2003 BMW 760Li

There's a fine art to making a big sedan that's truly capable of performing like a sports car, one that shrinks to fit you after a few moments of familiarization into a four-door that'll run with most two-seaters, yet convey a quartet of tall adults in sublime luxury and comfort. And, no one does it better than BMW.

The new 760Li shares the 745Li's wheelbase and overall dimensions. Sharp-eyed spotters will see V-12 badges on the front side panels and a 760Li trunk badge.

Since 1987, BMW has sold over 96,500 12-cylinder cars—a remarkable achievement. The company's initials stand for Bavarian Motor Works, so engines have always been important. While BMW's reputation was and is made with high-revving, powerful sixes, BMW beat Mercedes-Benz to the punch with its first V-12, and has once again revitalized this engine configuration with a powerful new version. The 760Li's 438 horsepower and 444 lb.-ft. of torque dwarf the 745i's hardly insignificant 325-hp/330 lb.-ft. V-8 output; and, although the bigger model is 5.5-inches longer, it weighs less than 300 pounds more. That translates to a 0-60 sprint of just 5.4 seconds vs. the 745i's impressive 6.0 seconds. When you consider that the 760Li weighs two-and a half tons, it's all the more extraordinary.


Before you rush to email us that the new Maybach 57 has a 5.5-liter, twin-turbocharged V-12 and knocks out 543 horsepower, do understand that we've driven the Maybach. It's certainly a tour de force, but it weighs nearly 1,200 pounds more than the 760Li, and with a 10-inch longer wheelbase and two feet more overall length, it feels somewhat ponderous in comparison. So does a Bentley Arnage. BMW has mastered the knack of taking excess weight out of a big car and making it nimble and agile.


Some years ago, Dr. Wolfgang Peter, former head of passenger car development for Daimler-Benz, commented that it was easier for Mercedes-Benz (with help from its captive division, AMG) to make credible high-performance cars out of its luxury sedans than it would be for BMW to make true luxury cars out of its sporting models. Time and development have proven him wrong. At an average age of 54, BMW buyers are six years younger than Mercedes-Benz owners. They are also wealthier and more entrepreneurial. Compared with the current competition in the premium luxury sedan field, BMW definitely wins high marks in fit, finish and accoutrements.

Inside, there are yards of micro-perforated leather, a superb, 420-watt Logic 7 sound system, and 10 airbags.

The new 760Li shares the 745Li's wheelbase and overall dimensions. Sharp-eyed spotters will see V-12 badges on the front side panels and a 760Li trunk badge. The grille surrounds are wider than the 745Li's and the V-12s get their own distinctive wheel designs. Almost every 745 option is standard on the V-12 and there's much, much more. Both long-wheelbase variants have distinctive chrome roof moldings that sweep from A-pillars to trunklid, and there are discrete chrome accents on the front and rear bumpers. Inside, you can opt for a second set of iDrive controls for the rear passengers. About the iDrive: this remarkable controller accommodates nearly 700 functions. No, it's not immediately intuitive; yes, it takes some learning. A few functions could be simpler (and BMW is addressing this), but it's like a new computer: you don't just fire it up and expect to run it. There are things to learn, but once you've spent some time, your fingers will fly and you'll be surprised how easy it is to master.