mammoths typically suffered from chronic understeer. It’s another crinkle that BMW has ironed out.

This superb long-range cruiser has great direct steering and response, superb grip and traction for a vehicle of this size and even body control is top notch. 

Aside from adaptive mode, which adjusts the car’s set-up to the driving style and the character of the road, the 7 Series comes with three driving modes including the fuel-efficient Eco Pro mode.

And while the Comfort and Comfort Plus driving modes are a tad too floaty for my taste, road blemishes are imperceptible and these modes are also perfect for a cushioned and supremely comfortable passenger ride.

Just because it is supremely comfy and luxurious doesn’t mean it can’t perform. It can. This luxury Beemer is not only a large, fast limo, it also offers the qualities of a large, fast sports car. It’s quick, packing a fair dollop of straight-line speed. And in sports mode, 10mm closer to the tar, the Seven is particularly grippy on the road with heightened steering feedback. 

The unique balance between sporty performance and ride comfort is in part due to the 2-axle air suspension, which is also self-levelling, while the car’s lower centre of gravity also enhances its agility.

The car also has active electromechanical roll stabilisation and damper control that makes for an undemanding driving experience.

The 7 Series’ semi-automated driving function Driving Assist Plus continues the effortless experience, making driving in traffic situations virtually driver-free.

The car does it all for you via cameras and radar sensors. From keeping a safe following distance and adjusting the speed as needed as well as complying with speed limits, to lane keeping with active side collision protection and front and rear crossing traffic warning.

It can also steer itself but will remind you that at least one hand on the steering wheel is required if you happen to get too relaxed and take both hands off the wheel.

Both the petrol and diesel variants are equally exciting to drive, although the BMW 730d cracks the nod for its negligible diesel engine noise and seamless power delivery via the eight-speed gearbox. 

Chauffeur-driven

No gripes about the seating in the rear. It is after all about lounging about in the lap of luxury rather than optimal driving support.

Legroom, while not overly generous, is more than ample while privacy screens on the rear windows keep prying eyes out.

Apart from rear-seat entertainment system screens, a removable tablet allows those in the back to surf the net, experiment with audio, massage and seat adjustment as well as interior lighting and air conditioning. And in the ‘executive lounge’ package, reclining rear seats even come with a footrest. Bliss, and great for napping.

So, you look good, feel good and even smell good in this plush machine. Though when it comes to ultimate luxury, the 7 Series does have a couple of rivals. But from a tech standpoint I reckon this sophisticated luxury vehicle is in the driving seat.

This article originally appeared in the 25 February 2016 edition of finweek. Buy and download the magazine here

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