Twin turbo V12 for top-shelf BMW 7 Series

BMW Australia plans to bring the just-announced long-wheelbase 760Li flagship version of its new 7 Series to Australia in the final quarter of 2009.

Toting an all-new 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 engine developing 400kW and 750Nm of torque, the stretched 7 Series will come dripping with luxury and running the full gamut of BMW acronyms; air suspension (self-levelling at the rear) with Dynamic Damping Control including Dynamic Driving Control, speed-related Servotronic steering assistance, Dynamic Drive anti-roll stability system and cruise control with auto brake function are standard.

Integral Active four-wheel steering that brings the rear wheels into play to tighten the turning circle and add to on-road nimbleness has also been resurrected from early Japanese attempts to get the technology off the ground. Four-wheel steer is optional for the 760Li elsewhere but we don't yet know its status when the V12 variant arrives here.

Standard gear will include comfort seats, satellite navigation, four-zone auto air conditioning and Automatic Soft Close doors.

The new twin-turbo V12 out-powers the current non-turbo engine (also 6.0-litre), by 73kW and 150Nm, yet BMW says it is, with help from its new eight-speed auto transmission, better than five per cent more economical with an EU average figure of 13.0L/100km. Obviously it's faster too, with an impressive zero to 100km/h time of 4.6 seconds.

Running on a wheelbase stretched by 14 centimetres over regular 7 Series models (more here) , the top-gun BMW offers a big increase in rear-seat space (BMW says it is longer than other long-wheelbase luxury competitors) but styling tricks stop it short of looking strung-out as elongated factory limos often do.

The V12 powerplant develops its maximum 750Nm of torque at just 1500rpm, while 400kW comes at a very conservative 5250rpm. As well as TwinPower Turbo Technology (BMW's description), the all-alloy V12 has direct fuel injection and BMW's infinitely-variable double-VANOS camshaft lift system.

Full details of Australian spec, including pricing, will be announced closer to launch, although BMW Group Australia managing director Stavros Yallouridis says the 760Li will come here "comprehensively equipped".

Expect the new top-shelf BMW to be priced close to the previous 760Li's tag prior to being discontinued of around $350,000.

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