BMW Australia is lining up for the local showroom debut of the German automaker’s flagship within a flagship, the M Performance variant of their G11 7 Series - the M760Li xDrive - earmarked for a Q2 2017 launch with a $419,000 (plus OTR) price tag.
The M760Li flaunts its abilities subtly, with the exclusive Cerium Grey colour applied to its wheels and paired with its kidney grilles, front apron strip, mirror caps, door handles, air breathers, boot lid strip, and exhaust pipe embellishers.
Closer inspection would reveal the ‘V12’ badge on the C-pillar as well as other indicators such as the ‘M’ and ‘xDrive’ logo. Its entire silhouette its given more menace with the M aerodynamic body pack and blue brake callipers for a lower, more purposeful stance.
The 7 Series is already known for its luxurious cabin, but opening the door on the M760Li presents an aluminium door sill emblazoned with another V12 marker, and stepping in brings to view the full Merino leather upholstery, full electric heated/cooled and massaging front seats. The premium leather treatment extends to the door panels and trim, centre console, armrests, and full dashboard.
The rear section is equipped with the Executive Rear Seating, which offers two individual seats and includes heating, cooling and massage functions as well as electric adjustment, comfort headrests and the ability to convert the front passenger seat into a folded footrest.
Fineline black fine wood interior trims, high-pile floor mats with leather binding and high-gloss metal effects combine with the ceramic control surrounds and anthracite headliner to create a supremely sophisticated interior ambience.
The M760 truly does meld supercar performance with luxury comfort, with a beautifully appointed interior with the added room afforded by its longer wheelbase configuration. And all propelled by a 6.6-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine that generates 448kW and 800Nm that turns all four wheels.
That’s enough motivation and traction to dispatch 100km/h from rest in a supercar-beating 3.7 seconds. Drive is sent through the same excellent ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic transmission that’s seen action in other products of the Munich automaker, and is claimed to be able to ‘learn’ the road ahead via analysing navigational data in order to improve drive efficiency.
Double-VANOS variable camshaft control, high-precision fuel injection, and idle start-stop technology are just a few features the M760Li uses to conserve petrol and improve emissions. BMW claims it emits 294g/km and 12.6-litres/100km as an average, but real world economy may differ on a myriad of factors. If consumption were a point of contention, the car’s lack of cylinder shutdown is a curious omission.
To cope with the pace that the M760Li xDrive is capable of, M Sport brake callipers clamp 19-inch brake discs all-round, sitting near-flush with the 20-inch M light alloy double-spoke Cerium Grey wheels.
In spite of its generous dimensions, the G11 7 Series makes for an unusually adept base from which to build a performance car. It was the first to debut with BMW’s Cluster Architecture platform, using its Carbon Core construction to reduce weight, lower centre of gravity, as well as improve structural rigidity and durability.
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