Orlando Sentinel's view

If I had about $10 billion to start my own car company, one of the firstthings I would do is go out and buy one of every new BMW model.

Then I would hire the best engineers money could buy andorder them to takeapart those BMWs to find out what makes them tick.

If you ask people in the auto industry which companies they think are doingthings right these days, they’ll likely say Chrysler and BMW.

BMW’s purchase of Britain’s Rover Group last year was a stroke ofbrilliance. BWM doubled its size overnight and beat archrival Mercedes-Benzinto the sport-utility market with Rover’s Land Rover and Range Rover off-roadvehicles.

While all that was going on, BMW didn’t take its eye off its core products;it rolled out an all-new version of the 7-Series luxury/sports sedan.

This isn’t just another new BMW. The 740i I tested is the best car BMW hasbuilt.

The way I see it, new 740i is the prototype sports sedan – the goldstandard from which other upper-end sports sedanswill be compared.

PERFORMANCE

The 1995 740i is a masterpiece in engineering and technology.

A powerful 4.0-liter, 32-valve, 282-horsepower aluminum V-8 is boltedneatly under the beautifullysculpted hood of the 740i. This engine runs withLexuslike smoothness while delivering neck-snapping performance. It’sdefinitely an iron fist in a velvet glove as far as engines go.

Although thissports sedan weighs 4,145 pounds – about 500 pounds more thanthe new Lexus LS 400 – it can outrun the new Lexus to 60 mph. BMW says the740i can reach 60 in just 7 seconds; that’s about half a secondfaster thanthe LS 400.

During one week and about 350 miles, our dark blue test car proved to be apulse-quickening, thrilling mount.

All 740is are built with an innovative five-speed automatictransmissionthat programs the timing of the shifts to the driving style of the driver.

Flooring the accelerator in this car ranks as one of the most uniquedriving experiences I can recall. Computers monitoring the engine andtransmission take over to deliver maximum thrust. Shifts are seamless, and thecar rockets into flight in a smooth, controlled and powerful way.

I particularly like the shifter, with its wood-covered handle andstraight-line shift gate.

HANDLING

The 740i’s ride is an awesome balance between sport and luxury – maybe thebest I have encountered in a four-doorsedan.

Over the road this BMW is as quiet and refined as the Lexus LS 400, yet itis a true BMW at heart.

Finesse under duress is the way I would describe the 740i’s fluid ride andprecision handling.

The feel and response of the steering, suspension and brake systems giveyou supreme confidence in the car’s engineering. In a way, the 740icommunicates to you when you push the car hard. Somehow you just know by theway the 740i reacts to curves and hard braking that it was designed to takeBMW’s ”ultimate driving machine” philosophy to a higher level.

BMW equippe d the 740i with four-wheel independent suspension. However,unlike other cars, the suspension system is not bolted directly to the chassisof the car. Instead, the front and rear suspension systems are bolted tosubframes, which are then mounted to the car. The 740i also uses innovative”twin-tube” gas-pressure shocks and a patented integral rear suspension. BMWsays the body is 70 percent stiffer than last year’s model.

I drove the 740i as aggressively as the law allows and discovered that itsbody won’t lean and its tires won’t squeal no matter how hard you push it.

The brakes are the best in the business. I’ve always admired BMW’s grasp ofbraking technology. For me, a set of powerful four-wheel anti-lock disc brakesare essential on a high-performance automobile.

FIT AND FINISH

The 740i is a superbly designed and assembled automobile.

Our test car came loaded with high-tech user-friendly features that madethis sophisticated automobile easy to operate. P>I’ve driven BMWs that wereso loade d with buttons and switches that itoverloaded my senses to the point of angry confusion. But the car can bemastered without opening the owners manual.

Controls for the radio, telephoneand air conditioner and cruise controlare mounted on the steering wheel.

Some of the lesser-used radio controls are hidden under a flip-up panel inthe center of the dash. This feature gives the dash a more streamlinedappearance. A gorgeous plank of wood runs the width of the dash, adding atouch of class.

With the electrically adjustable (in and out, up and down) steering wheel,BMW engineers swiped an idea from Lexus. But so what? It works well.

The full set of white-on-black analog gauges are traditional BMW. They arenot overly stylish – rather they are cleanly designed for a quick read.

BMW engineers have outfitted the 740i with a superb set of leather-coveredbucket seats, chairs that can be adjusted (electrically, of course) in everydirection.

Rear seat room – head, leg and foot – should be more than adequate forlarge adults.

I noticed that the materials for the carpet, headliner, dash, seats anddoor panels and other parts were made of attractive, highly durable materials.

The 740i is fast, fun and high quality sports sedan with a price that isguaranteed to turn heads. No matter how you judge this car, it comes out awinner.

Truett’s tip: The all-new BMW 740i sets the standard for large luxury/sports sedans in every area – handling, performance, quality and, most importantly, value.