Driving the BMW 740Le xDrive iPerformance in Dhaka

BMW 740Le xDrive iPerformance
BMW 740Le xDrive iPerformance

The BMW 7 Series has been the brand’s flagship model since the late seventies. It appeals to an audience with a taste for luxury. The recent introduction of a plug-in hybrid electric variant widened the car’s appeal by delivering new levels of efficiency and driving experience. The BMW 740Le xDrive iPerformance, in particular, combines a powerful petrol engine with an efficient electric motor to make it an elegant, swift and sustainable addition to the 7 Series family.

The right companion
Driving in Dhaka can be an eye-opening experience for the newcomer. Most of the drives are usually in start-stop traffic, where slow driving conditions are the norm. But the BMW 740Le xDrive iPerformance is right at home in these conditions. It delivers a comfortable and silent ride that assures maximum efficiency, seldom requiring the assistance of the petrol engine for a boost. The electric motor is more than sufficient to drive to work every day.

An electrifying ride
The car’s intelligent energy management optimises the interplay of the combustion engine and electric motor. The electric boost function provides a noticeable increase in dynamic vigour – expressed most prominently by the car’s instantaneous acceleration, for example. The car’s electric-assist function enhances efficiency and offers the opportunity to drive through town on electric power alone – combining a refreshing drive experience with a sense of responsibility towards the environment.

Class-leading comfort
Nappa leather and a variety of inlays such as wood and aluminum embellish the cabin’s surfaces to give the interior a touch of refinement that would impress anyone. On the spacious front, the cabin is light and airy. This must be the result of having the Sky Lounge Panorama glass roof overhead. While on-the-go, driving the car is always a pleasure with its 14-way power adjustable heated leather seats aided by the four-zone climate control. Rear occupants are also pampered in this car. Apart from the massage function built into the seats, they can also adjust the temperature to their preferred levels.

Good looks
The M Sport package shifts the focus to the exceptional dynamics of the car. Its powerful appearance is evident from the sporty design of the front apron on the exterior or the optional headliner in Alcantara anthracite in the interior. What is most impressive is the BMW Individual Collection. On top of the soft leathers and fine wood trims, the brilliance, luminosity and effect of the paint finishes make the car stand out even more. All these elements combine to make the 7 Series truly a part of the discerning owner’s personality.

Green business class
The BMW 740Le xDrive iPerformance is sleek, luxurious and packed with innovative features – common traits that date back through the generations. This is a technological tour de force that pioneers future technologies in a car available today. Built for calm, agile, urban driving, the car is arguably one of the most entertaining luxury sedans to drive; the steering is responsive and engaging even when driven swiftly on challenging roads, like in Bangladesh, and incredibly smooth and hushed at motorway speeds. All these benefits now come in an eco-friendly package, what more can we ask for?

* The writer is co-founder and trustee of the Samdani Art Foundation, chairman of Gulf International Finance Limited, UAE and managing director of Golden Harvest Group