xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (6.6L 12cyl Turbo 8A)
xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (6.6L 12cyl Turbo 8A)
xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (6.6L 12cyl Turbo 8A)
xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (6.6L 12cyl Turbo 8A)
xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (6.6L 12cyl Turbo 8A)
xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (6.6L 12cyl Turbo 8A)
xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (6.6L 12cyl Turbo 8A)
xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (6.6L 12cyl Turbo 8A)
xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (6.6L 12cyl Turbo 8A)
xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (6.6L 12cyl Turbo 8A)
xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (6.6L 12cyl Turbo 8A)
xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (6.6L 12cyl Turbo 8A)
xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (6.6L 12cyl Turbo 8A)
xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (6.6L 12cyl Turbo 8A)
xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (6.6L 12cyl Turbo 8A)
xDrive 4dr Sedan AWD (6.6L 12cyl Turbo 8A)
BMW has a lot of excellent heritage that it has drawn from its predecessors. While the Competition Pack is more than well-known, it is the luxury sedans that distinctly stand out in the crowd. What better alternative can you get than the flagship of the industry: the 7-series. Though none of the trims lack elegance, at the top of the opulent hill sits the glorious 760i.
The Germans very well know how to build full-size luxury sedans. While Mercedes is doing wonders with its S-class, BMW couldn't be far behind. The 7 series has always been on the toes of the S-Class and in its present guise with a wide range of engine options including a plug-in hybrid, it is quite literally the most versatile full-size luxury sedan you could buy today.
The 7 series comes in three trims - 740i, 750i, and the M760i. The M760i is powered by a 3.0L, turbocharged Inline-6 cylinder engine whereas the 750i is powered by a 4.4L, turbocharged V8 engine. The top of the line M760i comes powered by a 6.0L, turbocharged, V12 engine.
Unfortunately, we do not get the long-wheelbase variant in any of the trims but there is a plug-in hybrid variant that comes with a 2.0L, inline-4 engine coupled with an electric motor. You can also choose between rear-wheel drive and all all-wheel-drive variants. The M760i comes in an AWD variant only.
Trim |
M760i |
---|---|
MSRP |
$156,700 |
Key Features |
6.0L, Turbocharged, V12 engine |
|
Icon Adaptive LED Headlights |
|
Aerodynamic kit |
|
Cerium grey accent finishes |
|
M rear spoiler |
|
Rear Comfort seats |
|
Massaging front seats |
|
Instrument panel with Nappa Leather finish |
|
Door sill finishers with illuminated V-12 logo |
|
Automatic 4-zone climate control |
|
Nappa Leather upholstery |
|
20-way power Multi-contour front seats |
|
Double Spoke light alloy wheels |
The BMW M760i comes powered by a massive 6.6L, twin-turbocharged V12 engine producing 601 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. All that 590 lb-ft of peak torque is available right from 1500 rpm which means the car just flies when you floor the throttle. The engine feels effortless delivering all that performance and it is always upon its toes, waiting for that input on the pedal. The responses are immediate while still being smooth and refined. It's not an M-division engine but only tuned by the M-division but it's still plenty great. What's best is the growling sound at the exhaust you wouldn't find in most other performance limousines.
The engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox and it's very smooth and efficient. In auto mode, it will change gears seamlessly without you ever noticing it. The shifts are instantaneous and in the manual mode, you can rev up to 6,500 rpm before you shift the cogs. You have paddles mounted on the steering wheel as well.
