7 SERIES GOES 4X4

BMW has joined other super luxury German saloon-makers in offering 4-wheel-drive for its 7 Series cars. Autoblog.nl says the 750i xDrive is currently testing in the cold climates under ice and snow to see how it handles itself. This would be the first 4x4 7 Series since 1977 and it’s for customers who live in very icy countries like Russia, Sweden and Finland.

The car has the same engine as the 750i in the 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 that produces 300kW and 450Nm of torque. xDrive is hailed as one of the fastest-reacting 4x4 systems in the world but will add about 50kg extra fat onto the 7 and increase fuel consumption by up to 4%. xDrive will not drive all four wheels all the time; in normal driving about 70% of power will go rear.

Meanwhile, America has announced prices for the 7 Series at $81 125 for the 750i and $85 025 for the 750iL (long wheel-base). These are 0.7% higher than the outgoing models.