The ultimate driving machine, size extra large.

Introduction

BMW's biggest sedan got a number of changes for 2013, led by improvements in horsepower and efficiency to the two most popular engines: the inline-6 and V8. An 8-speed automatic transmission also debuted. 

For 2014, new features are added to BMW's suite of connectivity/convenience services, including Assist eCall, TeleServices, advanced real-time traffic information, and enhanced USB/Bluetooth. All 2014 BMW 7 Series models except the Active Hybrid and Alpina gain a Dynamic Digital Instrument Cluster, which permits a customized view based on Driving Dynamics Control settings. Navigation includes an iDrive touchpad controller, and the Comfort Access keyless entry adds a smart-closing feature for 2014. 

The 2014 BMW 7 Series comes with two wheelbases, four engines, and rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Prices range from about $74,000 to nearly twice that. 

In addition to the inline-6 and V8 engines, there's a V12 and a hybrid powertrain, all of them turbocharged. The six-cylinder and the V8 come with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Active Hybrid 7 (which mates with an inline-6) and V12 sedans only come in long-wheelbase versions. 

The 2014 BMW 740i is our choice because its 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 is so sweet, and it delivers quick acceleration with 315 horsepower and 330 foot-pounds of torque from 1300 to 4500 rpm. 

The 2014 BMW 750i contains a 4.4-liter turbocharged V8, delivering 445 horsepower. The V12 makes 535 horsepower, allowing the BMW 750Li to drive around in a sensational silky rocket world of its own. 

The 2014 BMW ActiveHybrid 7 uses a lithium-ion battery in the trunk powering a 55-hp electric motor, and it makes more horsepower (350) than the base 740i. The ActiveHybrid 7 is rated 22/30 mpg by the EPA, which is not so great for a hybrid. 

After a few hundred miles in a BMW 750Li, we concluded that the 8-speed transmission is quick, smooth and smart. It offers a manual-shifting feature. 

As for the 7 Series ride, you won't find flaws there, either. You can tune it yourself, using the Dynamic Driving knob with four settings: Normal, Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus. They control the damper stiffness, throttle response, steering response, transmission response, and stability control. 

There's also an Eco Pro mode, which we used for casual driving. We were never inconvenienced by the dialed-back power, and were astounded by the fuel mileage: 19.4 miles per gallon in this 445-horsepower V8 that weighs 4660 pounds, while driven over mountain roads as well as around town. 

The only bad part about driving the 7 Series was the bewildering electronics and hysterical safety warnings. We'd say they drove us crazy, except we were already half-crazy from the others, including Volvo and Mercedes-Benz. 

From a dynamic standpoint, the 7 Series is a satisfying machine to operate: superbly comfortable and quiet, and quick and agile for a sedan of its size and weight. Naturally, the V12 is swifter than the inline-6, but the six-cylinder is quick enough. 

From a non-dynamic perspective, however, driving can be frustrating, because engineers and designers attempted to re-invent and BMW-ize so many things. They made some items, such as the gimmicky gear selector and rearview camera, problematic when they're in fact simple. 

The BMW 7 Series interior offers the best that contemporary automobile craftsmanship and technology have to offer. Each 7 Series model delivers the luxurious feeling that cars in this class are supposed to create. Comfort is superb in the front or rear seat, especially in an Li model with its longer wheelbase and 4.4 more inches of rear legroom. The 740i and 750i models with the standard wheelbase still have good legroom (38.9 inches): enough for adults up to six feet tall without cramping. 

Also new for 2014 is a long-wheelbase, all-wheel-drive 740Ld xDrive sedan with a 3.0-liter turbodiesel six-cylinder engine that develops 255 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. 

Lineup

The 2014 BMW 740i ($74,000) comes with the turbocharged 315-horsepower 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, with Automatic Start/Stop. It comes standard with leather upholstery; power tilt/telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls; cruise control; four-zone automatic climate control; interior air filter; hard-drive-based navigation system with voice recognition, real-time traffic information and space for music storage; BMW Assist telematics service; heated power front seats with memory for the driver's seat, mirrors and steering wheel; power windows and locks; power retractable auto-dimming side mirrors with tilt-down backup aid; remote keyless entry; moonroof; rearview camera; 12-speaker AM/FM/CD/HD/SiriusXM stereo; auxiliary input jack; Bluetooth cell phone link; auto-dimming rearview mirror; universal garage door opener; rain-sensing wipers; front/rear park distance control; automatic adaptive xenon headlights; LED foglights; rear air suspension; theft-deterrent system; iPod/USB adapter; and P245/50R18 run-flat tires on alloy wheels. 

