BMW's flagship 7 Series has evolved further, making it one of the top luxury cars you can buy.
Night vision (infrared) with pedestrian recognition, side view cameras, a new lane departure warning system and a speed limit indicator are just some of the new toys you'll find on offer with the latest big saloon from BMW. The car of choice for most non-bankers would be the excellent 730D (or 730Ld in long wheel base form for around €120,000) but for those who like to be driven more often than not, the €154,390 750Li is the obvious choice, although when you throw in those and a few other toys fitted to my test car the price tag rises to over €170,000.
The V8 petrol powered 407bhp engine is quick with 0-100km/h taking just 5.3 seconds. It is surprisingly fuel efficient, too, for such a fast and luxurious beast, averaging an impressive 11.4 litre per 100 kilometres travelled.
It's a smart and understated car. The exterior has swelled out a little from the old 7 it replaces but otherwise the detailing is quite subtle; this will please the more conservative buyer. The long wheelbase 'L' is easy to spot side-on as the rear doors are the length of Leitrim.
Inside, the cabin is pure BMW. The automatic gearshift is now mounted conventionally and no longer a stalk on the steering column. My test car's ride proved supreme with its air suspension offering the driver four ride settings; 'Sport+' is the most entertaining and best used for quick VIP getaways as it firms up the suspension and turns the big car into a bit of serious fun. As you'd expect inside all the toys are available, for example, with the 'Professional DSP Hi-Fi' system, the rear seat passengers can each control separate DVD screens and select different entertainment options if they wish while listening in private through wireless headphones.
Our recent snowy spell proved a rule: that regardless of how expensive a car is, if it has rear wheel drive it will not provide the traction needed when the road surface gets really slippy. Granted, my car was fitted with standard tyres and not winter ones (as is every car on the island), but you still would expect it to be able to handle a little snow!
As I attempted to gain entrance to the road leading up to my house in Wicklow the big 7 simply could not shift its weight up the slight incline. I was passed by a VW Polo, a bin lorry and a few other front-wheel drive cars. Even with all the drivers aids that are standard on the 7 Series and using every combination of 'D', '2nd' and '3rd' gear to try to move off, the rear wheels spun without providing forward motion. Eventually, after a break in the snowfall, I was able to get the car in to my driveway and there it stayed for three solid days as I waited for the ground to thaw. I doubt its main rival the Lexus LS600 with its four-wheel drive would have left me stranded.
Freakish weather aside, the latest 7 Series is a phenomenal car - just remember when you're buying to get the dealer to throw in a set of winter tyres for free!
Michael Sheridan
