Crafted To Cruise

A smaller petrol engine helps the BMW 740Li gain a lighter price tag. But does it all add up?

- Sarmad Kadiri

PRACTICAL NEW BMW 7 SERIES HAS just made it to our market which caters to the growing demand for petrol-powered luxury cars. This is the 740Li that sits in between the 4.4-litre V8 petrol powered 750Li and the popular 730Ld which has a 3.0-litre diesel.

Assembled locally and available only in Design Pure Excellence (DPE) Signature trim, the 740Li we’re driving is priced at Rs 1.28 crore (ex-showroom, Delhi). Which means two things: first, it cannot be customised or made to order, and, second, it’s nearly Rs 30 lakh cheaper than its 750Li DPE sibling which is imported as a completely built-up unit (CBU). We have already reviewed the 7 Series in detail, so we don’t propose to go deep into the design of the car. As we know, it is gigantic in size and yet manages to look sharper than before. In the DPE trim, there is generous use of chrome highlights which enhance the appeal and make this car classier as compared to the sporty M Sport pack version of the luxury car.

The story continues as one gets inside. The cabin is garnished with a good dose of wood and chrome and appears to be different from the trim of the Seven. As expected, the quality of materials, feel of leather and solidly built buttons and knobs are as premium as can be. The design of the dashboard, however, isn’t as opulent as its competitors’ but more businesslike. Nevertheless, you can’t find fault with the overall finish and execution.