Normally the BMW 7 Series doesn’t really compare to any car from Porsche’s range. That’s because the Stuttgart-based manufacturer doesn’t really cater to the needs of high-ranking officials and their comfortable-cruising demands. If Porsche appeals to successful CEOs, it does so with its 911 Turbo or Turbo S models, for when they want to blow off some steam. However, the guys from Autocar decided to pit the ultra-fast BMW M760Li xDrive against the newly released Porsche Panamera Turbo.
The two are not direct rivals, as I already said, but they are both four-seat, luxurious limousines with way too much power under the hood. Therefore, to some extent they could be compared but while the BMW aims at offering both a comfortable cruise – and one of the best in the business at that – and a sporty character when one feels adventurous, the Panamera is more of the latter. The Turbo model that was just launched earlier this year comes with a new 4-liter V8 engine making some 550 HP.
That’s more than enough but the Turbo S comes with even more grunt under the hood and all-wheel drive, just like the car we’re looking at here today. Therefore, in a straight line, from standstill, the Panamera is rocket fast, the specs claiming it will do 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds with the Chrono package. On the other hand, the extra-long Bimmer does the same sprint in a claimed 3.7 seconds. Therefore, the two should be really close.
The thing is, the end result of the drag race shows the difference to be close to non-existent. Throughout the race, the M760Li xDrive stays right next to the Porsche in terms of acceleration. From the get go, the Panamera is 0.3 seconds faster to 60 mph but what’s interesting is that up to the top speed of each car, the difference is maintained. That’s quite something considering how much heavier, roomier and longer the BMW is. As an interesting personal note, the M760Li xDrive doesn’t even seem to have launched properly but I’m sure the guys did several takes to see exactly how big the difference between the two is.
