With the introduction of the all-new 2009 BMW 750i, Bavaria’s most famous carmaker deemphasizes the visuals while advancing the car’s state of technical innovation further yet. If you’ve heard the phrase “walk softly and carry a big stick,” then you’ve got the idea behind the 2009 BMW 750i.
Larger and Lighter
Karim Habib’s design team has successfully balanced traditional BMW cues with this full- size car’s proportions and stance. Europe’s pedestrian crash standards have exerted obvious influence on the 750i’s upright nose, while the new car’s less adventurous styling is easier on the eyes than the self-conscious detailing of its predecessor.
Despite the new car’s longer wheelbase and wider track, weight has been pared by some 82 pounds and torsional stiffness has been increased by 20 percent. Credit the strategic use of ultra-high-strength steel in the structure and the use of aluminum for the roof, doors, hood, rear subframe, differential housing and all suspension links.
Whether due to lightness or just hyper-slick grease, the door of the preproduction car we drove glides open, and a light tug of the protruding wood trim inside closes the door with a whump. The interior materials and construction appear to be to a high standard. The ambience does not stray far from other BMW offerings.
At the same time, those familiar with the outgoing 7 Series will notice that the cruise-control paddle is gone, and now it’s been relocated to the left-hand spoke of the steering wheel. Likewise BMW has replaced the steering-column-mounted gear selector with the electric razor job on the center console just like in the new BMW X5.
iDrive Is No Longer a Four-Letter Word
Critics of iDrive can rejoice. In an implicit admission that the much-maligned multimedia system needed a rethink, BMW has completely overhauled it. The improvement is commendable. New shortcut buttons to the various functions such as radio and navigation (including a “back” button like an Internet browser) can be operated by feel, and navigating through its various menus is far more intuitive.
A larger, clearer 10.2-inch black panel screen has impressive resolution and doesn’t wash out in sunlight. A touchscreen display continues to be eschewed, as BMW contends such a design demands more focal adjustment of your eyes and thus requires too long to take a glance.
0 comments for this entry ↓
There are no comments yet for this entry.
You must log in to post a comment.