The 740Li ($78,000) stretches the wheelbase by 5.5 inches, translating to an increase of more than four inches in rear-seat legroom. It adds illuminated rear visor mirrors and is otherwise similarly equipped to the 740i. 

The 740Li xDrive ($81,000) adds all-wheel drive. 

The ActiveHybrid7 ($84,300) has a 350-hp version of the six-cylinder engine, working with an electric motor and battery pack, plus a hybrid-specific 8-speed automatic transmission. The forthcoming 740Ld xDrive ($82,500) contains a 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine. 

The BMW 750i ($87,300), 750i xDrive ($90,300), 750Li ($91,000), and 750Li xDrive ($94,000) are powered by a 445-horsepower, 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 with the 8-speed automatic transmission. The 750 models are upgraded with heated 20-way power adjustable front bucket seats; Nappa leather upholstery; power soft-closing doors and trunk lid; 245/45R19 run-flat all-season tires; concierge services; and a 600-watt, 16-speaker surround sound stereo. The xDrive models come with all-wheel drive. 

The BMW 760Li ($141,200) gets V12 power and the 8-speed automatic with manual shift capability; Active Blind Spot Detection; heated steering wheel; rearview camera including side and top views; massaging and ventilated front seats; power adjustable heated and ventilated rear seats with center armrest; 6-DVD changer; climate-control glass; head-up display; self-dimming LED headlights; burled walnut wood interior trim; Active Roll Stabilization suspension; Integral Active Steering; and P245/45R19 tires. Automatic Start/Stop is not included. 

The Alpina B7 is offered in another four versions: short wheelbase ($128,300), long wheelbase ($132,200), short-wheelbase xDrive ($131,300), and long-wheelbase xDrive ($135,200). Prepared by German tuner Alpina, the B7 is essentially a high-performance M version of the 750. It uses a 540-horsepower version of the 4.4-liter turbocharged V8, Active Roll Stabilization, and P245/35R21 front and P285/30R21 rear tires. Luxury amenities include a massaging driver's seat, ventilated front seats, ski sack, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel, and the head-up display. The long-wheelbase version also gets a power rear sunshade, manual side sunshades, illuminated rear visor mirrors, and the load-leveling suspension. 

Options are numerous. Among them: an M Sport Package that includes a lift-reducing aerodynamic kit, Shadowline exterior trim, performance run-flat tires (245/45R19 front and 275/40R19 rear), Anthracite headliner, and M Sport leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters. The M Sport Package also comes with 20-inch wheels and tires. Twenty-inch wheels ($1,300) are available separately, too, with 245/40R20 front and 275/35R20 rear tires. A Luxury Rear Seating Package for long-wheelbase models ($3,700) adds ventilated, massaging rear comfort seats. A Driver Assistance Plus Package ($1,900) adds a Lane Departure Warning, Active Blind Spot Detection, Forward Collision Warning, and top- and side-view cameras; it's also offered with active cruise control ($3,100). A dual-screen rear DVD entertainment system with a 6-disc DVD changer is available ($2,800). Also available: Active Roll Stabilization ($2,500), and infrared Night Vision with Pedestrian Detection ($2,600). The Executive Package ($4,800) for 740i includes ventilated front seats, head-up display, concierge service, Harman Kardon audio, a power trunk lid, and soft-close doors. 

BMW's Advanced Safety System comes on all 7 Series models, including multi-stage front airbags with occupant sensors, front knee airbags, front passenger side-impact airbags and front and rear side curtain head-protection airbags. Active safety features include Dynamic Stability Control and Dynamic Brake Control, featuring Brake Fade Compensation, Start-off Assistant, Brake Drying, Brake Stand-by, Brake Assist, and Active Brake Lights. Also standard are front and rear park assist, a tire-pressure monitor, and active front head restraints. Optional all-wheel drive can improve handling balance in slippery conditions. 

Walkaround

The lines of the BMW 7 Series are sensual and luxuriant, all within the parameters of modern structural design. Walk up to a 7 from the side or corner, and the beauty of the car blows you away. The long hood and sleek roofline add to the wow factor, especially when you notice the humped wheelwells and the short front overhang, almost like a racecar. We don't care for the chrome surrounding the windows, but a lot of people like it. 

The face was tweaked for 2013, with more chrome around the grille, sleeker headlamps with LED rings, and a reshaped full-width front airdam, having unfortunate chrome slats at the corners. 

The 7 Series definitely has a visual presence. The sheet metal contours, blending concave and convex surfaces, have lost the gratuitous scoops and scallops of the past. Fenders are chiseled nicely. The 7 Series has the maturity and sophistication appropriate to a car of its stature. 

