BMW 7-Series

Taking in the unconventional surroundings, we noticed a faint orange glow was coming from the door trim. There, hidden behind a narrow strip of plastic that runs the length of the door, is a bulb that casts a subtle light on the door lever, so you're not fumbling around in the dark for the handle when you want to get out. This sort of attention to detail means it isn't difficult to see where the £50,000-plus this car costs has been spent.

Controversy surrounding the 7-series has focused on the exterior styling and the iDrive control system which governs the sat-nav, entertainment, climate control and communications. But did BMW consider that on RHD models drivers will be operating the knob - essentially a computer mouse fixed on the end of the centre armrest - with their left hand, the non-dominant one for the majority of people?

There's no doubt this gets easier to use with practice, but it's unnecessarily fiddly and labour-intensive. It may appeal to gizmo-loving youngsters, but then they won't be choosing the 7-Series. BMW says its target buyer is male and in his early fifties, most likely a celebrity, sportsman, businessman or diplomat. As for the car's styling, beauty is in the eye of the be-holder - but a percentage of buyers torn between this and an S-Class are going to play safe with the Merc.

On the road, however, the car's a delight. The 735i we sampled first is the entry-level model, powered by a 3.6-litre V8 and delivering 272bhp. Given that the newcomer weighs a whopping 1,935kg, the acceleration is smooth and constant, and a 0-60mph sprint time of 7.5 seconds is proof of the excellence of BMW's Valvetronic system. The steering is light, the brakes are solid and the ride and handling are as good as you'd expect. Pushing a button swaps the transmission between automatic, auto 'sport' and manual modes, the latter using steering wheel-mounted buttons to change between six gears - and we found the 7-Series performs admirably in all of them.

The car we drove was fitted with the optional Electronic Damper Control. It defaults to Comfort setting, but can be changed to Sport to give more performance-oriented characteristics to the shock absorbers and steering. At £760 it's not cheap, but it's a good system.

The two model line-up is completed by the 745i, fitted with a 4.4-litre V8 offering 333bhp and capable of hitting 60mph from a standstill in 6.3 seconds. On the road it's also hard to fault.

BMW hopes to sell 1,400 new 7-Series this year, rising to 3,000 when the full range is available. If the company can find enough buyers who like the looks, that shouldn't be a problem.

Cars at this end of the market are all about the driver. The new BMW 7-Series is a head-turner that ups the ante in luxury and has a more aggressive presence on the road than the Mercedes S-Class or Lexus LS430. If you can cope with the styling and the iDrive, it could be for you!

At a glance

* Controversially-styled BMW flagship is on sale now

* Two models available - 735i (£52,750) and 745i (£56,950)

* V12-powered 760i and LWB versions will arrive later in the year. Six-cylinder models and diesel variant due in 2003