For the first time, BMW has given its flagship 7 Series an M badge. And while that may conjure up images of a standard 7 Series with a bit of performance tinsel, that’s not really the case here. The numbers are quite impressive.
The full name of this new model is a mouthfull: M760Li xDrive. Though that sounds more like a fax machine from about 1997, there are a few differences between the BMW and a dated beige electronic.
Let’s have some stats:
- V12 engine displacing 6.6 liters and carrying twin turbochargers
- 610 horsepower at 5,500 rpm, and 590 pounds-feet of torque at 1,150 rpm
- Combined fuel economy figure of 22.1 miles per gallon (somehow)
- 0-62 miles per hour in 3.7 seconds
- 155 mph top speed, revised to 189 mph with optional Driver’s Package
The speedy sedan has an 8-speed automatic that’s specially tuned by the M Division, featuring gear changes assisted by navigation data like on some recent Rolls-Royce models. Auto start/stop is also standard, because fuel economy is important in your long-wheelbase V12 sedan — obviously.
Other special features include active suspension named Executive Drive Pro, which sort of sounds like a brand of golf driver. Very appropriate. Four-wheel-steering is also on board for those tricky track-handling situations your chauffeur tackles on your way to the board room meeting.
As you’d imagine in such a vehicle, the back seat is rather opulent, in serious Germanic tradition. Suede, leather, Alcantara, tablets — all there.
In the unlikely event that you’re in the market for such an upscale vehicle, TopSpeed has the specifics. A standard 750i xDrive starts at $97,600, and stepping up to the special Alpina B7 xDrive starts the bill at $137,000. This M760Li xDrive tops the 7 Series range, starting at $153,000 before options, destination, and handling fees.
Unfortunately, the superlative power figure does not belong to this 7 Series, as the twin-turbo V12 Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG pumps out eleven full horses more: 621. Sad!
[Images: BMW]
Ist das auto?
Jawohl, mein herr!
And apparently that $153,000 doesn’t include aligned taillight trim.
You ask for too much!
Much lauded German quality right there!
I bet the trim lines up on the Century.
That’s a given, a given.
The trunk spoiler will cause the trim to be perfectly aligned at precisely 155 mph.
You’re looking at the wrong angle.
The fastest thing about this 7 series will still be the depreciation.
True, but you won’t want this bucket of ready-to-fail-at-50,000-miles parts at a third of the price.
And the parts failure rate in four or five years?
I mean, if previous 760Li models are any guide…
+1
+100
Alpina has been tuning these for years…BMW probably got sick of losing the sales to them or AMG.
There has to be some Alpina tie-up there, where BMW gets a piece of the pie from Alpina sales. You can build an Alpina right on the BMW USA website.
AMG are huge into the S63 65 G55 whatevers. Was surprised BMW didnt get into the superfast luxury barge market sooner.
There’s a market for this… Dubai, Beverly Hills, Palm Beach, Wall Street, the Hamptons. Expect the engines to die of idling in traffic.
Maybe. The Dubai-ers I know will most likely see this as a poseur and wait for an honest-to-Allah M7. This doesn’t fill that bill, especially since the S65 exists.
Given M seems to stand for Money nowadays, it’s no big loss.
Although the “not making an M(x>5)” rule is sticking for now.
I love that colour in that profile. Car looks menacing.
Baby seals die each time you fire it up ;)
I really like it too but it trades into the 3/5/7 same sausage cut to different lengths thing… if you told me it was a China market 330iL ‘long’ feel the length I would beleive it.
That is a 400CI V12. It is a good thing no one cares about displacement and cylinder counts anymore.
That’s an impressive car.
Remember when BMWs didn’t look like Honda Accords on the outside? That was nice.
Oh, that hurts. +1
If I won the lottery tomorrow,I wouldn’t buy this or any modern German “enthusiast” car.
I’d take my noveau riche self to eBay and bid myself a used E38 740i “Sport”, spend the thousands to get it to new spec,and drive it till the wheels fell off.
M used to stand for Motorsport,not “markup for hipsters”.
Hipsters drive crappy Jettas with missing wheel covers and scratched-up bumpers. More authentic that way.
I think you meant “Markup for Banksters.”
Hear, hear!
Call me crazy…
But 610hp for a twin turbo 6.6 litre V12 is really sad.
ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING the complexity of said motor.
Now, I will place the GM 6.2 LT4 Small Block from the C7 Z06 in the other corner… 650hp/650tq
–> and this is with a smaller 1700cc blower. Imagine with a larger 2500cc blower coupled with Magnetic engine dampers.
Now I know, the NVH qualities are possible vastly different?????
But just think about the complexity of each engine, their respective mass, and then the overall output.
Makes no sense… at all…
You mean because it’s outpowered by a 3.5L Ford?
A $400K 3.5L Ford.
I especially find the lack of torque disappointing. A S65 with 738 lb-ft of tire-grinding torque is going to annihilate this thing.
except that it doesn’t, as the M760 is quicker and outhandles every S-class model, including all the AMG’s. BMW could just as easily say the thing makes 800lb-ft. It’s electronically limited anyway, and they always make more power than BMW says. Either way it doesn’t matter, as the only thing the S65 annihilates is tires while the M760 walks away from it.
Maybe. I will say that the 180 hp turbo 4 in my 320i feels much more powerful (especially in sport mode) than many cars I’ve driven with much higher ratings. It’s not always how much power is made, but what is done with it.
Also, the V12 configuration remains a very special one. I’ve wanted one since I was a kid. Maybe someday.
I assume that 22mpg is on the Euro cycle – EPA shows 13/20/16 mpg. Converting from using US to Imperial gallons immediately bumps it up to 19 or so, and the Euro cycle is a little more optimistic than the EPA.
High speed four-seater with extended leg-room in the rear. Maybe, once the Vettel guy has signed up as chauffeur. Then I will demand that he will “drive on the limit” when he takes me to the office, or the airport. “More drifting, chauffeur!”
Is that a foot rest in the back or a jump seat for the shoeshine guy?
The only person I know who owns a 7 series is a full time boiler operator and part time rap star whose Youtube view count is in the dozens.
Oh, several years ago I had a supervisor at work offer me his mid-90s 750 for $1,500. Car had about 80K miles, a couple of door dings, and the only interior wear and tear was on the driver’s seat. The car was not running at the time. Since I knew zip about 750s, I went to a BMW enthusiast site and asked, the popular consensus was that I needed this 750 like I needed another a-hole. I passed on this good deal.
I can not say I know what it’s like to make 6+ figures a year and how that would shape my opinions about purchases. Value is “relatively” low for this car obviously though, IMO. Even my ego says I can do much better.
What sedan has the most unhealthy ego dynbang for the buck for you?
For me it would be the GS-F. My ego gets a boost from reliable, fun, and luxury. I buy into feeling smarter than the average B&b.
Just one more car to run from when the warranty expires…