Series marks BMW’s huge leap into motoring mobility and connectivity. The 750Li is a smooth runner packed with an incredible array of outstanding features. By Kannan Chandran
If you’re going to be driving a half-a-million-dollar car, it’s likely you’ll be choosy about where you’re going to be parking it. A narrow lot is not likely going to be your pick, and you’ll either drive where the lots are larger, or resort to a valet service.
So, the self-parking feature on the BMW 750Li is about the Munich brand strutting its stuff. You have to be within 2m of the car and it will only move forwards and backwards in a straight line. It will stop if there’s an obvious obstruction.
Now, if you could hit a button and the car finds its way to the ideal lot on its own, and can be beckoned back similarly, that would be great. But that’s still the stuff of superhero comics.
Still, with this parking feature activated on the quite stylish display key, and mated with autonomous driving features that are more reliable, comic book features might yet become reality. Some already have.
As vital first steps go, BMW might already have played a part in this step into the future. So technologically endowed is the new 7 Series, you could spend lots of time getting to know the slew of features. Overkill, over the top, over reaching it may be, and you do have to sometimes work your way through various menus and sub-menus before doing something simple, like lowering the level of the head up display.
And there’s a ceramic Controller that puts all the iDrive functions within reach. You can trace letters on it to get to the functions that you need.
That’s great if you’re in a left-hand-drive car and your right hand is able to do the needful. If you’re driving on the other side of the road — as we do in Singapore — then you’ll be challenged to write anything legible if you’re not among the 10% of the population that is left-handed. Maybe the option of providing a little pad on the multi-function steering wheel or on the right side of the dashboard might be useful.
BMW 750Li TECH SPECS
Engine: V8 with TwinPower turbo technology
Capacity: 4,395cc
Max Power: 330kW@5,500–6,000rpm
Max Torque: 650Nm@1,800–4,500rpm
Transmission: 8-speed sport automatic
Efficiency: 8.5L/100km
CO2: 197g/km
0-100kmh: 4.7 seconds
Top Speed: 250kmh
Retail price: *$583,800
www.pml-bmw.com.sg
Please reconfirm price with dealer.
Read the full review in STORM V28 out in bookstores in August.
