Automotive

BMW's M760Li xDrive offers up private jet luxury and speed at ground level

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The M760Li mightn't have a particularly catchy name, but it will get you to your meeting on time thanks to a 6.6-liter V12
Quad exhaust pipes and 20-inch wheels are some of the subtle tweaks BMW has made to the car's styling
The M760Li mightn't have a particularly catchy name, but it will get you to your meeting on time thanks to a 6.6-liter V12
An eight speed automatic gearbox puts all that power to the ground
Inside, it's all about high quality leather and piano black finishes
Just in case you forgot what was under the hood, BMW will remind you every time you open the door
There's special finishes available for the exterior trim pieces, including the mirror caps and kidney grilles
The 7 Series has always been a handsome car, so BMW hasn't messed with the formula too much on its quicker model
The 330 km/h speedo is a little optimistic, considering a derestricted car runs out of puff at 305 km/h
V12 badging is spread everywhere around the cabin and exterior, highlighting this car's spot at the top of the range
BMW is adamant this is the seat you want to be in for the 760Li, but we wouldn't be surprised if plenty of buyers spent their time in the back seats
M Performance badging continues to become more common across the BMW range
Big brakes and a unique lightweight wheel design hint at the car's extra performance potential
The 760 is fitted with rear wheel steering to mask some of its bulk in the corners
That small air vent behind the front wheelarch has become a BMW hallmark since it debuted on the 4 Series
In LWB guise, the 7 Series is a match for the best Mercedes and Audi can throw at it
Quad exhaust and a broad chrome strip are designed to show off the fact this is capable of 300+ km/h. We're not sure they're gone far enough with the styling tweaks though
From the back the 7 Series looks properly low and wide
If you don't choose the 'Excellence' package, you get bigger air intakes from BMW's M Performance bumper
The 7 Series is heavily laden with tech, including a touchscreen key and gesture control
Ticking the box for the Excellence trim level makes the car more about luxury and less about showing off how fast you can go
BMW's interior has a subtlety to it that Alpina can't match in its super 7 Series
We love the deep red color BMW has chosen to show off the 760Li Excellence
A different wheel design and black calipers feature on the Excellence
There's yet more V12 badging to show off the fact you've splurged for the range topping 7 Series
BMW has made the bootlid badging more subtle in the Excellence model
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Just two days ago, we told you about the Alpina B7 Biturbo: a tuner take on the BMW 7 Series capable of over 300 km/h (186 mph). You'd think it occupies a niche market, but already it's got some company from BMW's M team in the form of the new M760Li xDrive, a long wheelbase luxury sedan with a twin-turbo V12 under the hood.

Thanks to its 6.6-liter twin turbo V12 engine, the 760Li puts out 441 kW (600 hp) at 5,500 rpm and a massive 800 Nm (590 ft-lb) of torque from just 1,500 rpm. That's enough to deal with the 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint in just 3.9 seconds on its way to a restricted top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). If, for some reason, you feel the need to go faster than that, there's is an optional M Driver's Package which lifts that top speed to 305 km/h (189 mph).

The 760 is fitted with rear wheel steering to mask some of its bulk in the corners

Eagle eyed readers will notice that's 5 km/h slower than the Alpina B7, but if you're really worried about ultimate top speed in a two-ton limousine then perhaps you're looking in the wrong part of the showroom.

The V12's prodigious power is channeled to all four wheels through an eight speed Steptronic gearbox, which has had its shift mapping tweaked to better work with the engine's torque curve.

Just as Alpina has done with its high-end 7 Series, BMW has spent plenty of time working on the car's suspension and handling setup. After all, you wouldn't want rear-seat passengers to spill their bubbly on the way to that monstrous top speed, would you? There's active roll stabilization to cut down on side-to-side body movement, and rear-wheel steering also makes an appearance in an attempt to mask the 760Li's considerable length in tighter bends.

We love the deep red color BMW has chosen to show off the 760Li Excellence

Also working to make sure no drinks are spilled in the cabin is BMW's extensive suite of active driver aids. As well as speed limit-detecting radar cruise control and lane keeping assist, the car is fitted with rear-collision prevention and cross traffic alert to make sure you're not blindsided backing out of tight parking spots or pulling out of blind junctions.

Looking at the outside of the M760Li, there's not many hints to suggest the car can really get a move on when the driver demands it. Up front, an M Performance aerodynamic bumper is fitted, but you really need to take notice of the 20-inch wheels and V12 badges scattered around the body to know this isn't a garden-variety 7 Series.

For buyers who want to highlight their extra power (or the extra cash they dropped), there's a no-cost Excellence trim that drops the M Sport bumpers and instead adds extra chrome to the exterior trim.

BMW has not mentioned pricing, but expect the M760Li to be priced in a similar league to the €145,200 (US$157,800) Audi S8 Performance.

Source: BMW

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1 comment
agarsum
A Tesla Xodel X is probably as close as a car will come to a private jet. The Model X's seats have room to stow stuff under them. Not sure if this BMW car is relevant anymore.