BMW 740i compelling package

Mild-hybrid assisted 3.0l turbo-charged straight-six is creamy smooth.

- Charl Bosch

The BMW 7 Series story is a familiar one stretching back to the original E23's unveiling 48 years ago. While within striking range, the proverbial "close but no cigar" saying always applied to Munich's rival for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class when it came to the topic of "tomorrow's in-car technology" and comfort today. Probably sick of hearing about the comparison with the three-pointed star, the blue-and-white roundel seemingly threw everything it had at the G70 in creating the most opulent and controversially styled 7 Series since the Chris Bangle-era E65.

Despite a heavily facelifted version of the S-Class launched later this year, the G70, for the time being, has the upper hand. The direct rival for the S500 ever since the shelving of the 750i, the 740i kicks off the South African-market 7 Series range as one of three engine options available. The others being the M70 and the diesel-powered 740d.

The 740i also makes do without the xDrive all-wheel-drive system as on its siblings. Arriving in Oxide Silver Metallic paint, the 740i, in base Design Pure Excellence grade, proved anything but nondescript. Aesthetically, the Z1-inspired tribute design has started to become more accepted in the same way initial naysayers have started changing their opinions on the M3 and M4.