BMW 750Li 2013 Review - International

BMW 750Li

Quick Spin
St Petersburg, Russia

What we liked:
>> New engine/gearbox combination
>> No shortage of equipment
>> Super audio visual options

Not so much:
>> No paddleshifters
>> Ride could be better
>> Steering is too light

A lavish international media launch in the historic Russian city of St Petersburg might seem an extravagant measure for what is no more than a mildly facelifted and technically updated version of BMW’s 7 Series flagship sedan, but it’s not altogether surprising when you consider the big limo’s primary target markets.

According to last year’s stats, China is the biggest consumer of the 7 Series, followed by the US, Middle East and Russia. If anything, the ratio is only likely to skew further towards Asian emerging markets given the way the world economy is shifting.

The existing F01/F02 7 Series launched internationally in October 2008, and it’s been successful in keeping BMW at the forefront of the Teutonic executive limo segment, along with the evergreen Mercedes S-Class. Globally, the S-Class is still king of the hill, with 68,900 sales in 2011, but the 7 Series was nipping at its heels with just 200 fewer examples sold. Meanwhile, Audi’s A8 was a distant third with 34,200 sales.

The equation is likely to shift more in favour of the Merc by the end of this year as an all-new S-Class (believed to wear the designation W222) is due to debut at the upcoming Paris motor show. However, the updated 7 Series – which launches here in October – should go at least some way to stemming the tide.

BMW hasn’t gone overboard with the visual changes. Indeed, that’s putting it very mildly – the biggest differentiator between old and new is the full-LED headlights that adorn the face of the newbie.

Keen spotters will also pick up on the reprofiled front apron and modified kidney-shaped grilles, each of which now has nine slats (instead of the previous 12). The only change at the rear is the addition of a thin horizontal chrome strip that runs across the bootlid.

The most significant changes have taken place under the skin with a powertrain line-up that has been revamped to yield more performance while consuming less fuel. This is a goal that’s also been aided by the introduction of ZF’s excellent new eight-speed automatic in lieu of the old six-speeder.

Interestingly, the 7 Series is the last model in BMW’s line-up to gain the eight-speed tranny, which defies the usual norm of the flagship being the first to score any significant new tech. It’s all down to timing, as the eight-speeder wasn’t ready when the existing 7 debuted in 2008.

Another key change is the standard fitment of self-levelling air suspension at the rear to improve the 7 Series’ oft-criticised ride quality. Electric power steering, auto stop-start and brake energy recuperation have been introduced to reduce emissions and fuel consumption.

The new engine line-up includes a reworked twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 in the 750i, while the 730d also features an upgraded diesel engine that offers more grunt (190kW/560Nm) while burning through less fuel. Rounding out the range is the second-gen ActiveHybrid 7, which pairs a 235kW 3.0-litre six-pot turbo (the oldie used a twin-turbo V8) with a 40kW electric motor.

At the launch we drove only the long-wheelbase 750Li, which in its latest form puts out 330kW at 5500rpm and 650Nm from 2000-4500rpm – useful increments on the 300kW and 600Nm served up by the outgoing model. The result is a 0-100km/h split of just 4.6sec, and it feels every bit that quick in the real world, clocking up speeds that would get you locked up in Australia with deceptive ease.

The eight-speed auto is also a notable improvement on the old six-speeder, slurring through the ratios quickly and imperceptibly. It’s arguably the best auto currently on the market, but sporting drivers may lament the absence of paddle shifters. A BMW insider told motoring.com.au this would be addressed in the not-too-distant future, particularly as many buyers in the US had requested paddles.

The new electric power steering may not be to everyone’s liking, as it feels distinctly artificial – almost video game-like – in the feedback it provides. Switching to Sport or Sport+ mode doesn’t help either, as all that occurs is an increase in weighting, with no corresponding gain in feel.

The new 7 Series is a tidy, if not sporting, handler, but it was conceived more to cosset its rear-seat occupants. Unfortunately it still lacks the magic-carpet ride you’d get in an S-Class or Lexus LS, as there’s noticeable bump-thump over sharp corrugations even with the air suspension that’s now standard across the range.

Inside, there are new seats for the driver and front passenger, while in the rear there is the option of two individual pews in lieu of the bench seat, and there’s also an optional rear-seat entertainment package with a 9.2-inch flatscreen monitor.

The new 1200-watt Bang & Olufsen surround sound system is superb, cranking out as much clarity and bass as you’re likely to find in any OEM in-car audio system.

As with the current Jaguar XJ, the new 7 Series ditches conventional instrumentation in favour of virtual dials with virtual needles – the dials turn blue in Eco Pro (fuel-saving) mode and red in Sport mode. And as you’d expect in the flagship model, there’s a raft of cutting-edge driver aids and safety systems Night Vision + Dynamic Light Spot with pedestrian-recognition technology, High Beam Assistant, Lane Departure Warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic fatigue recognition and so on. However, we’ll comment more on these once Australian spec levels are announced at the local launch.

The initial model line-up in Australia will comprise the 730d SWB, 740i LWB/SWB, 750i LWB/SWB and 760i LWB, with the Active Hybrid model joining the range next year.

All in all, the revised 7 Series addresses at least some of the shortcomings of its predecessor – it’s smoother, quieter, more potent and less thirsty – but the visual changes could have been more far reaching to keep it fresh until the all-new replacement lands in a couple of years.

Meanwhile, it will have its work cut out against the all-new S-Class that’s waiting in the wings.

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