Driving Impressions

When it comes to the driving, there's no hedging. The BMW 7 Series is one of the best sedans in the world. Measured by ride, handling, braking and engine/transmission performance, and more importantly how those elements are blended into a smooth, satisfying whole, the 7 Series is almost without peer. It starts with the wonderful, magic-carpet ride quality, which is more remarkable given how agile the 7 Series really is. Its high-tech suspension smoothes out bumps, even speed bumps, to a point of astonishment. It's incredibly comfortable, yet the driver does not feel completely isolated from the road. The 7 Series senses when it's being driven hard, instantaneously re-tuning itself for improved handling, and then adjusting the other way again when the going gets easy or the road gets bumpy. BMW's Active Roll Stabilization uses computer-controlled, two-piece anti-roll bars to increase roll resistance in hard cornering and keep the body flat in turns. It's as if on entering a turn, the inside tires lift to keep the car level, which is, in effect, what actually happens. At the same time, the system maintains enough suspension compliance to keep the tires planted on the road surface. Bumps in the middle of a high-speed corner do not upset the handling balance one whit. Several factors are at work here: a near-perfect weight distribution of 50 percent front to rear (helped by lightweight aluminum hood and front fenders), which means neither end of the car is more prone to slide than the other; a highly rigid chassis that allows precise suspension tuning; and minimal unsprung weight, thanks to lightweight aluminum wheels, brake calipers and aluminum suspension components. Remember, with weight exceeding 4,480 pounds for all models, the 7 Series is not a small, lightweight car. But in some respects, it feels smaller than it is. The electronic stability control makes adjustments to maintain handling balance whenever grip is lost at any one tire. By applying braking force to individual wheels and, when absolutely necessary, reducing engine power, it almost seems to bend the laws of physics. Just steer this thing where you want to go and the 7 Series takes you there. We felt this on a fast, greasy corner, flat-out over a crest that unloaded the suspension and threw the car's mass upwards. All four wheels lost grip, but we simply motored around the corner, drifting just slightly wide of the intended line, never lifting off the accelerator pedal or making any adjustments in the steering. The car did all of it, and the anti-skid system is transparent, in that you can't feel it kick in and out. BMW's system is less obtrusive and more performance-oriented than similar systems found in Mercedes and Lexus automobiles. Steering the 7 Series is a joy. Its variable-assist rack-and-pinion system is super sharp and precise. The steering is very light at low speeds for parking lots, but firms up at higher speeds for improved driver feel. It also steps up response by 10 percent as the wheel is turned off center, which means the more you turn the wheel, the faster the car responds. With this steering system, it's easy to drive precisely on winding roads at high speeds, placing the tires exactly where you want them. There's little or no kickback to the steering when the 7 Series whacks a bump. Our only reservation, and it's a minor point, is that the steering is so sensitive to road speed that accelerating in the midst of a tight turn occasionally catches it out, leaving the front wheels more sharply angled than optimal. Both the V8 and V12 engines are smooth when cruising around. The six-speed automatic is smooth, too, yet it's among the most responsive we have ever experienced. Hit the accelerator pedal and the transmission drops a gear or two without any of the hesitation found in so many automatics. The six-speed allows a lower first gear for quicker acceleration off the line, closer rat

Final Word

The BMW 7 Series is one of the finest sedans in the world: remarkably smooth, quiet and roomy. Its interior is impeccably finished. It offers extraordinary handling with a magic carpet ride. The six-speed automatic transmission is one of the best in autodom, and both the V8 and V12 engines are silky smooth and impressively powerful. The layers of technology can seem more like a hindrance than a help, however, and the interface between driver and machine can be complex and demanding. At best it's cumbersome, and at worst it's overwhelming. NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Tom Lankard reported from Sacramento, California, with Mitch McCullough reporting from Los Angeles and San Antonio.