![]() Granted, you have to accept what you're driving before you enter. ![]() I couldn't ask more from a luxocruiser.ĭIGITAL EDITOR ANDREW STOY: Go figure-this fat pseudo-hybrid is my favorite Bimmer from the fleet so far. And the twin-turbo V8 delivers all 440 horses in a smooth, unassuming fashion. The car is spacious, very comfortable and drives smaller than its flagship size. I have always enjoyed driving the 7-series, and this is no exception- hybrid drive included. Other than the start/stop hesitation, this is a great cruiser. But the execution needs to be way more seamless than this. And I understand it from the company's position, too, that it builds a lot of big, gas-guzzling rigs and wants to try and soften the blow. ![]() Sure, I understand that some people driving large, gas-guzzling cars want to feel a bit better about themselves and save a few ounces of fuel. But that hybrid system needs some fine-tuning.ĮXECUTIVE EDITOR ROGER HART: The jerkiness of the start/stop system is incongruous with the otherwise smooth operation of the gasoline powertrain. All of the materials are lovely and of high quality and the cabin envelopes those inside. Even at my short height, I was quite close to the headliner. The cabin is spacious, particularly in the back seats, but I would have liked more adjustment down in the front seats. In a car wearing such a large price tag, I would expect something more refined. The system abruptly turns the car off when stopped, and it jerks and shudders back to life when you hit the gas. I echo Wes in that it reminds me of Lexus's. But, I wasn't getting the sensation of the rubber meeting the road in this 750Li hybrid.Īnd speaking of the hybrid system-it is anything but smooth. Yes, the power is strong and smooth and stays that way at speed and beyond. But, this BMW felt floaty over the roads, especially on the expressway and while topping 80 mph and then some-without even realizing it. In the end all was fine, and we made the trip downtown and back home in fine style. And, I had to readjust a couple of times pulling into a corner parking spot when we headed off to a Detroit Tigers baseball game. I was a little extra careful around curves and corners to avoid any scrubbing of the tires. Yes, it's luxurious and comfortable and cosseting and all, but it's big. OROSCO-WRIGHT: This is one large vehicle. The interior is huge and comfortable and the build quality is up among the best in the business.ĬOPY EDITOR CYNTHIA L. Of course, it's silent and smooth-and fast-on the freeway And on the road it's nimble and light on its feet for such a big luxury boat. Acceleration is more than brisk (after that initial hesitation), and the rolling kickdown when one stomps on the gas is impressive, to say the least. Once under way it drives fine, like any other7-series. ![]() It's not as bad as the big Lexus, but somewhat disconcerting nonetheless. This car is hard to drive smoothly in stop-and-go traffic. Then, press the gas after sitting at a light, and there's a definite hesitation. Like the Lexus LS hybrid, applying the brake seems to make the car actually pick up speed for a second before the car starts to slow down-the brakes are inconsistent at best. The herky-jerkiness of the hybrid system is disconcerting. I do love riding it and it's hilarious riding with somebody like because his hub sounds like a can of yellow jackets and mine is silent.EDITOR WES RAYNAL: This 2011 BMW 750Li ActiveHybrid is a weird car. I built my bike when I had a one year old, then had knee surgery, then my wife had knee surgery, and now I have a 4 month old in addition to a four year old, so riding time is comically short. I'm not going to lie and tell you anything about their durability. I have a shimano steel freehub and XT cassette, and replacing that with an alloy XD driver and high end cassette stands to save a half a pound of hub weight. I've never tried it side by side with a toothed engagement hub, but it's almost like the sprag clutch has to bite in with high torque, yielding a small amount before actual engagement. Also, while engagement is instantaneous, there is a bit of lash as the drivetrain tightens. They do seem to coast really well, but I'm not sure that's just the hub, or switching to tubeless/low pressure/carbon rims at the same time as the hubs. It's not something you notice till it's gone.Īs for performance, they are good. A freehub that hums also tells you how fast you are going. It's very weird to coast along and hear no noise- it's a more natural feeling, but it's also creepy not having audible feedback on your speed. Therefore, I got neon yellow with purple ano bearing caps. They will also build you whatever spacing you want. You can get them in any color, and you can get the fun bits in any color as well. I sprang for a set of onyx hubs because I have money and am also stupid.
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