Last year, BMW offered Canadians the first 4-cylinder-powered version of their hallowed 5 Series in modern history.
“Blasphemy!” shouted BMW enthusiasts across the internet, offended that this unfamiliarly boosted four-banger had kicked the blessed straight-six out of the 5 Series engine room -- forget the gain in power and fuel efficiency.
Downsizing like this is the way of the future, and a similar effort has just been applied to BMW’s flagship: the 7 Series. The entry engine propelling this leather-lined business limo is now a straight-six, not a V8.
That’s another first. On our shores, BMW hasn’t put a six in the 7 for decades.
However, it’s a relevant move: It leaves more empty space under the hood and puts less exhaust into the atmosphere. More than ever, BMW’s big-boy sedan is aiming to deliver classy motoring alongside the stylish promise of improved atmospheric responsibility.
Sevens with this new six are called the 740i -- taking up residence beneath the V8-powered 750i. The model I tested was a 740Li xDrive – which is BMW's nomenclature for their 6-cylinder, extended wheelbase, All Wheel Drive.
The new powerplant? A turbocharged, intercooled and direct-injected 3.0L piece producing 315 horsepower.
That’s a modest figure considering the vehicle's AWD, limousine wheelbase, and the fact that the massive 7 Series is only slightly smaller than a Business Depot. Despite that, on a recent 3,000-kilometer trek, I found that the new six should be more than enough for most drivers.
When called upon, it eagerly winds up, pulls cleanly to redline, and exhibits near-nil signs of being turbocharged other than a whiff of off-idle lag. It always feels strong and willing to get things moving -- and with a window cracked, you can vaguely hear the whooshing, whistling sounds of the turbocharger echoing off the scenery.
Plant your foot, and the 7 quickly, quietly and urgently gears down and goes like bananas. These 315 horsepower are suspiciously athletic.
Of course, as a 7-Series, a mandatory effortlessness is to be delivered when drivers aren’t calling for full power. Driven gently, the engine makes barely a peep, and the 8-speed transmission shifts imperceptibly, often 3 or 4 times before you’ve reached 60 km/h.
A deep, solid slab of low-end torque also means this new straight-6 oozes the 7 up to any speed you’d care to visit without a downshift. I never noticed the mill sounding strained under the car’s mass.
The 740i’s acceleration is “swift” to the 750i’s “explosive;” it's “athletic” to the 750i’s “muscular.” Full-throttle romps will raise eyebrows, not result in cussing. All said: this has to be all the power anyone really needs.
My real-life, measured-by-hand test mileage landed at 9.9L/100km. Remarkable, given that most of my time driving involved high-speed highway cruising to a weekend getaway with about 900 pounds of passengers and gear. That’s only slightly thirstier than, say, a Nissan Altima V6 or Chevrolet Malibu.
Not that fuel costs are a huge concern for those shelling out six figures, however, doing your part for the atmosphere and not drinking more than your share is classy. And classy is what the 7 Series is all about.
“Blasphemy!” shouted BMW enthusiasts across the internet, offended that this unfamiliarly boosted four-banger had kicked the blessed straight-six out of the 5 Series engine room -- forget the gain in power and fuel efficiency.
Downsizing like this is the way of the future, and a similar effort has just been applied to BMW’s flagship: the 7 Series. The entry engine propelling this leather-lined business limo is now a straight-six, not a V8.
That’s another first. On our shores, BMW hasn’t put a six in the 7 for decades.
However, it’s a relevant move: It leaves more empty space under the hood and puts less exhaust into the atmosphere. More than ever, BMW’s big-boy sedan is aiming to deliver classy motoring alongside the stylish promise of improved atmospheric responsibility.
Sevens with this new six are called the 740i -- taking up residence beneath the V8-powered 750i. The model I tested was a 740Li xDrive – which is BMW's nomenclature for their 6-cylinder, extended wheelbase, All Wheel Drive.
The new powerplant? A turbocharged, intercooled and direct-injected 3.0L piece producing 315 horsepower.
That’s a modest figure considering the vehicle's AWD, limousine wheelbase, and the fact that the massive 7 Series is only slightly smaller than a Business Depot. Despite that, on a recent 3,000-kilometer trek, I found that the new six should be more than enough for most drivers.
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| Photo: Justin Pritchard |
When called upon, it eagerly winds up, pulls cleanly to redline, and exhibits near-nil signs of being turbocharged other than a whiff of off-idle lag. It always feels strong and willing to get things moving -- and with a window cracked, you can vaguely hear the whooshing, whistling sounds of the turbocharger echoing off the scenery.
Plant your foot, and the 7 quickly, quietly and urgently gears down and goes like bananas. These 315 horsepower are suspiciously athletic.
Of course, as a 7-Series, a mandatory effortlessness is to be delivered when drivers aren’t calling for full power. Driven gently, the engine makes barely a peep, and the 8-speed transmission shifts imperceptibly, often 3 or 4 times before you’ve reached 60 km/h.
A deep, solid slab of low-end torque also means this new straight-6 oozes the 7 up to any speed you’d care to visit without a downshift. I never noticed the mill sounding strained under the car’s mass.
The 740i’s acceleration is “swift” to the 750i’s “explosive;” it's “athletic” to the 750i’s “muscular.” Full-throttle romps will raise eyebrows, not result in cussing. All said: this has to be all the power anyone really needs.
My real-life, measured-by-hand test mileage landed at 9.9L/100km. Remarkable, given that most of my time driving involved high-speed highway cruising to a weekend getaway with about 900 pounds of passengers and gear. That’s only slightly thirstier than, say, a Nissan Altima V6 or Chevrolet Malibu.
Not that fuel costs are a huge concern for those shelling out six figures, however, doing your part for the atmosphere and not drinking more than your share is classy. And classy is what the 7 Series is all about.