BMW 760i - 760Li E65 - E66

Decisions, decisions. Do you settle for the rear armchairs of the 760Li - spacious and Royal - or climb into the hot seat, and give the 6.0-litre V12 a much-needed thrashing? Oh cruel world, how you torment us! Opt for the former and you enter a different world, one of backrests and cushions that keep your bum just the right temperature, fold, recline and extend every which way, and just generally don't give up until your posterior has reached its sweet spot. Settle your rear end in the BMW's and let the gadgets take care of you: why not pop in a DVD, or crank up the 420 watt stereo or pull out the champagne and raise a toast to your financial advisor? Let the chauffeur crank up the speed and enjoy the first-class, transcontinental ambiance. The only thing missing is the pretty flight attendants.Ok, enough of that, how about swapping seats for a while? This isn't the 'Ultimate Sit Back and Enjoy the Ride Machine' after all, so you might as well have some real fun. That, the 7 can provide as well. The powertrain is the slickest component here: the V12 is a gentle giant with a smooth, quiet rush of power available any time, which is fed through an equally pleasant six-speed automatic transmission. It doesn't have the most spirited chassis in its class, surprisingly, but using iDrive to switch over to sport mode for stiffer dampers, better steering feel and less body-motion livens things up considerably. The adaptive anti-roll bars are particularly impressive by allowing the 760i to turn almost without body-roll, useful for making a quick getaway without spilling your coffee. The E65 7 still drives like a BMW - it's still a 7 - but it owes it all to trick new computers which, like the crazed exterior design, show that marketing directors rather than engineers had the upper hand here. But that's none of your worry; all you have to decide is first class or pilot's seat? - by Traian Popescu

See more: BMW 760i - 760Li E65 - E66 Photos, BMW 760i - 760Li E65 - E66 Technical Data