BOW TO ENVIRONMENT DOES NOT DETRACT

       Even luxury-car manufacturers are concerned with the environment these days.
       Take BMW for example: its new 7 Series flagship model may be a monstrous 5.2-metre limousine fitted with all the amenities you'd want in a car, but like other BMW models such as the 3 series or 5 Series, it also features the German auto-maker's EfficientDynamics philosophy.
       For Asian markets, the 7 Series is offered in a long-wheelbase version, and in Thailand the 740 Li, priced at Bt8.99 million (the price will go up to Bt9.29 million next year), is the top model in BMW's range. The other is the diesel-powered 730 Ld, which is priced at Bt7.59 million.
       Featured today is the 740 Li, with its large body and loads of luxury features raging from adjestable and ventilated rear seats with massage function to rear-seat entertainment systems, not to mention various safety functions. It weighs in at 1.9 tonnes. Despited this, BMW claims that the 740 Li has the average fuel economy of a regular mid-sized sedan. EfficientDynamics technology, which ranges from the use of highly efficient engines to weight reduction and anything else that might lower fuel consumption, like more efficient gearboxes, allows the car to average 10 kilometres per litre, with carbon dioxide emissions claimed to be 235 grams per kilometre.
       The heart of the 740 Li is its award-wining gngine, a 3-litre in-line six with twin turbochargers that pumps out 326 horsepower at 5,800rpm and 45Nm of torque, all the way from 1,500 to 4,500rpm.
       BMW is a company that is known for its loyalty to normally aspirated engines, and over the years the Munich-based manufacturer has come up with a number of arguments against the use of turbockhargers.
       When leaks came out of Munich that BMW was developing a turbocharged engine many years ago, the company dismissed it as "mere speculation."
       However, as environmental concerns became stronger and fuel consumption and emission standards became stricter, it became difficult to achieve the new standards while maintaining the same output with a normally-aspirated engine.
       Then came the 335i, a wonderful 300-horsepower coupe powered by the 3-litre twin turbo engine, and BMW's normally-aspirated-engine tradition was finally broken.
       So instead of the 740 Li coming with the usual 4-litre V8, it now comes with the turbocharged engine. It's as simple as that.
       Performance has been improved over the old model. There is 20 horsepower and 60Nm of torque more than the V8 and 0 to 100kph acceleration has been improved by almost a full second, to 6 seconds. On top of that, average fuel consumption has been lowered by 15 per cent.
       While 7 Series customers won't be worrying about fuel consumption, especially after spending almost Bt10 million on a car, they will be impressed by the other features on board.
       BMW claims that the 740 Li has more headroom and knee room for rear passengers than any other car in its class, and all non-driving features, such as climate control and entertainment systems, can be controlled from the rear seats through thei-Drive controller.
       From the driver's seat, there are more controls to play around with, and those who decide to purchase a 7 Series will need to have their drivers carefully read the entire owner's manual. BMW also offers driver training, which would be helpful.
       Among the car's highlights are a navigation system, head-up display, night vision, four-zone climate control, two hi-resolution 9.2-inch monitors for TV and DVD for rear passengers and a great-sounding surround hi-fi system with 16 speakers and a 80Gb hard drive for storing music. Music sounds better with the surround switched off, so let's keep that function for movies.
       The ride comfort is enhanced by a Dynamic Damping Control system that varies the suspension settings according to the road surface, and there are more driver-assistance systems such as the Integrated Chassis Management system, which orchestrates all active safety systems including Dynamic Stability Control, Dynamic Driving Control and Integral Active Steering (four-wheel steering), which helps improve high-speed stability as well as low-speed manoeuvrability.
       Braking performance is better than ever, with vented discs both front and rear that are governed by all sorts of electronics.
       Right next to the gearshift lever is a selector button that allows the driver to choose between comfort, sport and extreme sport, all of which give the 740 Li different characteristics.
       I had the 740 Li for a few days and it surely is easier to drive than the previous model. There is no problem with engine refinement or wind noise, and handling is easier than expected for a 5.2-metre car. While reverse parking, the screen on the centre console displays views from rear and side cameras, along with a suggested path outlined by graphics.
       The only problem is that I didn't get a chance to sit back and enjoy the other type of motoring comfort-as a rearseat passenger.