BMW 750i

It’s all change at the top for BMW, with the latest version of the flagship 7-Series arriving in November. We’ve already been impressed by the 730d in our exclusive drive in Issue 1,023 – and the diesel accounted for 85 per cent of UK sales of the previous generation. But are petrol buyers just as well catered for? We tried the top-of-the-range 750i to find out.

For drivers wanting the best in performance, technology and luxury, few cars can match this new super-saloon. Power comes from the world’s first twin-turbo eight-cylinder engine, which features direct fuel injection and produces 401bhp and 600Nm of torque. This was first seen in the X6, and it gives the 750i a three per cent improvement in economy over the outgoing car, as well as lower emissions.

The aluminium V8’s compact size and low weight also offers benefits in terms of handling – building on the impressively agile 7-Series chassis. As with the pre-production prototypes we drove last week, the 750i features the Dynamic Driving Control button, which fine-tunes the electric dampers, steering, throttle response and gearbox settings.

There’s also rear wheel steering, a lane departure warning system, night vision, adaptive cruise control and a blind spot warning camera.

Spend an extra £2,950, and you can opt for the 750Li, which is 14cm longer. Offering even more comfort and luxury, it’s for those who prefer to be driven, and features two individually adjustable back chairs and an iDrive controller for the rear.

With world-class technology, superb refinement and silky performance, the 750i is a real contender for the title of world’s best saloon. We can’t wait to try it in the UK.