BMW 750i and 750Li 2016 Review

BMW 750i and 750Li
Local Launch Review
Daylesford, Victoria

BMW's 7 Series range in Australia has grown once more, with the arrival of the new, V8-engined 750i and its long-wheelbase counterpart, the 750Li. Promising more advanced technology and improved fuel efficiency, the new flagship models have risen in price, but the prestige importer argues that the added cost is heavily outweighed by improvements. The petrol V8 variants will sell in quite small numbers here, but they do boost BMW's image as a forward-thinking brand.

BMW's 7 Series range (in the new G11/12 generation) has been earning praise around the world since its global launch late last year. And now the last piece has fallen into place for the local range, with BMW launching the V8-powered 750i and 750Li in Australia this week.

For the first local drive of the V8 variants we set off from Essendon Airport in Victoria via Mount Macedon to our destination in Daylesford. On the sweeping country roads the 750Li proved deceptively swift, barrelling along unobtrusively and in complete safety. This car is quiet enough to place the driver in serious danger of losing his or her licence, if not sufficiently attentive. Tyre noise barely registered and driveline noise only intruded when the driver was using all the car's available performance.

The 4.4-litre engine was buttery smooth but immediate in its power delivery. Driving through an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission it was ready to produce the goods for easy overtaking, for instance. While the performance from the V8 was never anything less than effortless, there was a distinct gain in power from around 4000rpm at wide-open throttle.

For a car with the 750i's performance potential and mass, it was surprisingly frugal. On the outbound leg to Daylesford, and given a decent thrash en route, the 750Li used as little as 10.7L/100km. For the return leg to Melbourne Airport the short-wheelbase 750i posted a figure of 8.0L/100km cruising at open-road speeds.

Not just economical, the 750Li was impressively nimble too. Even with the Driving Experience Control set to Comfort the big Bimmer was responsive to steering input and handled adroitly in tighter turns. Road-holding provided no cause for alarm, even with the car pushed harder through bends that warranted advisory speed limits posted.

Contrary to my finding during the global launch of the 7 Series in the USA, our local-spec 750i and 750Li models were communicative through the wheel, whether in Sport or Comfort modes. Put that down to a combination of rear versus all-wheel drive, 'summer' tyres and familiarity with the local roads.

Conversely, the ride remained supple in Sport mode too. The overall ride/handling balance was being constantly adjusted by the car through its Executive Drive Pro system, which combines a forward-looking camera, much like the similar Benz Magic Body Control system, with electro/hydraulic anti-roll bar adjustment on the fly. BMW claims that the electronic monitoring and regulation of the active suspension system is a world first.

Inside, there's plenty of focus on high-resolution displays that swipe with a finger for different display options. Or you could use other interface measures such as the iDrive single-point controller or gesture control. The jury's still undecided about gesture control. It will take some time for the various gestures to become second nature. Without that familiarity the new control system may end up being one of those concepts that seemed like a good idea at the time.

The high-tech nature of the comfort and convenience features in the BMWs stand out more than the same facilities in the Mercedes-Benz S 500L tested less than six months ago. If the cabin of the BMW resembles a luxury yacht, the Benz feels more like the interior of an art gallery. Stuttgart's champion places greater emphasis on serene ambience, whereas the BMW always 'talks' with the driver and passengers.

Seats are not as pillowy soft in the 750i and 750Li as in the S-Class, a point noted during the international launch. According to BMW Australia product planning boss, Shawn Ticehurst, it amounts to a point of difference between the two rivals. Many if not most 7 Series owners pride themselves on being drivers and not just passengers. This, to some degree, informs BMW's choice of seat for the V8-engined flagship. It must be admitted, the seats in the 750i and 750Li were well shaped and supportive.

In an unusual step, BMW Australia ran the drive program in two sections: one during daylight hours and a night stage to assess the LED-based Laserlight headlight system and the car's Night Vision system. Unfortunately, Night Vision only works with the headlights operating, so any chance of Terminator-style stealth driving with the lights off is out of the question.

That notwithstanding, Night Vision worked to specification, but the Laserlight system – which actually has nothing to do with lasers – was a mixed blessing out on the country roads around Daylesford. They definitely provided the long-range illumination – 600m, or about twice the norm for LED headlights. But the other part of the equation was a selective dipping system that just didn't work as well as the conceptually similar system we've experienced in the Mercedes S-Class in the past – also on Aussie country roads.

Ticehurst suggests the Laserlight system may work more effectively on freeways, which could be true. The very range of the headlight system suggests BMW has configured Laserlight for high speeds on autobahns rather than middling speeds on winding country roads in Australia. It will need a seven-day test to establish whether it was just a glitch in the two cars driven at night for the local launch. But on first blush it appears that BMW's system is inferior to Benz's.

Naturally the 750i isn't as roomy as the long-wheelbase 750Li. It does offer adults of average height appropriate headroom in the rear however. And the legroom is fine too. For the really tall confined to a rear seat, the passenger on the left can adjust the front-passenger seat forward for added legroom, at least.

The boot in the 750i is long and relatively deep – having a battery under the floor rather than a spare tyre. But it's a narrow space and its usable volume may come as a shock to some buyers.

While on the subject of narrow spaces, now might be the time to make an observation about the target demographic for the 7 Series. Last year the big BMW sold just 93 cars in Australia. That would be largely due to the run-out period prior to introduction of the new G11 generation. But even in 2014 sales of 7 Series peaked at 127 units for the year – barely 10 a month.

For each of the past two years the S-Class has sold over 300 units. It's not that the Mercedes is clearly the better car in all things, it's more a case of the broader appeal of the Mercedes to those in large, luxury sedan buyer land.

The BMW is more about the driving, which makes it an esoteric choice in this market sector. And buyers lined up for the new petrol V8 variants will be even fewer in number – an exclusive club for those who enjoy the power and the passion.

2016 BMW 750i pricing and specifications:
Price: $289,600 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 4.4-litre eight-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 330kW/650Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.1L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: TBA
Safety Rating: TBA

2016 BMW 750Li xDrive pricing and specifications:
Price: TBA
Engine: 4.4-litre eight-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 330kW/650Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.3L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: TBA
Safety Rating: TBA

Also consider:
>> Audi S8 (from $280,610 plus ORCs)
>> Mercedes-Benz S 500L (from $311,800 plus ORCs)
>> Porsche Panamera GTS (from $319,700 plus ORCs)