BMW 730d SE

[EXTRACT]#EANF# Joni Mitchell famously crooned : ‘You don’t know the things you got ’til it’s gone’. After one look into the facelifted BMW 7-series I will see exactly what she meant. Four years back, incoming design chief Chris Bangle’s highly controversial 7-series was our first chance to survey BMW’s new look. To a lot of he instantly became the automotive Antichrist. A torrent of flame-surfaced models followed and merely once we started to comprehend his strange design language, he got promoted and BMW aborted their ‘design revolution’. This mid-life facelift from the Seven was accomplished without Bangle, and call me contrary, however the softening of lines and toning down of design details has me missing the old days. It’s not only the looks which have changed. Five from the six engines inside the range happen to be updated, the most significant of which happens to be the completely revised 3. 0-litre diesel tested here. An alloy crankcase shaves 20kg and also the introduction of more-efficient piezo injectors enables the engine to churn out 231bhp with lower vibration and emissions. Torque is up 14lb ft during the old diesel to 383lb ft and also the improvement in acceleration is pronounced. BMW claims another is shaved coming from the 730d’s 0-62mph time (it’s now right all the way down to 7. 8sec ), but it’s with the gears the limo soars. It revs smoothly and cleanly all of the way out towards the red line, using the ZF Steptronic auto providing just the slightest of pauses between its six ratios. The 730d is now more frugal also, having a 34. 5mpg combined fuel consumption figure (up from 33. 2mpg ). The steering, though a little overassisted, can be as accurate as we’ve arrived at expect from BMW, and also the Seven’s un-limo-like poise down a quick group of twisties makes its significant bulk simple to place on an open road. Chauffeurs won’t have the ability to hide their smiles as they simply hustle their bosses cross-country inside a 7-series. Particularly if it’s equipped using the £2770 Adaptive Ride option, which uses active dampers and roll bars inside an effort to mate better body control with a far more cosseting ride. The cabin has faultless build quality and it is a showcase for BMW’s technological excellence. Yet it feels cold and clinical. Many Sevens will certainly be fully occupied, therefore the comfort ought to be focused upon the spacious and supportive rear seats. But when I had just spent nearly 50 grand on the car whose confusing mass of buttons and iDrive menus made me feel unwelcome inside the front seats, I’d be disappointed. On the entire, cars don’t come a lot more talented compared to the Seven – it’s refined, well-built, fast, agile and technological. Unlike Joni Mitchell, however, it hasn’t got much soul. Moreover, there will be better luxury saloons in the marketplace. Jack Galusha EXTRACT#EANF# BMW 730d SE