When BMW launched the new 7-Series it came packed with everything to ensure it could knock customers’ eyebrows into orbit. The 4.4 litre v8's massive punch delivered in a sliky fashion reinforced the 7's character in spades. But, even billionaires have a penchant for thrift and BMW's 730Ld is here to tempt them with an unbelievable combination of luxury, refinement and diesel power.:  The new 7 is styled more conservatively, but imposing enough to be noticed in a five-star lobby. This ‘L’ long-wheelbase version is 5212mm long with a 3210mm wheelbase, giving it 45mm more space between the axles than a Mercedes S500 L. The extra space means that the rear seats that can rival first class airline travel. They don’t fold flat but can be reclined, there’s enough legroom for nine-footers, each passenger gets his own big screen and your rear can either be massaged, cooled or heated. Rear seat passengers also get their own iDrive console and we just can’t remember a more comfortable seat. The armchair seating however means that the centre seat is non-existent. The long-wheelbase 7-series has air springs in the rear but lacks the low speed ‘lift’ feature where ride height is increased as seen on the Merc S-class and the Audi A8. However, the BMW comes with a different high tech feature called active rear wheel steering. This system make the huge 730Ld more agile and stable than what it really should be. The system steers the rear wheels in the opposite direction at low speeds to reduce turning radius; at higher speeds the rear wheels are steered in the same direction as the front wheels for added stability. There’s more tech at work here to reduce the 730Ld's carbon footprint: regenerative braking, alternator disengagement and other ‘efficient dynamic’ features as well.  The diesel motor under the hood of the 730Ld is an uprated version of the one that powers the very popular 530d. In this car it makes 245bhp and importantly 55kgm of torque. Step hard on the throttle and there’s a petrol motor-like snarl from the straight six motor, the diesel pulls hard to the redline at 5000rpm and you get a feeling of sustained thrust, similar to an airliner on a short runway. Zero to 100kph takes a lightning-quick 7.47 seconds and 150 a scant 15.6sec. Hold onto the throttle for 30.9sec and you will be doing 200kph. The diesel is only a second behind the 750Li at 100, but by 200 the much faster petrol is seven seconds clear of this car. Still, diesel has more than sufficient performance and very strong pace. The six-speed gearbox's well timed and quick shifts play an important part in the 730Ld's awesome performance. This car is almost petrol-smooth but, some degree of diesel pitter-patter can be heard and it lacks that total hush of a well-insulated petrol motor, but it’s still an amazingly refined diesel. In the rear seats the motor is all but inaudible. The long wheelbase version rides particularly well on its adjustable dampers and softened rear self-levelling suspension, even on our poorly surfaced roads. Ride quality is very pliant and silent in ‘Comfort’, where only extreme road features make their presence felt and you often forget about the condition of the road. And this is despite the run-flat tyres. The car wallows a bit in ‘Comfort’ at speed, but then it’s better to select ‘Normal’ here. For more spirited driving, there’s also ‘Sport’ and ‘Sport+’; this is, after all, a BMW. In ‘Sport’ the dampers firm up nicely, the car shrinks around you and with the rear wheel active steering the 730Ld feels as agile as something much smaller. But if you are expecting it to drive like a 5-series, it doesn’t. It rolls a bit, the steering is surprisingly light for a BMW and that’s a bit of a disappointment. Also, just a bit too much of road noise seeps into the cabin. It’s not much in absolute terms, but stands out because in this area the car doesn’t comply perfectly with its intended fitness for purpose — as a limo. Although, almost amazingly, this large barge needs only a litre of diesel to travel 6.5 kilometres in the city and that is very impressive all things considered.    BMW’s snub-nose limo is both very comfortable and very fast and is ferociously well equipped too. It’s true, BMW has achieved almost every important objective. But the new 7 is not perfect. It’s not as involving a driver’s car, the steering feels a bit lifeless and the cabin could have been better insulated from the outside world. But if these little things and the near Rs 1 crore price tag doesn't faze you, this car truly has some special skills. ENGINE Engine: 2993cc turbo-diesel Power: 245bhp at 4000rpm Torque: 55kgm at 1750-3000rpm TRANSMISSION Type: Rear-wheel drive Gearbox: 6-speed auto |
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