The 2023 BMW 760i xDrive sedan is one example of a BMW that approaches limousine class despite being regarded as a driver’s vehicle.
Rear luxury lounge seating was provided for the test, including a right-side reclining seat and footrest, a sizable console, and the BMW theatre screen. The latter is a sizable 31-inch TV mounted on rails that are operated by a tiny 5.5-inch screen that resembles a smartphone in each door. It’s an entertainment paradise when combined with the Bowers & Wilkins audio system, but not for the poor, deprived motorist.
The base price of the BMW 7601 is US$113,600, so there are a lot of extras on the tester, including luxury front and rear Merino leather seating with massage, automatic doors, crystal headlights, parking assistance, an Alcantara headliner, and more, totaling US$35,445 in add-ons.
There is no doubt that the experience for the passengers in this car is excellent and would satisfy any picky consumer. First-world issues include the fact that the back seat cannot recline when the front passenger seat is occupied. But even so, many owners will drive their vehicles, and the BMW is satisfactory in that area as well. It is powered by a 48-volt mild hybrid, 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine with 536 horsepower that is mated to an eight-speed sport automatic gearbox. 18 horsepower and a powerful 148 pound-feet of torque are added by the electric motor, which is connected to a one-kilowatt-hour battery. In earlier iterations of this car, a 600-horsepower 12-cylinder engine was swapped out for a V-8.
Although overtaking is a dream on the highway, the atmosphere of the car as a whole discourages impolite shows of strength. Despite being 17.6 feet long, the automobile is easier to maneuver in parking lots than you might think because it comes equipped with rear-wheel steering. The car has adaptive shock absorbers that can sense the road ahead and ride on air springs, completely oblivious to uneven terrain. When you switch to sport mode, the shocks get stiffer and the ride height is lowered.
The vehicle has BMW’s highway assistant (part of a $2,100 package), which enables hands-free motorway travel at speeds of up to 80 mph. It also boasts an autonomous lane-changing feature, which is consistent with new systems from other automakers.
Every angle of the BMW is Germanic gorgeous, except the front, where the large kidney grille that was initially seen on the 4-Series is blacked out. Here, it is incorporated into the air intakes below, giving the appearance of an open-mouthed humpback whale consuming krill.
At last, The shifter, iDrive controller, and even the power seat knobs are jewelled, and the front passenger’s lit bar matches the controls’ luxurious feel. 12.3-inch screen in the instrument cluster with customizable mood accents. A 14.9-inch infotainment screen is included to match that. When Sonny Rollins is blasting through the Bowers & Wilkins, the cabin is normally quiet. The wireless phone charging is practical and works with bigger phones. The trunk is fairly voluminous, with a deep central storage bin.
On a lengthy drive, the BMW with all-wheel drive proved to be a non-fatiguing companion. It would be perfect to speed through Germany and France on the autobahns of Europe, possibly to Cannes for the film festival. Movies can be previewed on the screen while driving. The screen can be extended or letterboxed, and if there is only one passenger, it can tilt toward them.
[source: barrons]