The long-wheelbase L models have their own roofline, creating a different profile from the shorter-wheelbase models. The L roof travels sensuously along with the rest of the car in order to keep it from looking like a stretched 740i/750i with a long tail. The result is a beautiful shape that also creates a tad more headroom. 

From the rear, there's little to tell the world that the BMW 7 Series is a remarkable luxury car. The back end looks like any other car on the highway, with big taillights and a pair of chrome strips. A small lip on the trunk lid only adds accent to the car's lines when viewed from the side. 

Interior

The BMW 7 Series cabin offers outstanding craftsmanship and technology, but some of the technology is complicated and takes time to learn. Whether the good outweighs the bad depends on personal taste. We sometimes find it overwhelming. Most owners adapt to it, however, and many say they like it and continue to select the 7 Series when their leases run out. 

Each 7 Series model delivers the luxurious feeling that cars in this class are supposed to create. Comfort is superb in the front seat or rear seat, especially in an Li model with its longer wheelbase and 4.4 more inches of rear legroom. It's got 44.3 inches, compared to the Jaguar XJL at 44.1 and Audi A8L at 42.9. 

The 7 Series models with the standard wheelbase still have good legroom of 38.9 inches, sufficient for adults up to six feet tall without cramping them. The doors open way wide, for easy entry and exit; however, the front doors need to be closed by pulling on a notch in the armrest, and it's too far to reach easily. 

The front cabin is focused on the driver, with the instrument panel and controls angled toward him or her. Excluding the trunk button, that is, which is located down so low you can't see it or reach it with your seatbelt fastened. The doors use a combination of convex and concave surfaces, designed to generate a feeling of depth, and make the driver feel secure. But try to use the over-engineered center console, and you might bump the wrong thing and a small wing will awkwardly flip up under your elbow. It's also way too easy to bump the console's shift lever into neutral when you're driving in Sport mode, and this can actually be dangerous. 

Seats, redesigned for 2013, are broad. The standard Nappa leather is soft and rich feeling. Until you feel the optional Alcantara, that is, which is even softer and richer. Polished wood is available in several choices. We love the available stitched leather dashboard, standard with the V12 760Li. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is just about perfect, and some drivers will find its audio controls close to salvation. 

The dashboard is low, thin and lovely, and the instruments are beautiful silver-rimmed analog gauges. The speedometer, tachometer, temperature and fuel gauges are among the best-looking anywhere. There's an excellent display with a large 10.2-inch high-definition screen, using trans-reflective technology that makes it easy to read in sunlight. 

The audio and navigation systems, phone, infotainment and other functions are controlled by BMW's iDrive. The menus for Navigation and Radio/Media were restructured for 2013, but this latest version is still bewildering, and it consumes large amounts of concentration while you're trying to focus on the road in front of you. We have, however, talked to 7 Series owners who have learned how to operate iDrive effectively, and some like it. 

The current version incorporates Menu, CD, Tel, Radio, Nav, Back and Option buttons around the central controller. These buttons cut down on the number of steps it takes to access various functions, but it's still pretty complicated. We were dismayed by the array of questions that had to be answered when we pressed Menu. There are loads of options we never knew we needed or wanted, all with strange names that didn't describe any function we know of. Ditto with icons. 

There are also eight programmable buttons that look like radio presets. They can be used as presets or to program commonly used functions, such as favorite phone numbers and important navigation destinations. 

Overall, we had trouble with many little things. The seatbelt pretensioners annoyingly tightened on us when we tried to lean forward for better visibility pulling onto the highway. On our 750Li, we kept getting a message on the big screen that said Passenger Restraint System: Malfunction. Consult nearest service center. There seemed to be nothing wrong but the message. When you see “consult nearest service center” on your BMW screen, as we did far too often, you see time flying out the window on hundred-dollar bills. 

The standard climate control system offers up to four separate temperature zones, but we drove the 750Li during a heat wave, and the air conditioning on max couldn't make the cabin cool enough. In addition, it defaulted to 70 degrees each time the car was shut off. 

All the warnings for detection systems drove us crazy with their crying wolf. The only good news is that they're optional equipment. Don't get us wrong, systems that prevent accidents are a wonderful idea; but we got all false alarms, and many times the false warning itself was a hazard. The night vision kept seeing things that weren't there, on the dark road ahead; what's more, if there had been a deer, the night vision probably wouldn't have been able to detect it. Lane detection kept beeping at us and vibrating the steering wheel to warn us that we were wandering, when in fact all was fine except the road was curving; a BMW spokesman admitted to us that it should be turned off on curving roads. It's only good for freeways, but even there, we found it to be hysterical. The blind-spot monitor relentlessly blinked at us whenever we passed a guard rail. 

