The baby of the 7-Series comes in with a two-litre engine but a sticker price of over $400,000. Would that prove too confusing? By Kannan Chandran
In a society that prides itself on excesses, the new BMW 730 might just pose a conundrum. While the new 7 Series has all the prerequisite bells and whistles and has been sailing past the previous posers to the throne, the fact that it has a two-litre engine onboard is going to furrow some brows and be cause for concern for the pretentious folks who might think that’s terribly underpowered, or that it may even send the wrong signal about the car’s positioning.
Maybe these are customers BMW doesn’t want. Haha…right…. In this economy, every customer counts, which may explain why this variant even exists — to woo new customers.
Well, if it’s any consolation, it’s still a cracking great engine. The twin turbos deliver a steady stream of power that allows the big boy to float or zoom, depending on your preference.
This is the first time a 1,998cc engine is neatly dropped into a 7-series, so there must have been a lot of discussions about the move. Well, the new engines are amazing feats of engineering and technology, and performance was never ever going to be compromised.
The other amazing thing about the 730 is that it’s probably the only sub-2L engine to carry a sticker price that crosses the $400,000 mark.
Mind you, it’s a souped-up inline 4, with TwinPower Turbo technology giving you 192kW, and a maximum torque of 400Nm from 1,550rpm, which can take you from 0-100kmh in just over six seconds. And it’s got most of the creature comforts in place, along with an alcantara roof lining, massage chairs, connected drive, plus safety options in abundance. The aggressive air dams and exhaust add tonality to the mix, allowing for a less boxy feel.
Handling is refined, if not a bit vague at times, but it’s highly likely you will see some of them on the road debadged.
BMW 730i TECH SPECS
Engine: In-line 4 cylinder with TwinPower Turbo technology
Capacity: 1,998cc
Max Power: 192kW@5,000–6,500rpm
Max Torque: 400Nm@1,550–4,400rpm
Transmission: 8-speed Sport Automatic
Efficiency: 6.3L/100km
CO2: 145g/km
0-100kmh: 6.2 seconds
Top Speed: 250kmh
Retail price: *$408,800
www.pml-bmw.com.sg
Please reconfirm price with dealer.
