SOME of those who have enjoyed the BMW 7 Series Privileges Programme may have also have enjoyed driving the BMW 740Li.

Unlike the entry-level 730i with its inline six-cylinder engine, the 740Li has a V8 under the hood. This power plant is a perfectly balanced gem which emits just the right amount of engine snarl to remind you that you don't always have to drive it sedately. Although it is a long-wheelbase limousine, the 740Li can be wonderfully entertaining.

The steering is crisp and accurate, and together with the sporty chassis, imbue the 5.2-metre long car with class-leading agility. The V8 is also noteworthy for its good low-end torque, which allows the two-tonne car to literally leap forward as soon as the acceleration pedal is depressed.

There is very little about its onroad behaviour to remind you that this is a large car. Enter a curve at high speed and this executive express remains unruffled as it exits with minimal body roll. But the 740Li was also conceived as a comfortable limousine. The L in 740Li refers to the longer wheelbase, which is 138 mm or about five-and-a-half inches more than a standard wheelbase car. The extra legroom for those in the back comes with footrests, which should be appreciated unless the occupant is vertically challenged.

A six-disc DVD changer is located in the boot so that rear seat passengers can view their preferred entertainment on their individual monitors using wireless headphones and a remote control. The monitors may not be the most elegantly designed on the market but they seem unobtrusive enough.

Also standard for the 740Li model and upwards is a rear-view camera - perfect for reversing and parking manoeuvres.

BMW 740Li
Engine: 4,000cc V8
Gearbox: 6-speed Steptronic transmission
Max power: 306 hp @ 6,300 rpm Max torque: 390 Nm @ 3,500 rpm
0-100 kmh: 6.9 secs
Top speed: 250 kmh
Price: $318,800 (with COE)
Distributor: Performance Motors. Tel: 6319-0100