We aren't comfortable with the overly ambitious rearview camera. Once, we nearly backed into a pole because the camera didn't warn us; meanwhile, we got awfully sick of it honking to warn us that there was a parked car near our front bumper, when we were backing up. It's not just the 7 Series; we've seen it on other BMW models. The rearview camera stays turned on after you drive away. You have to keep confirming things to get the screen to give you clear information. Sometimes, in order to get an incorrect warning off your screen that something is unsafe, you have to do something unsafe, such as take your concentration off the road and mess with the screen. 

Cubby storage in front is in short supply for a car of this size, so sometimes you have to use the cupholders. All we had was a micro cassette tape recorder, a set of keys, a garage door opener, and some bridge toll tickets; was it too much to ask of our six-figure car to find us somewhere to put them? Small door pockets help little. 

The 7 Series will do better with hauling big things. The trunk of the 7 Series, whether short-wheelbase or long, measures a roomy 17.7 cubic feet. Compare that to the Lexus LS, with 18.0 cubic feet; the short-wheelbase Audi A8, 13.2 cubic feet; or the long-wheelbase Jaguar XJL, 15.2 cubic feet. The BMW ActiveHybrid 7, because of its lithium-ion battery in the trunk, only has 12.7 cubic feet. 

Finally, there's the standard Auto Stop/Start system, whose infamy is growing nearly as fast as iDrive's did. When you come to a stop, the engine turns off, to save fuel. But it's annoying when it restarts with a slight jerk of the car, and other unintended consequences. Once we needed to pull away and turn very quickly, but the steering wheel wouldn't budge until the car fired. The Mercedes and Jaguar systems work much more smoothly. 

You can shut BMW Stop/Start off, but you must do so each time you get in and start the car, because it defaults to on. Stop/Start is an idea with good intentions and potential, but the execution isn't there yet. BMW and other automakers install these systems mostly to get government credits toward future Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards from the Environmental Protection Agency. 

Driving Impression

BMW's 7 Series sedans are satisfying machines to drive: superbly comfortable and quiet and impressively quick and agile. From a non-dynamic standpoint, however, driving one can be frustrating, because the engineers and designers sought to re-invent and BMW-ize so many things. 

The 7 Series suspension is nearly as flawless as its engines, whether cruising in a straight line on a rough road or tossing through curves. The 7 Series has the first double-wishbone front suspension ever in a BMW passenger car, and the package delivers what might be the best blend of ride comfort and handling response available in a large luxury sedan. 

The Driving Dynamics Control system offers four suspension modes: Comfort, Normal, Sport and Sport Plus. The different modes change the performance characteristics of the car in the areas of shock absorber firmness, throttle response, transmission shift characteristics, power steering assist level, and Dynamic Stability control points (how much the electronic stability control will allow the car to slide before it engages). 

The 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine in the 740i is our favorite. It costs less than the V8-equipped 750i, and it's got plenty of smooth power. This twin-turbocharged engine produces 315 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque, and accelerates the sedan from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.6 seconds. Highway passing response is immediate and plentiful, and torque off the line is more than willing, because all 330 pound-feet are available from 1300 to 4500 rpm. Its exhaust note is a subdued scream, when you're on the gas. Mostly, the engine is incredibly silky, and the ZF 8-speed automatic transmission has the silkiness to match. The 2014 BMW 740i rates an EPA-estimated 19/29 mpg City/Highway. With this sweet six-cylinder engine available, the V8 is hard to justify. 

That said, the 4.4-liter V8 engine in the 750i and 750Li models is brilliant. Generating 445 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque, it's close to flawless. BMW claims that the 750i will shoot from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, on par with sports cars such as the Porsche 911, and we don't doubt it. Fuel economy is EPA-rated at 17/25 mpg, or 16/24 mpg for the 750i xDrive with all-wheel drive. We got 19.4 mpg, driving it casually using the Eco Pro mode, which cuts power; but we were never hindered by loss of acceleration. 

The V12-powered 760Li raises the acceleration bar even further. It's powered by a 6.0-liter turbocharged V12 that's turbine smooth, and it bumps output to 535 horsepower and 550 pound-feet of torque, starting at just 1500 rpm. BMW reports a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.5 seconds, almost as fast as the M6. It feels like a jet engine pulling you forward with awesome power. The V12 is as silent as the hybrid at idle, and silky at all other times, even full throttle. Fifty miles per hour is a mere 1500 rpm, barely over idle. Curiously, there are no paddles for the 8-speed transmission, although there is a sport mode allowing floor-shifting. The lever feels great in your hand. The standard leather is Alcantara, and it's beautiful in black. It has black mesh air dams in front, like the M6. Fuel economy is a thirsty 13/20 City/Highway miles per gallon, according to the EPA. We got less: 10.7 mpg. For 2014, only the 760Li is saddled with the federal Gas Guzzler Tax, amounting to $1,700 on top of the purchase price. 

