In other respects, this is the same car as the previous 7 Series, only drawn with a finer pen. The body styling is leaner and more elegant, and the cabin greenhouse -- the glassy parts -- has moved back on the fuselage for a more aggressive look. The cabin is a beautiful collage of glossy hardwoods, polished alloy and leather. The gear selector has been moved off the steering column to the center console, where God intended it.
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Capitalism in the land of Marx: BMW delivers its manifesto
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The dash is dominated by a large, bright 11-inch LCD display for navigation and other functions. Like the 3 Series reviewed earlier, the 7 Series enjoys a new and infinitely better iDrive system, with voice recognition. Among other tech features: rear and side cameras, lane-change and lane-departure warnings and thermal imaging night vision with what BMW calls "detection of individual persons." Hey, it's Trotsky, let's pick him up!
The list of luxuries and trickeries will addle the brains of most BMW salesmen. Simply, the car's got one of everything. But what will sell this car is not the giant trunk, the great stereo, the deafening quiet at 150 mph. It's the handling. The assurance, the predictability, the fine-grained tactility coming through the seat and steering wheel, the sheer crazy agility of this thing clearly establishes the BMW as the best-handling big sedan in the world.
Maybe not Marx, but definitely a manifesto.
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dan.neil@latimes.com
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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)
2009 BMW 750Li
Base price: $82,000
Price, as tested: $100,000 (est.)
Powertrain: Twin-turbocharged, direct-injection 4.4-liter, 32-valve DOHC V8 with variable valve timing; six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode; rear wheel drive.
Horsepower: 400 at 5,500 to 6,400 rpm
Torque: 450 pound-feet at 1,800 to 4,500 rpm
Curb weight: 4,640 pounds
0 to 60: 5.3 seconds
Wheelbase: 126.4 inches
Overall length: 205.3 inches
EPA fuel economy: 14 miles per gallon city, 27 mpg highway
Final thoughts: An elephant in a tutu
