BMW M760I: BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
Sports car power with limo ride
Can a luxury-laden road cruiser actually be both a sports car and a limo? The BMW M760i xDrive may be about the close as it gets.
The Bavarian behemoth is actually a wonderful car to drive, particularly in Sport mode. And when you look down and realize you’re gliding along at a pace the local gendarme frowns upon, the magnitude of the vehicle suddenly sinks in.
Quiet, nimble, powerful, graceful and trimmed out with every conceivable amenity, the BMW Flagship 760 rivals class companions Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar for interior refinements. Having reviewed both the big Benz and Jag, I thought this Bimmer one-upped them both in ride character.
First, let’s get under the hood, because that’s where the 6.6-liter V-12 lives. This burly twin turbo makes 601 hp and is mated to an 8-speed transmission, meaning it wastes no time in getting this machine flying. With a reported 0-60 in 3.9 seconds and a 200-mph speedometer that is Autobahn-ready, this is one very fast machine.
The 7 Series Active Comfort Drive suspension creates a super smooth ride even with the 20-inch Michelin Super Sport low-profile tires gripping the road.
Given all the power, the M760i isn’t a fuel-sipper — but the 18 mpg on average was a pleasant surprise and running in ECO mode on the highway helped out.
The classic BMW profile is enhanced with the matte brown custom finish that created a head-turning look. The nose is garnished with the traditional split louvered grille and famous badge. The interior is bathed in supple leather, has wood and brushedmetal trim, velvety cloth and soft-touch surfaces. The detailed tooling on the seats was an indicator of the elite craftsmanship that went into the vehicle. Instrumentation was wellplaced and mostly intuitive except for the infotainment center. The iDrive, which takes some getting used to, has some cool features like motion sensor stereo controls.
Even though BMW markets their vehicles as driver’s cars — and this is every bit of one — the M760i is friendly to passengers as well. The back seats, intended for chauffeuring, have ample leg room, recline, and have a massage feature. Riders also have web-accessible touch screens and separate climate controls.
The cabin feels airy yet regal with a panoramic sunroof and changeable ambient lighting. The noise of the outside world is well sealed off by the sound dampening and only in Sport mode does the sound of the motor growling sneak in.