Tested: 2017 BMW M760i xDrive

There has been a change of heart in Bavaria. After decades of keeping its 7-series full-size sedan far away from the M division (except for mostly visual M Sport packages), BMW finally has affixed an M badge to its largest sedan. Several M badges, actually鈥攚e counted 12 but may have missed a few.

Even festooned with badges, the M760i is not a full M creation along the lines of the M3 or the M5. Instead, it slots into the same M-adjacent lineup (BMW calls it M Performance) populated by the M240i, the X4 M40i, and the M550i. Even so, it sits atop the 7-series price ladder and is powered by a V-12. But this is a significant departure from the previous V-12鈥損owered 760i, a stretched, hedonistic sedan with little interest in sporting delights.

Perhaps BMW was starting to feel threatened by longtime tuner Alpina. The tuning outfit鈥檚 latest take on the 7-series, the B7, is a beast of a sedan with a twin-turbo V-8 making an even 600 horsepower. As such, BMW鈥檚 decision to tune the M760i鈥檚 twin-turbocharged 6.6-liter V-12 to exactly 601 horsepower seems a transparent strategy to keep the factory offering atop the pecking order. We鈥檙e not complaining, though鈥攏ot when this glorious 12-cylinder serves up just about the smoothest 590 lb-ft of torque imaginable at a deliciously low 1550 rpm (that鈥檚 1450 rpm sooner than the Alpina鈥檚 590 lb-ft come on board).

Clich茅s about velvet and silk don鈥檛 quite capture how effortlessly this V-12 delivers its thrust. A long-travel accelerator pedal makes it easy to roll onto the power gradually, while Sport mode quickens responses without feeling abrupt. Our only complaint is the amplified noise coming through the speakers. Note to BMW: Let this Beyonc茅-caliber V-12 sing in its natural voice rather than relying on Auto-Tune.

With a standard eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive putting the torque to the ground, the M760i charges hard, reaching 60 mph from rest in a scant 3.5 seconds and going on to hit the century mark in 7.9 seconds. Its quarter-mile result of 11.7 seconds at 123 mph rivals a 707-hp Hellcat鈥檚. It can鈥檛 quite match the Alpina鈥檚 results, however, as the V-12鈥檚 1-hp advantage was not enough to overcome its 202-pound weight penalty, causing the M760i to lag behind the amazing B7 by 0.1 second to 60 mph and through the quarter-mile.

The added mass of four more cylinders and additional luxury equipment also hampered the big BMW鈥檚 handling performance compared with the Alpina. Still, its 0.94-g orbit around the skidpad can be considered a veritable middle finger to physics. Both were tested with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires, but the Alpina, with slightly wider tires versus the M760i鈥檚 rubber, pulled an even more absurd 0.97 g. Massive brakes bring both sedans to a halt from 70 mph in a short 151 feet, with no hint of fade.

For all its awesomeness at the track, the M760i is still happy to play the role of limousine, especially in its default Comfort mode. The combination of slow and syrupy steering, pillowy air springs, and a hushed powertrain makes for a convincing Rolls-Royce impression (no surprise, considering this V-12 is similar to the one that BMW-owned Rolls installs in the Ghost). Even on 20-inch wheels wrapped with high-performance tires, the ride is sublime and almost eerily quiet. The massive low-end torque allows you to waft around effortlessly without cresting 3000 rpm.

Switching into Sport mode wakes up the throttle response and the transmission; suddenly, the V-12 feels eager to rev to its 7000-rpm redline. The suspension also tightens up and does an effective job of masking the M760i鈥檚 prodigious weight, with body roll becoming nearly nonexistent. Although the steering can be overly heavy in this mode and remains devoid of feel, the car handles deftly, and one can get into a rhythm through corners.

As with Mercedes-AMG鈥檚 V-12鈥損owered 65 models, the case for the 12-cylinder engine is more about exclusivity than about outright performance. Accordingly, the M760i xDrive鈥檚 base price of $156,495 (which includes a $1700 gas-guzzler tax) sits at the apex of the lineup. Not only is it nearly $17,000 more expensive than the Alpina B7, it鈥檚 the most expensive BMW available in the United States, topping even the i8 hybrid sports car.

Our test car鈥檚 exclusivity was raised further with the addition of the striking, special-order-only Frozen Dark Brown Metallic matte-paint option for a cool $5200. Other options included $900 for a panoramic sunroof, $3400 for a Bowers & Wilkins stereo, $4000 for upgraded leather, and a combined $7550 for the Luxury Rear Seating package and Rear Executive Lounge seating, consisting of a pair of heated, ventilated, massaging thrones with entertainment screens.

Yet, even at $179,595 as tested, this 7-series almost looks like a bargain next to its closest competitor, the Mercedes-AMG S65, which carries a base price of nearly $230,000. Of course, a higher entry fee might actually be a selling point in these upper echelons. Maybe an M760i is just the machine if you simply must show your neighbor鈥檚 Alpina B7 who鈥檚 boss. To maintain the order of things as BMW sees it, all you鈥檒l have to do is avoid any stoplight drag races.

SPECIFICATIONS

2017 BMW M760i xDrive

VEHICLE TYPEfront-engine, all-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 4-door sedan

PRICE AS TESTED$179,595 (base price: $156,495)

ENGINE TYPEtwin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 48-valve V-12, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injectionDisplacement402 in3, 6592 cm3Power601 hp @ 5500 rpmTorque590 lb-ft @ 1550 rpm

TRANSMISSION8-speed automatic with manual shifting mode

DIMENSIONSWheelbase: 126.4 inLength: 206.2 inWidth: 74.9 in Height: 58.2 inPassenger volume: 115 ft3Trunk volume: 18 ft3Curb weight: 5101 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS Zero to 60 mph: 3.5 sec Zero to 100 mph: 7.9 sec Zero to 130 mph: 13.1 sec Zero to 150 mph: 18.3 sec Rolling start, 5-60 mph: 4.0 sec Top gear, 30-50 mph: 2.4 sec Top gear, 50-70 mph: 2.4 sec Standing 录-mile: 11.7 sec @ 123 mph Top speed (governor limited): 154 mph Braking, 70-0 mph: 151 ft Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.94 g

FUEL ECONOMY EPA combined/city/highway: 16/13/20 mpgC/D observed: 16 mpgC/D observed 75-mph highway driving: 24 mpgC/D observed highway range: 490 mi

c/d testing explained

Despite being raised on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas鈥攐r perhaps because of it鈥擩oey Capparella nonetheless cultivated an obsession for the automotive industry throughout his childhood in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led him to move to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional auto-writing gig at Automobile Magazine. He has been part of the Car and Driver team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.