Introduction
High-end saloons are always desirable to the premium market, as they usually team performance with a quality finish and comfort – with the likes of Mercedes, Audi and BMW offering the best in the market.
Here is BMW’s effort – the M760Li xDrive – which is based on the 7 Series saloon, but comes with the added oomph of a massive 6.6-litre V12 engine.
Despite the M at the start of the name, this car isn’t built to be as dynamic as other M Division models, as it is created to be super-fast and super-comfortable.
But does this model perform on the same level as the likes of the Mercedes-AMG S 65 saloon in terms of luxury and performance? We take a look…
Performance
As mentioned before, the M760Li is fitted with a turbocharged 6.6-litre V12 engine that produces 600bhp and 800Nm of torque. All of that power means a 0-60mph time of 3.5 seconds – making the M760Li the fastest accelerating BMW yet – and a limited top speed of 155mph. Customers can choose to fit the M Driver’s Package, which increases the top speed threshold to 189mph.
The large V12 is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission and – as the model’s name suggests – xDrive all-wheel drive to help put the power down. The funny thing is about the M760Li is that even though it has all that punch at its disposal, it can easily settle down into a well-mannered cruiser with no real issue – and in some circumstances is better suited to that.
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Ride & Handling
Like with most other BMWs, the M760Li drives incredibly well and can handle itself on the road. The rear-biased all-wheel drive system leads to some impressive handling, with that setup lending to a bit more oversteer and driver enjoyment when the car is pushed.
Tested both on track and the road, we found that the long-wheelbased 760 was more than capable on twistier sections – with the car able to keep body roll to a minimum and stay stable. With the long-wheelbase setup, coasting is built into the car’s nature and it feels very nice in the cruise.
Interior & Equipment
Surprisingly, with the long-wheelbase tag, the rear space isn’t as good as similar rivals and it feels a bit smaller in the back seats than you would expect. The driver’s seat also feels quite compact, although that means you can focus on the road more if you’re behind the wheel.
The boot space is impressive though, as the M760Li comes with 515 litres in the rear – more than enough for a couple of large suitcases. The interior finish is also very good, as leather, wood and metal all combine to create a high-end appearance befitting a premium cruiser.
As the current flagship model in BMW’s line-up, the 7 Series comes with more equipment than you can shake a stick at, including some nice design touches like the 20-inch lightweight alloys, blue brake calipers with M logos, grey detailing on the kidney grille and mirror caps, a panoramic sunroof and illuminated door sills.
Inside, the high-end feel continues, as BMW has fitted the iDrive infotainment system with Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay, leather steering wheel, a head-up display, Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system, rear massage seats, electric rear sunblinds, entertainment screens in the back with BMW Touch Command and an alcantara headlining. That’s more than enough kit for a typical cruiser, meaning anyone being ferried around in the back will do so in supreme comfort.
Cost
Prices for the 7 Series start from £63,040 – putting it in the firing line of the Mercedes S-Class and Audi A8. For the top-end M760Li though, prices aren’t cheap and it starts from £138,625 – luxury sports car money.
With the power and equipment on hand, that price tag isn’t surprising, but running costs are quite high but that is to be expected from such a high performance model. Efficiency is around 22mpg and emissions are set at almost 300g/km.
Verdict
If you’re after luxury, speed and high-end feel, the M760Li is a unique prospect with that huge V12 engine up front and plenty of interior space. The high cost of buying and owning will mean you won’t see many of these on the road, but with quality and performance going hand-in-hand, it is an excellent prospect as a long-range cruiser and speedy bruiser.
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