The Alpina B7 is the closest BMW will come to an M version of the 7 Series. The aftermarket company has been working with BMW since 1975, and they're trusted; so with Alpina doing the hot-rod 7 Series, BMW didn't have to make the investment of an M version. The 7 is so big and heavy anyhow, that BMW probably wouldn't bother. 

The B7 uses a pumped-up version of the twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8, now making 540 horsepower and 538 pound-feet of torque. Bigger turbochargers, bigger intercoolers, high-performance pistons, beefed-up cylinder heads, and oil coolers for the engine and transmission. BMW says the Alpina is capable of reaching 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds, which makes it as fast as the 760i. 

The Alpina B7 is also lowered front and rear, rides on 21-inch wheels, and features BMW's Dynamic Damping Control and Active Roll Stabilization systems. The suspension is tuned by Alpina to balance ride and handling, and it does so impressively. 

During a few hot laps in the Alpina B7 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, it sounded like a junkyard dog compared to the V12. You can feel the greater torque. The transmission feels different, too, with less compromising mapping. In Sport Plus mode, the shifts are super-fast and sharp. The B7 also has ceramic brake rotors and pads, which the car needs for the track. 

Out on the road, we found the ride quality of the Alpina B7 firm but surprisingly forgiving, considering its shorter springs and larger wheels. Handling is sharper than that of the other 7 Series models. 

We haven't driven the ActiveHybrid 7 model, but we have driven the ActiveHybrid 5, with the same powertrain, so we're sure it will be similar, only bigger. Super smooth, and fast, but don't expect outstanding gas mileage. 

The 750i xDrive and 750Li xDrive are the first 7 Series cars with all-wheel drive. While the AWD system is similar to that used in the BMW X5 SUV, on the 7 Series it's tuned more to enhance performance than to optimize traction on low-friction surfaces (though it can do that, too). The 7 Series xDrive more thoroughly integrates all-wheel drive management with other electronic systems, like stability control and the 7's optional Active Roll Stabilization anti-sway bars. 

Like other all-wheel-drive BMWs, the 7's system starts at a 40 percent front/60 percent rear default power split. But when the driver applies power more aggressively, especially through bends, the xDrive 7 adjusts torque distribution to maintain the sporty handling dynamics of rear-wheel drive. Through a hard bend, its control system seeks a steady power split of 20/80 to optimize handling. 

On a closed course, or in sloppy road conditions, the 750i xDrive does a lot more of the car-control work for the driver than the rear-drive 750i. It balances itself more readily, with less need to be really delicate or active with the gas pedal. With xDrive, the steering feels heavier than that in rear-wheel-drive models with the optional Integral Active (front and rear) Steering system. 

Summary

The BMW 7 Series is the ultimate driving machine among big luxury sedans. It offers impressive performance from its brilliant engines and 8-speed automatic transmission. Cornering balance is impeccable, given the car's weight, and its ride is flawless. A driver can easily tune damper stiffness, throttle response, steering response and transmission response. The deal-breaker might be that BMW tries too hard for ultimate electronics, introducing a myriad of inconveniences along with the attempted conveniences and safety warnings. 

NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Sam Moses reported on the BMW 7 Series after his test drives in Northern California, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, and the Northwest's Columbia River Gorge; with J.P. Vettraino reporting from Detroit; Kirk Bell in Chicago. 

Model Lineup

BMW 740i ($74,000); 740Li ($78,000); 740Li xDrive ($81,000); 750i ($87,300); 750i xDrive ($90,300); 750Li ($91,000); 750Li xDrive ($94,000); 760Li ($141,200); ActiveHybrid 7 ($84,300); Alpina B7 ($128,300); Alpina B7 xDrive ($131,300); Alpina B7 LWB ($132,200); Alpina B7 xDrive LWB ($135,200). 

Assembled In

Dingolfing, Germany. 

Options As Tested

Luxury Seating Package ($2,000) included active seat for driver, ventilated front seats, and power rear sunshade, manual side sunshades; Leather-covered Instrument Panel ($1,200); Driver Assistance Package ($3,500) included automatic high beams, Lane Departure Warning, Active Blind Spot Detection, side- and top-view cameras, head-up display.