Models |
BMW M760i Sedan |
Mercedes-Benz S63 Sedan |
Maserati Quattroporte GTS |
Porsche Panamera Turbo |
---|---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$156,700 |
$149,550 |
$136,600 |
$ 161,900 |
Engine |
6.6L, Twin Turbocharged, V12 engine |
4.0L, Twin Turbo, V8 engine |
3.8L, Twin Turbocharged, V8 engine |
4.0L, Twin Turbocharged, V8 engine |
Transmission |
8-speed automatic |
9-speed automatic |
8-speed automatic |
8-speed automatic |
Horsepower |
601 hp |
603 hp |
530 hp |
550 hp |
Torque |
590 lb-ft |
664 lb-ft |
524 lb-ft |
567 lb-ft |
All cars in the competition are powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 engine producing round about the same power and are mated to 8-speed gearboxes except for the Mercedes which comes mated to a 9-speed gearbox. While the Mercedes AMG S63 has the best numbers on paper, the Porsche and the Maserati seem quite underpowered. The Beemer seems to be sitting at the sweet spot.
The BMW M760i sprints from naught to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds. That's not the fastest in the competition but the Mercedes and the Porsche edge ahead by just a tenth and two-tenths of a second respectively. The M760i comes with a fantastic launch control system and 3.6 seconds for a luxury limousine is really plenty fast.
Models |
BMW M760i |
Mercedes-Benz S63 Sedan |
Maserati Quattroporte GTS |
Porsche Panamera Turbo |
---|---|---|---|---|
0-60 MPH |
3.6 sec |
3.5 sec |
4.7 sec |
3.4 sec |
Quarter mile |
11.7 sec |
12.0 sec |
12.7 sec |
11.3 sec |
Engine |
6.6L, Twin Turbocharged, V12 engine |
4.0L, Twin Turbo, V8 engine |
3.8L, Twin Turbocharged, V8 engine |
4.0L, Twin Turbocharged, V8 Engine |
Emission (Tons/yr. of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year) |
11.0 |
8.8 |
10.3 |
8.4 |
The fastest in this competition is the Porsche Panamera Turbo at just 3.4 seconds in spite of being less powerful than both the Merc and the BMW. That's Porsche being Porsche, credit to an even better launch control system. The Quattroporte GTS is the slowest and by quite a margin but it's also considerably less powerful.
The M760i comes with air suspension as standard and as you would expect, the ride is silky smooth. It irons out every bump and pothole on the road like a road roller. However, the really sharp bumps and imperfection does manage to filter through a little. That's a consequence of large wheels and low profile tires more than a problem of the suspension. The ride quality is still very smooth, refined, and comfortable. It's not S-class comfortable but still pretty competent.
The M760i comes with five driving modes - Comfort, Comfort+, Eco, and Sport. In the Comfort+ mode, the ride quality is sublime, absolutely pristine and silent. Dial up the notches to the Sports mode, and suddenly the exhaust comes to life, the suspension gets stiffer, and throttle response and gearshifts become more aggressive. In the Sport mode, the ride is considerably firm and it can take on corners pretty well. This is really a barge but you can carry more speeds into a corner than you can think of with this car and it will remain planted and come out sailing on the other side. If you have equipped your car with the optional all-wheel drive, then the traction from the AWD system is really amazing and confidence-inspiring.
However, it's not quite as sporty as you would expect a BMW to be. It's largely let down by its steering which is light even at higher speeds and does not allow for much feedback. BMWs are particularly known for their steering but it's a letdown in the M760i. Seems like this is really meant to be a luxury cruiser as the steering does not inspire much confidence. However, the steering is light and easy at lower speeds and it really helps in effortless driving in the city.
The BMW M760i comes with 14.7-inch brakes at the front and 14.5-inch brakes at the rear. They are not the biggest brakes in the competition but they get the job done pretty well. In fact, they bring this massive car to a stop from 60 mph in just 109 ft which is really impressive for such a car.
Model |
BMW M760i |
Mercedes-Benz S63 Sedan |
Maserati Quattroporte GTS |
Porsche Panamera Turbo |
---|---|---|---|---|
Brake Front (in.) |
14.7 |
15.4 |
15.0 |
16.1 |
Brake Rear (in.) |
14.5 |
14.2 |
13.6 |
15.0 |
Curb Weight (lbs.) |
5128 |
4564 |
4189 |
4630 |
60-0 MPH (ft.) |
109 ft |
156 ft (70-0) |
118 |
153 ft (70-0) |
The M760i is a heavy car and 109 ft is really in sports car territory and really impressive. The pedal feel is strong and consistent and it maintains its composure well under hard braking as well.
