Thu, 12 Feb 2004

BMW 730 Li on sale for those who want a taste of luxury

Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The party mood that filled the air at the beginning of this year was utilized by the German carmaker BMW to launch its latest 7 Series model, the four-door BMW 730 Li recently.

PT BMW Indonesia used the party atmosphere, which included the provision of cigars and cognac, to officially launch the car here at a cafe in Kemang, South Jakarta.

The company, a wholly owned subsidiary of BMW AG, had launched BMW 735 Li in November 2002 and last June introduced its BMW 760 Li, the so-called masterpiece of the 7 Series.

"Our aim is to increase the 7 Series volume in Indonesia and strengthen our position in the top luxury segment," PT BMW Indonesia financial director Bernhard Peltner said during the launch.

"The 7 Series range is now more accessible to those who fancy a luxury BMW."

BMW 730 Li uses a six-cylinder 3,000cc in-line engine delivering maximum power of 215 horsepower (hp) at 5,800 revolutions per minute (rpm) and maximum torque of 300 Newton meter at 3,500 rpm.

For comparison, BMW 735 Li uses an eight-cylinder 3,500 cc in- line engine and BMW 760 Li uses a V-12 5,972cc engine.

The newly introduced car can reach speeds of up to 240 kilometers per hour (kph) while acceleration from zero to 100 kph can be reached in 8.7 seconds.

The front design particularly focuses on the kidney grille and dual headlights that blend with the dynamic lines of the engine compartment.

The dynamic lines continue to the baggage compartment giving the vehicle a sportier look. Meanwhile, BMW's star-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels with 245/50 R18 tires provide an imposing stance.

As for the interior, BMW's image of luxury and craftsmanship is represented by all-leather Nasca upholstery and fine wood trim.

The cockpit is simplified to minimize the complexity of control panels with all driving functions located in the area surrounding the steering wheel.

Frequently used basic functions are located on the instrument panel while less frequently used functions are pooled in the iDrive controller.

Just like other BMW cars, the 730 Li comes with standard safety features such as dynamic stability control (DCS) ensuring optimum levels of traction and lateral grip in extreme situations, antilock braking system (ABS), dynamic brake control (DBC) and parking distance control (PDC).

BWM 730 Li uses Xenon lights for both the high and low beam lights increasing illumination at night and in poor weather.

The vehicle also comes with a new system to activate its 10 air bags, belt latch tensioners, front and rear crumple zone, crash sensor and electronic vehicle immobilizer.

The 730 Li is priced at Rp 1.3 billion (US$155,000) including a two-year warranty and the newly introduced BMW Service Inclusive offering free maintenance and service for five years or 100,000 kilometers.

The 735 Li is priced at Rp 1.885 billion and 760 Li is Rp 3.3 billion.

"Customer satisfaction is our main focus. PT BMW Indonesia is committed to providing the best after-sales services," said Peltner.