In line with updated systems from other automakers, it also has an automatic lane-changing feature. The car was equipped with BMW’s highway assistant (part of a US$2,100 package), which permits hand-free freeway travel at up to 80 mph. Should you select sport mode, the shocks stiffen and the ride height drops. The car rides on air springs with adaptive shock absorbers that sense the road ahead, and it totally ignores rough pavement. It’s a big car at 17.6 feet long, but it’s easier to maneuver in parking lots than you’d expect thanks to the standard rear-wheel steering. The whole ambience of the car discourages unseemly displays of power, but overtaking is a dream on the highway. The new 760i is 100 pounds heavier than the old one, but is still capable of reaching 60 miles per hour in four seconds. This is by no means a hybrid along the lines of a Toyota Prius, but the V-8 system does improve fuel economy, from 19 miles per gallon combined on the older model to 21 on this one. The V-8 replaces the 600-horsepower 12-cylinder engine that was in previous generations of this car. The electric motor (coupled to a one-kilowatt-hour battery) adds 18 horsepower and an impressive 148 pound-feet of torque.

It’s powered by a 536-horsepower, 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8 with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, coupled to an eight-speed sport automatic transmission. But still, many owners will end up driving their cars and the BMW satisfies in that regard as well. There are first-world problems, like the rear seat not reclining when the front passenger seat is occupied. There’s no question the passengers in this car have a great experience, enough to satisfy any demanding buyer.

The BMW 7601 as tested was US$149,045, but that’s from a base of US$113,600, meaning there’s a big package of extras on the tester, including luxury front and rear merino leather seating with massage, automatic doors, crystal headlights, parking assistance, an alcantara headliner, and more-US$35,445 of add-ons.

Bmw idrive upgrade