The BMW M760i returns 16 miles to the gallon combined which is an impressive number for such a heavy and luxury car with a V12 engine. The competition fares much better with their V8 engines though. While you wouldn't care much about fuel economy if you are buying a 7 series but its good for you to know that your car is not so much of a gas guzzler.
Model |
BMW M760i |
Mercedes-Benz S63 Sedan |
Maserati Quattroporte GTS |
Porsche Panamera Turbo |
---|---|---|---|---|
MPG (city) |
13 |
17 |
15 |
18 |
MPG (highway) |
20 |
26 |
22 |
25 |
MPG (combined) |
16 |
20 |
17 |
21 |
The interiors in the M760i are really a class apart. It has one of the best layout and ergonomics of all the luxury sedans. A large 10.1-inch floating infotainment screen takes center stage on the dashboard. The AC vents sit below it and the wood trim nicely carves its way around the AC vents which is a very nice detail. Below the AC vents are two bands of switches for the climate controls and music system and unlike every other manufacturer, BMW obliged to give physical switches for these controls and not screens which are very cumbersome to use.
The instrument cluster is all digital but there are physical outlines on the screen for the tachometer and the speedometer which is again a nice little detail. All the screens in the car are themselves high definition with very clear graphics and are very convenient to use as well. In fact, several controls like the gesture control, touch controls and the rotary knob make it very easy to interact with the car.
Model |
BMW M760i    |
Mercedes-Benz S63 |
Maserati Quattroporte GTS |
Porsche Panamera Turbo |
---|---|---|---|---|
Passenger capacity |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.) |
39.9/59.2/41.4 |
42.1/59.7/41.4 |
N/A |
N/A |
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.) |
38.9/57.7/44.4 |
39.2/59.1/43 |
N/A |
N/A |
The BMW M760i has the best space of all the sedans in the competition. It has the longest wheelbase and it largely benefits because of that allowing it to have maximum space for the rear seats. The seats themselves are very comfortable. They are heated and cooled and come with several massage functions. The headrests are cushioned and seats are wrapped in Nappa Leather with quilted stitching. They are very well sculpted to hold you well, in utmost comfort.
BMW's i-drive system is certainly the best infotainment system in the entire car industry. With multiple ways of interacting with the system, it's very convenient on the go and the system itself is very intuitive and responsive. The 7 series is BMW's flagship and they have loaded it with every technology they could think of. The screens have crystal clear graphics and the interface itself is very smart.
The 10.3 inch screen can be used as a touch screen or you can use the rotary knob on the center console. The coolest party trick is the gesture control by which you can change volume or configure it to do some specific function. The digital instrument cluster is quite configurable too and is operated by buttons on the steering wheel.
The BMW M760i has 18.2 cu.ft of cargo space which is the second best in the competition. You could pack all you could ever need for a weekend trip for your entire family and still be left with some space to spare probably.
Model |
BMW M760i  |
Mercedes-Benz S63 Sedan |
Maserati Quattroporte GTS |
Porsche Panamera Turbo |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cargo Volume (ft.3) |
18.2 |
18 |
18.7 |
17.4 |
The BMW 7 series is certainly one of the better-looking luxury sedans out there, better than the ones from Mercedes and Audi. There's a distinctive sporty character in the looks and it still manages to have a sense of poise and sophistication you would expect from a luxury sedan.
The side profile is very neat, garnished with a band of grey accents running along the length of the car along the sills from the front fenders. The window line is typically BMW and when had with nice rims, the long, sleek profile of the Beemer really looks elegant. There are exclusive M badges on the front fenders and V12 badges on the C-pillars to distinguish the M760i from the rest of the range. The M760i also gets bespoke 21-inch wheels and the chrome around the windows have been blacked out for a sportier look.
