BMW’s flagship 7 Series is sheer magic
With that in mind, the top-dog of BMW’s most expensive and luxurious model range, the flagship 7 Series limousine, could certainly be conceived as nearly magical.
Launched here late last year, the base 740Li model introduced advanced features such as hybrid carbon-fibre/metal construction in its body, plus gesture control, where front occupants can twiddle their fingers to adjust the radio without a touch.
Like its rivals, the Audi A8 and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the 7 Series is a tech powerhouse. But the latest model, the range-topping 750Li, has even more tricks up its sleeve.
What sorcery is this?
Big limos like this are never easy to park, while getting out of the car in a tight lot is yet another challenge. That’s what BMW’s optional Remote Control Parking system is for. Using the smartphone-like key, you can stand outside the car and let it reverse in or emerge from a parking space automatically.
In the interests of safety, the process is engaged by holding down a physical button on the key controller then dragging an icon on the display. To cease movement, you release the button. If the car detects anything — including pedestrians — in its way, it stops automatically.
There’s lots of tech trickery to engage with inside the car, too. Like many top-notch limos, there’s a rear seat entertainment system with two screens that can display individual content. Infotainment, climate and comfort functions like window blinds are all controlled with a Samsung tablet that has its own dedicated dock.
If that’s not enough, the 750 is also equipped with something similar to movie megalomaniac Dr Evil’s dream of having a shark with a laser beam attached to its head.
The car’s long, lithe lines and aerodynamic tweaks mean a low coefficient of drag (0.24Cd, versus 0.30Cd for most cars) so it slips through the air easier at high speed — just like a shark in water. And yes it does shoot laser beams, albeit from the headlamps.
BMW’s Laser light system is the first standard system of its kind in Singapore, and is the next big thing in lighting technology after LEDs. Laser headlights sound gimmicky at first, but you only need to experience driving with them once at night to be convinced.
The main and high beams are still LEDs, with the laser high-beams taking over at speeds above 60kmh. BMW said they’re effective out to 600m, and it sounds about right: The lights illuminate huge swathes of road, while also using camera technology to avoid blinding other drivers, and almost turn night into clear, blue-tinged day.
Admittedly, it’s less useful on Singapore’s brightly-lit roads, but would be excellent for night-time drives on the North-South highway in Malaysia.
Wide roads and long distances happen to be the 750Li’s forte: It has a twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 engine instead of the 740Li’s turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six cylinder unit.
Magic carpet ride
All this emphasis on tech almost draws away from the car’s fundamental nature: The ability to traverse vast distances quickly in a very driver-gratifiying way.
It handles and accelerates the way you’d expect a car with 450bhp, four-wheel steering and air suspension to. The engine makes short work of long horizons, while the suspension and handling never feel out of depth, no matter the road conditions or pace.
The rear seats are where the fun’s at, with additional comfort features delivering business-class travel on the highway.
Is there a dark side to all that sparkle and magic? A list price of S$583,800 (RM1.77 million) with COE is hardly surprising, since technological fairy dust doesn’t come cheap. Any non-exotic car with a price tag like that had better be far beyond good. Luckily for the 750Li, it is.
BMW 750Li
Engine: 4,395cc, V8, twin-turbo, 450hp, 650Nm
Performance: 250kmh, 0-100kmh: 4.7s, 8.0L/100km, 187g/km CO2
Price: S$583,800 with COE
On Sale: Now
PROS: Lasers, warp speed, remote control. Batsuit optional
CONS: Costs as much as you’d expect — or more. — TODAY
from Malay Mail Online | All http://ift.tt/28TvSDI
via Mukah Pages
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