BMW 740i M Sport - Making clinical quite expressive

We had the almighty BMW 7 Series on test and were spoiled to the nines with what it offered in the executive space. Here's our review on the German brute.

Interior & Space

Whenever a BMW 7 series is mentioned in conversation, the first thoughts that come to mind are “Flagship”, “executive”, and whatever else a thesaurus can muster up. It’s been like this since the car’s inception back in 1977. Now we’re in 2023, and the 7 series nameplate is still going strong, even with electrification thrown into the mix. If you want to see a review of the i7, you can check out my colleague Chad Lückhoff’s review right over here.

Enter the G70 7-Series, more specifically the 740i, for this review. BMW markets this as a forward-looking way of enjoying driving pleasure, having long-distance comfort for all occupants and the latest and greatest when it comes to technology and entertainment. Does the 740i set the bar for the luxury saloon segment? Let’s get into that.

Styling 

Styling, as we’ve mentioned many times, can be quite subjective. Many people have been quite divided on BMW’s design language with recent models. In this writer’s opinion, BMW certainly has been out there with their vehicles, but personally, I’ve been supportive of brands daring to be different rather than follow a trend. Does it make sense with what the latest 7-Series motif goes after? Yes. The G70 7-Series epitomises modern high-street lifestyles while incorporating a lot of what fashion designers in Europe exude on a daily basis.

For starters, the G70 7-Series is monolithic with its length and imposing size. It further pushes this with the massive kidney grille in the front fascia, which lights up, too, mind you. Pair that with BMW Crystal LED headlamps with a stylised glow lighting effect. The side profile is sleek and makes for an attractive silhouette, but still has a bold look to it. Our test car had 21-inch 5-spoke two-tone machine-cut wheels to match the two-tone Oxide Grey metallic paintwork. The rear tapers things off with slim rectangular taillights and a chrome diffuser. The rear bumper would look more appealing without the chrome diffuser in our eyes in favour of a cleaner rear bumper look. The G70 7-Series will definitely attract attention with its more abstract and bold looks. In our test period, the car garnered many cellphone pictures and the like.

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Space & Interior 

Outrageous doesn’t end with the exterior when it comes to this vehicle. While the general trend with interiors has been to mimic a lounge setting, some at BMW decided, “Why don’t we go one step further and mimic a theatre?”. Mimic, they did with brilliant execution while remembering that this is a car at heart, too. The G70 lets you in with its electronically operated front and rear doors, and you’re greeted with what is essentially your BMW theatre experience with oodles of space for head, leg and shoulder room for all occupants. Supple leather seats, ambient lighting and other pleasantries are present.

There’s a big emphasis on lighting with the interior of this vehicle, both with natural and produced light. A massive panoramic sunroof and glass expanse make the G70 7-Series easy to see out of and introduce plenty of natural light into the cabin. Depending on what vehicle mode you are in will also change the setup of ambient lighting to set the mood for a movie or an entertaining long-distance commute. Our vehicle was equipped with the Crystal NVH levels in the G70, which are next to nothing, with hardly any noise permeating the cabin. The only vehicle-centric noises are limited to the engine’s purr. You don’t even hear a starter noise when turning on this vehicle. You’ll also find boot space rated at 540 litres. This is where the squared of nature of the G70 7-Series rear pays off also, as you really have to put in a level effort to fill up the boot area.

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Comfort & Convenience 

Many would argue that with these kinds of vehicles, you need to be driven in them rather than you driving them. With the 7 Series, it works both ways. For the driver, operation of the vehicle and various functions that need immediate access is relatively easy. Driving the 7 series is done with pleasure. The driver’s seat, although cosy and comfortable with massage function, is supportive and adds more support when using Sport mode.

Much of the vehicle controls are housed in the BMW Curved Display. It will take some time and homework to figure out the functionality and all when paired with the BMW Theatre Screen, but this is just a once-off thing. Rear occupants are in for a treat as long-distance journeys get a whole lot more interesting with this vehicle. In continuing with the theatre motif is the BMW theatre screen. A 31.3 folding screen that lowers itself with an ensemble jingle via the Bowers & Wilkins sound system. If you’re in the rear, you also have 5.5-inch touchscreens to control rear seating, climate controls and, of course, operate the theatre screen. With the theatre screen, you can stream videos, play games (This writer certainly did that), listen to music as well and do a host of other things you can watch, much like a Smart TV. The Theatre screen does block your rear vision, and a digital rearview mirror would have helped for when the screen is lowered for longer journeys. The Bowers & Wilkins sound system is beautifully tuned with great detail and separation without needing to adjust EQ settings and leaving the sound profiles on the system and my smartphone on flat.

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Performance 

Powering the 740i M Sport is a turbocharged 6-cylinder petrol engine producing 280 kW and 540 Nm sent to the rear wheels with an 8-speed Sport Steptronic automatic gearbox. While this is easily a 2-tonne vehicle, the chassis dynamics are quite good. Two-axle air suspension is present and ever-adjusting to handle road conditions and giving the most comfort even on the roughest of roads. The suspension tuning here is well-dampened for the purposes of luxury but also responsive for when you want to take this vehicle on winding roads. The steering feel, although electric and weighted well enough and, doesn’t feel disconnected.

The engine hardly feels laboured when taking a relaxing drive and even getting on it. There is a temporary Sport boost button when you need to put in everything the engine has got, and it’s pretty entertaining. The engine will purr or growl on demand and is eager to go when desired. As you’d tend to expect with a BMW with an M badge, the 740i can be dynamic, and fun can be had.

Fuel Economy 

BMW claims a fuel economy of 7.9l /100km. We hovered around the 9-10l /100km mark.

Safety 

You’ll find the following safety equipment in the 740i M Sport:

• 6 Airbags
• Reversing Assist Camera,
• Park Distance Sensors (Front, rear and side)
• Emergency Braking
• Front-collision warning and left turn warning
• Evasion Assistant
• Lane Departure Warning with Lane return
• Speed Limit Display with anticipation and no-overtaking indicator
• Attentiveness Assistant
• High-beam Assistant

Price 

Pricing here is for the base model 7 Series:

  *Pricing stated was correct at the time of publishing and is subject to change without any prior notice.

Competitors 

• Mercedes-AMG EQE43 4Matic sedan
• Maserati Ghibli GT
• Lexus LS 500 F Sport

Verdict 

The BMW 740i M Sport is an interesting vehicle. It’s a dichotomy of technology and expressiveness you tend to see from designers and artists. The theatre motif, to some, may seem gimmicky, but it’s executed well for what this vehicle is engineered for: long journeys. Will the exterior looks grow on you? Yes. Does it drive well? Yes. Is it comfortable? Absolutely. Is it entertaining and a lovely way to go about an executive saloon? Surely. The 740i M Sport is going to be a memorable vehicle. If you like the artsy side of luxury and being centre stage as the driver, it is the vehicle for you.

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