At the rear, there's another grey accent band on the boot joining the two LED tail lamps. The tail lamps are themselves much sleeker than before and the look is finished off with well-designed quad exhaust pipe housings accentuated with some more cerium grey trim around them. The M760i also gets a mild deck lid spoiler. The entire design is neat but aggressive and with an undertone of classy-ness.
Model |
BMW M760i |
Mercedes-Benz S63 Sedan |
Maserati Quattroporte GTS |
Porsche Panamera Turbo |
---|---|---|---|---|
Curb weight (lbs.) |
5128 |
4630 |
4189 |
4630 |
Length(in) |
206.6 |
208.2 |
207.2 |
204.7 |
Width(in) |
74.9 |
75.4 |
76.7 |
76.3 |
Height(in) |
58.2 |
59 |
58.3 |
56.4 |
Ground clearance (in) |
5.8 |
5.0 |
N/A |
6.4 |
Wheelbase (in) |
126.4 |
124.6 |
124.8 |
122.0 |
Track width (in) F/R |
63.5/64.6 |
63/63.2 |
64.3/64.8 |
65.2/64.5 |
The BMW M760i is not the largest sedan but sits somewhat in the middle of all its competitors. It is the third longest after the Mercedes and the Maserati. It's also the least wide of all the vehicles. It is taller than the Porsche which has the least height but has the maximum wheelbase. The M760i is very proportionate and looks like a proper stately sedan. In fact, all the cars here look very stately indeed.
Exterior Features
This is the absolute pinnacle of luxury on wheels from BMW and with the kind of people who would be buying this car, safety is of utmost importance. This is a car with an array of sensors gauging everything on the road and knows what's up ahead even better than you. The steering, the brakes, the suspension - every aspect of the car can jump in to protect you if the need arises. It even knows when you are dozing off behind the wheel and would urge you to take a break. Your life couldn't be better protected on any other set of wheels.
Safety Features
The Mercedes S-class is really the benchmark in the luxury sedan segment and for the 7 series to really succeed, it has to beat the S-Class. On the performance front, both cars are very similar indeed. The Mercedes is more powerful but the 7 series is lighter, therefore neutralizing each other's performance. The BMW is still a little better to drive but the S-class has the best ride quality in the entire segment.
However, when it comes to luxury, the S-Class still remains unbeatable. The aesthetics of the S-Class and the entire ambiance in the cabin is simply unmatched. The 7 series is luxurious enough and with the right ergonomics and bold look inside and out, it makes for an excellent package but there's something about the S-class that exudes luxury like no other. On the upside, the 7 series is better with its technology and gadgets. The Mercedes is a little more expensive than the 7 series and because the 7 series makes for a better package and is also better value for money, it would be our pick of the two.
The Maserati is quite underpowered in comparison to the M760i and it is also the slowest of all these executive sedans. Very frankly, the Quattroporte GTS does not come close to the M760i in almost every regard. It's not as luxurious, it does not perform quite as greatly as the M760i and it does even have all those cool technologies. In fact, the GTS has become quite dated by now.
What the Quattroporte GTS has better than the M760i is its personality. The Quattroporte GTS looks stunning and there's a certain heritage with owning a Maserati brand. It's quite an old school and while it wouldn't be any one's obvious choice, it could very well be a pretty cool style statement. It's also much cheaper than the M760i and while it's still not great value for money, it is still pretty cool for what it is. The M760i is but a better buy.
The BMW M760i looks sporty and classy, the interiors are fantastic with the right ergonomics, all possible creature comforts, and the right amount of technology. The engine is great and it drives fine if not as great as other BMWs, still a better driver's car than the Mercedes. Meanwhile, the ride quality is still not really unmatched by other manufacturers. That said, the M760i is a more complete package combining the right amount of performance, luxury, and cool quotient and makes for a great alternative.