The BMW 750i is an unsung super slaoon hero that I would choose over an M5
With 523 horsepower paired with a relatively plush chassis, the 750i offers the thrill of an old-school super sedan, even if it’s probably not intended to be that way
By MATT ROBINSON, May 26, 2019
“Damn, where did that come from?” I thought, just moments after climbing into the refreshed 750i for the first time. I was so distracted by that face (and no, I’m not sure those giant, bucktooth-like kidney grilles look any better in the shiny coated plastic) that I neglected to check the specs on this thing before getting behind the wheel . It turns out it’s pretty tight.
It shares its 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with the wonderful M850i and develops a whopping 523 hp and 553 Nm of torque. It’s significantly more powerful than the old 750i’s engine, with BMW unleashing an additional 79 horsepower.
The big daddy of the 7 Series, the M760Li, has been neutered to WLTP and weighs around 200kg more, so it’s barely faster, reaching the benchmark mark of 62mph just two tenths quicker than this. The 750i does it in four seconds.
That’s pleasantly quicker than the old M5 and – amusingly – a little quicker than the M2 Competition. It sounds great too, even if the V8 is quieter here than in the M850i.
The real story, however, isn’t the eye-opening midrange surge. Well, not by itself. The 750i is all about the combination of that powerful V8 and a relatively soft chassis. It’s still a luxury hovermobile, and that’s why it’s incredibly fun to toss around.
Of course, that doesn’t mean he isn’t dynamically talented. The damping is far from firm, but no matter what mode you’re in, the body control is fantastically clean. Dramatic camber changes, poor road surfaces – the 750i can handle whatever comes its way. The steering is good too – not necessarily in terms of feedback, but it’s quick, well balanced and predictable enough to place the 7’s unfortunate-looking new front end where you want it.
The V8 sends power to all four wheels via an eight-speed ZF gearbox (smooth here, as with most BMWs, apart from the occasional annoying delay when you’re trying to get off the line quickly). There is a relatively noticeable backward tilt to the system, although you have to apply quite a bit of pressure for this to come into effect.
On the whole it’s a neutral car that allows you to carry quite a bit of speed until the 750i reminds you that this is a two-ton luxury car and not a 911, which has a lot of squeaks to be heard Tires.
But that’s half the fun. I really love the new M5, but it’s a little too serious now, isn’t it? While this super sedan now does its best to give the impression that it’s actually a sports car (or maybe even a supercar, given its ridiculous pace), the 750i is a reminder of what these cars used to look like. And this is a stylish, comfortable four-door that just happens to have a disproportionately powerful engine under the hood.
As a pure luxury vehicle, the 7 Series is less successful. It’s still the third best of the three main suppliers: the air-sprung Mercedes S-Class and Audi A8 both ride better, and the latter offers more flashy feel-good toys. BMW, particularly with this M-Sport trimmed 750i, has focused a little too much on making the car so it can be tossed around in a way that a luxury barge probably shouldn’t be.
For normal people, this is true over the 7 Series and especially the 750i. Inevitably, the 750i only accounts for a tiny percentage of total 7 Series sales. But if you’re a little weird and like the idea of an old-school super sedan that’s more fun than an M5, then head right this way.