New BMW 730Ld India review, test drive

Bavaria’s new oil-burning flagship, like its petrol counterpart, is a technological marvel and a hoot to drive.

Published on May 09, 2016 10:35:00 AM

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What’s it like to drive?

BMW’s 2,993cc in-line six diesel has been cranked up to make 265hp and 620Nm, which is a jump of 7hp and 60Nm, and while that outdoes some rivals, it’s still a little short of the Jaguar XJ’s mighty 300hp and 700Nm. Still, as the previous 730Ld will testify, in the real world, the performance is much stronger than the numbers suggest. It may also be down to the 7-series’ relatively light kerb weight, and it’s even lower this time around at 1,795kg, thanks partly to the use of carbonfibre-reinforced plastic in its chassis.

While we haven’t had the chance to fix our VBOX testing gear to the new 7 diesel yet, we can tell you it’s seriously quick. In fact, BMW’s 6.2sec claim for 0-100kph seems a bit conservative, honestly. BMW has now narrowed its drive modes down to three – Eco Pro, Comfort and Sport – which alter steering, suspension, engine, gearbox and air-con performance. Sport mode even clasps the seat bolsters tighter around your midriff.

Eco Pro mode, predictably, saps power and the weak responses low down takes a little getting used to; best to leave it for the chauffeur. Comfort mode is the one you’d likely spend most of your time in, and here the motor is in a nice place for casual driving. It might leave you wanting if you want to go flat out, but then that’s what Sport mode is for. Put it in this mode and the digital dials glow red, and the motor is always on edge – perhaps a little too sharp for stop and go traffic. The good news is that there’s a clear distinction between all three modes, something you can’t say about many such systems. You also hear a lot less of the motor in the cabin, and that could be down to a more refined engine and/or better insulation.