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The previous BMW 7 Series was the best-selling 7 Series yet. It was also widely considered to be the worst-looking BMW ever. When this ungainly sedan supplanted the timelessly elegant fourth-generation 7 Series in 2002, it was as if the clock had struck midnight and BMW's gilded stagecoach had been transformed into a lowly pumpkin. Happily, the brain trust in Bavaria has waved its magic wand over the all-new 2009 BMW 750i. With its imposing curbside presence, taut proportions and classic BMW styling cues, the 7 no longer has an exterior only a fairy godmother could love.
As much as we applaud the 7 Series' classy makeover, though, superior engineering may trump stately styling in this segment. For evidence, look no further than the outgoing 7 Series' strong sales — or the handsome Audi A8's lack thereof. Executive sedan shoppers want more than just a pretty face, and with prices starting around $80,000 and escalating quickly, we don't blame them. On this count, too, the news for the 750i is good. The eerily quiet twin-turbo V8 provides bullet-train acceleration, the Sport package gives the 750i the athletic character of a performance car, the interior reeks of quality and sophistication, and the technological features list is as long as an Oktoberfest beer queue.