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BMW 745i sedan in stout package totes sophisticated hardware
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
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SAN ANTONIO, Tex. -- The elegant flagship in the fleet of Germany's BMW, a full-size sedan tipped toward plush luxury as well as high performance, comes to America as a 2002 model in new fourth-generational treatment that's perhaps the most sophisticated production car on the planet.
Badged as the 745i, this big one stretches longer than its 740i predecessor and it stands taller, the front hood hiked to accommodate a larger and more powerful V8 engine and the roof raised to make more room in a five-place cabin for riders and trappings of an ultimate luxury sedan.
It also contains the world's first high-volume application of a six-speed electronic automatic transmission, along with an all-aluminum suspension, high-tech electronics governing power production and vehicle stability, and dazzling interactive voice commands for operating on-board navigation, climate and communication equipment.
And it's so different from any other vehicle on the market that you probably will need instructions plus a little practice just to start the engine and shift the drive-by-wire transmission into Forward mode.
We certainly did at the outset of a day of road tests stretched across the Texas Hill Country.
Start with the ignition key: There's actually no metal key flange apparent, only the blunt plastic face of an infrared window in a rectangular device that slips into a slot on the dash panel to the right of the steering column.
Once the electronic key is parked in the slot, you then must push the round Start button located left of the key in order to crank up the engine -- but keep your foot on the brake or it simply won't fire.
Now reach above the steering wheel and find a stubby lever that protrudes from the column at two o'clock: That's actually the transmission control stick and it doesn't work like a conventional shift lever.
Remember, the connection between transmission and selector lever is electric, not mechanical.
When the engine starts, the transmission begins in Neutral. Click the short lever up a notch to move into Reverse, or down for Drive, and a backlit icon on the instrument panel indicates the mode.
Now ease on the throttle and 745i runs like a conventional car -- only it's quicker and slicker.
The new V8 engine -- displacing 4.4 liters off an aluminum block with throttle-less fuel injection and BMW's Double Vanos variable camshaft controller in place -- makes 325 hp at 6100 rpm and 330 lb-ft of torque at 3600 rpm.
There's 15 percent more power available than the 4.4-liter engine in 740i and better fuel efficiency numbers.
It's so strong the V8 propels this two-ton package from zero to sixty in less than six seconds.
For a quick start, it snaps the neck and pins shoulders to the bucket. In a passing lane at highway pace, it still pounces on command and easily runs up to triple-digit autobahn speeds.
The new flagship of BMW was designed to dominate, either when in motion or static pose.
Wrapped in a new package that strays from the mold of previous BMW sedans, it looks bigger, stronger and more aggressive than the 740i.
The front hood rises higher but the prow tapers to narrow headlamp clusters flanking BMW's twin kidney grilles edged in chrome and appearing slightly lower and broader to fit the shallow stance of the prow.
Windshield rakes sharply rearward to disguise the volume of an expansive cabin but the roof is high before diving down to a high-deck tail.
Wheels stand out due to the scale, with 18-inch diameters the norm and 19-inch star-spoke alloys available.
High-strength steel makes up 85 percent of the structural system for 745i with spot-weld adhesives and conventional welds bonding steel on steel to forge a body that's extremely rigid and inherently strong.
The independent suspension mounts on aluminum subframes fore and aft and various components are also composed of aluminum to reduce the unsprung weight of the vehicle, which in turn enhances the ride quality and hones the handling ability.
Another high-tech suspension element -- Active Roll Stabilization -- works aggressively yet transparently to reduce body roll when the car rips around a tight corner.
Variable power assistance goes to the steering system through a rack and pinion system that feels firm yet reacts quickly to carve out precise turns.
And the brakes, with aluminum calipers and a disc at each wheel, measure larger than any ever employed in a production vehicle by BMW. Everything's tied to electronic controls, with brake proportioning and dynamic control, anti-lock action and a sophisticated stability control system to stem skidding and lateral slippage.
Driving the BMW flagship reveals it's in a class of its own: A large four-door luxury vehicle that delivers a smooth and cushy ride quality but can charge through a set of curves with the agility of a high-performing sports car.
A spacious cabin, lined with fine leather and trimmed in rich hardwoods, features a simplified dash design oriented around a center-mounted terminal display and a round joystick-style controller mounted at the front end of the center console's padded armrest.
The rotary joystick, acting like a computer mouse navigating through cyberspace, accesses various car controls as well as climate, navigation, audio and communication equipment.
BMW calls it the iDrive and developed the computer-based tool to simplify all car functions as well as eliminate a host of buttons and dials and dashboard clutter.
You can also use an interactive voice-recognition system to operate the telephone, climate system, radio and CD player, even the navigation plotter. First, though, you must learn programmed menu phrases to move through the voice commands, but then you can cruise along and simply ask the car to turn on the radio, for instance, or load a favorite CD, even tell it which track to play.
Seats for driver and the front passenger are contoured buckets designed for sporty action yet they're still extremely comfortable. An optional package adds more power controls to manipulate the seats, plus internal ventilator fans and gentle massage motions coming from deep within.
An amazing arsenal of safety features also lines the 745i, including multiple air bags ahead, beside and above the passengers. Rear side-impact air bags are available, as tied to rear head-protection air bags.
Price tags for 745i run up from a baseline of $68,495.
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| Vehicle Specifications: |
| 2002 BMW 745I Specs |
| Description: |
Full-size luxury sports sedan
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| Model Options: |
Full-size luxury sports sedan
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| Wheelbase: |
117.7 inches
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| Overall Length: |
198.0 inches
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| Engine Size: |
DOHC 4.4-L V8
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| Transmission: |
Auto/6
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| Drive: |
Rear
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| Braking: |
Power 4-disc
ABS/EBP/DBC/DTC/DSC
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| Airbags: |
2 (front) + 2 (side front)
+ 2 (head front)
+ opt. 2 (side rear)
and 2 (head rear)
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| Gas Mileage: |
18/26 mpg
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| Price: |
$ 68,495 to $ 84,145 |
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