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Stretch 7 Series Gets V12 Power April 13, 2009 ) BMW's top-of-the-line 7 Series, the 760Li. Click on images for larger views.
The mothership of all motherships. This is BMW's top 7 Series — the 760Li — with a stretched wheelbase and new silky smooth twin-turbo V12 engine. This technological showcase of a powerplant is built entirely of lightweight aluminum, features direct injection and double-VANOS camshaft control, displaces 6.0 liters, generates 544 horsepower at 5,000 RPM, and twists out 553 pound-feet of torque from just 1,500 RPM. An engine of this caliber must be matched to an equally sophisticated transmission, so BMW employs a brand-new eight-speed automatic for quick and refined responses. Expect to find this flexible unit in other BMWs soon, including the Active Hybrid 7 Series later this year. The 760Li hits 60 MPH in a lightning-fast 4.5 seconds. ) The quad exhaust has special flaps for your aural pleasure.
Exterior hints that this is a special 7 are silver and shiny — an extra-wide chrome frame for the double-kidney grille, V12 chrome gills on the front fenders, exclusive 19-inch alloy wheels, and a chrome bar that runs between the four rectangular exhaust pipes. Inside, the V12 designation illuminates on the stainless-steel door sills, the dashboard is upholstered in soft leather, the roof liner is made of soft alcantara, and trim is a special burled-walnut wood. Befitting of a flagship, high technology is everywhere in the 760Li — including Driving Dynamics Control, Dynamic Damping Control, Dynamic Drive anti-roll stability, a self-leveling air suspension at the rear, optional Integral Active Steering, plus four-zone automatic climate control, park distance control and soft-closing doors. BMW's use of a V12 is not new, this being the fourth time in the 7 Series. The very first was in 1925 — with an airplane engine! Also see: 7 Series Photos
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