EXECUTIVE EDITOR BOB GRITZINGER: If you need serious legroom in your high-end luxury sports sedan, be sure to put this 2012 BMW 750Li xDrive on your short list. Go ahead; move the front seats all the way back, and you'll still have plenty of legroom for your back-seat passengers. And note that BMW doesn't steal from the trunk to provide that space--there's still a huge cavern for cargo back there.
Overall size and humungous interior space don't make for a spectacular sedan. But toss in the twin-turbo V8 under the hood and the array of chassis and powertrain choices at your fingertips, and this car starts to make a lot of sense for those looking for something a little bit special. Want to cruise in total comfort? There's a setting for that. Want to push the envelope? Punch up sport, or sport-plus, and then dial in personal adjustments to make the 7-series fit your specific needs. Sport significantly sharpens the car's reflexes, giving it an extra level of precision and responsiveness that seems nearly unfathomable in a nearly 5,000-pound car.
Inside, creature comforts abound, with the nicest touch in this test car being the natural-wood inlays. The iDrive system is finally becoming a plus instead of a nagging headache. Lots of functions that you need all the time, such as heat and A/C settings, are on separate controls, so that helps. For the driver, the unobtrusive blind-spot-detection alerts in the mirrors are helpful, but I wonder why a car of this caliber isn't fitted with active cruise control. I could take that and do without the lane-departure-warning system.
Overall, the car is big and beautiful, especially in this glossy white. I'm not sure it tops what I would consider the class-leading Audi A8L, but it's worth comparing, especially if performance and handling are your top priorities in your near-limo.
2012 BMW 750Li xDrive
Base Price: $93,375
As-Tested Price: $100,925
Drivetrain: 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8; AWD, six-speed automatic
Output: 400 hp @ 5,500-6,400 rpm, 450 lb-ft @ 1,750-4,500 rpm
Curb Weight: 4,861 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 16/17.4 mpg
Options: Driver Assistance package including automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, active blind-spot detection, side- and top-view cameras and head-up display ($3,500); active roll stabilization ($2,000); ceramic controls ($650); satellite radio with one-year subscription ($350); BMW apps ($250)
Read more: www.autoweek.com
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