The aforementioned Night Vision system is joined on the Technology Package ($5,500) by Lane Departure Warning, which utilizes a camera mounted forward in the rear view mirror housing to monitor lane markings as you travel. If it senses that the car is drifting it sends a signal to the driver by vibrating the steering wheel. It could prove annoying if it was active in “marking-rich” city environments, so it only becomes active above 70 km/h.
  2009 BMW 750i. Click image to enlarge |
The exterior mirrors are equipped with an indicator that will illuminate when a vehicle enters the 750’s blind spot, a situation that seemed to occur quite frequently during my test period as the car’s pretty new skin attracted a great deal of attention. The car’s blind spot isn’t overly large, but having an extra layer of protection to alert you should you become distracted isn’t a bad idea.
BMW’s Automatic Cruise Control will maintain a set speed and or distance interval until it senses that something is impeding the path ahead, then its “Stop & Go” function allows the car to apply the brakes to scrub off speed, or can even bring the car to a full stop. The radar unit that helps monitor the traffic ahead seemed to be in the sweet spot for bug impacts, but it didn’t appear to affect its operation.
Rear seat passengers will be entertained by twin monitors (part of the $3,500 Multi-Media Package) on which they can view DVDs from the six-disc changer, control individual selections from the 126-GB hard-drive, CDs or three-band radio (AM/FM/Sirius), as well as view and plan details of the navigation system. Perforated, electric rear window screens provide shelter from the sun as well as add an extra degree of privacy.
 2009 BMW 750i. Click image to enlarge |
Controversial designer Chris Bangle left the BMW Group earlier this year, but the new 7 Series was one of his final efforts (the other being the 2009 Z4) – completed in collaboration with new design chief Adrian van Hooydonk. This is fitting, as the previous generation of the car (introduced in 2001) was Bangle’s first design for the company. He has now come full circle. Unlike the often ridiculed hind quarters and odd nose of the 2001 edition, the new 7 Series is pretty enough to appeal to the masses, which is always a plus when the goal is to sell a lot of automobiles. If this car is an indication of the brand’s styling direction forward, BMW fans should find very little to complain about.
The exterior styling is all BMW, with the twin kidney-shaped grilles crowning the new aggressive nose, bookmarked by almost sinister looking headlight housings. The body looks more muscular with its extended fenders, aerodynamic contours and sculpted tail section.
The 2009 750i is roughly the same size as the outgoing model (35 mm longer, but no change in width), but the wheelbase has been stretched 80 mm, allowing the interior dimensions to expand for passenger comfort and the ride to feel more planted at speed. The height has dropped 10 mm probably due to aerodynamic tweaking in the wind tunnel. Weight is up 35 kilograms but all the new electronic wizardry has to come at a price.
