The Grover Wheel

 REPOST: Originally published in the Grove City College Collegian. It is presented here in un-edited format from February of 2012.

Last semester [ED: last blog post] we had the chance to test-drive the 2001 BMW 7-series. Now we take a look at the 2011 750iX to see how a decade of engineering know-how has changed BMW’s flagship sedan.

First things first: unlike the last 7-series we tested, the 750iX is not affordable luxury. Instead, it represents the best BMW currently offers in big, executive transportation. The as-tested price of our test car was almost $100,000 making the 750iX a car for the privileged few.

Redesigned in 2008, the new 7-series is bigger and considerably more imposing than previous models. The new nose gives it an aggressive and more fluid fascia than ever before. This car is for powerful, wealthy people and it projects a suitably unattainable image without being flashy or ostentatious.

Luxury and power go hand-in-hand with this car. From the moment you step into the sumptuous cabin, the 750iX exudes class and sophistication. The door shuts with a gentle pull and a motor finishes the close. Turn the key, and the seatbelt gently tensions across your chest, the steering wheel and seat glide into your pre-set driving position, and the iDrive computer display engages. The interior feel is definitely far ahead of previous models.

On the move, the big Beemer begins to show its size. Weight is well managed, body roll is minimal and the 750iX’s four-wheel drive gives excellent grip and handling. But on narrow back roads, there is no getting around the fact that this is a very big car. Squeezing down side streets between parked cars and oncoming trucks is a nerve-wracking experience.

However, that bulk and aggression serves you well when pulling out in traffic. People stop and let you out. They seem a bit afraid of the 7-series. For a car of this type, that’s good.

It is on the highway that the 750 shines. The 7-series has always been designed as an autobahn-killer and as a result, highway miles are passed effortlessly. The quiet cabin, excellent sound system, and smooth suspension couple together to give an unparalleled highway experience. Power is always available and ready for overtaking lesser mortals in the left lane.

It is in the power department that the 750iX continues to shine. A 4.4 liter, twin-turbo V8 producing 401 horsepower and 440 pound-feet of torque pushes this 2.5 ton car to 62mph in less than 5.2 seconds. To put that into perspective, this executive limousine is roughly as quick to 60mph as the current Mustang GT (a purpose-built sports car).

Stepping hard on the accelerator in the 750 is akin to stepping on a land mine. There is a brief pause as the six-speed transmission downshifts and the turbochargers spool up, and then boom the 750 takes off. The V8, while largely silent while cruising, positively sings at higher RPM. Unlike the deep burble of an American V8, this German sounds like a snarling cat trying to escape from under the hood. It is in cases like this that the heads-up speed display comes in handy, because the 750 reaches extra-legal speeds with alarming alacrity.

In a lot of respects, 750iX is like a Mafia Don. The 750iX may look respectable, and may be clad in the best tailor-made suit, but don’t think for a minute that it has gone soft. When pushed to the wall, it still drives, and goes, like a BMW.