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On its India website, BMW lists about 28 models across saloons, sedans, SUVs, coupés, and a convertible. There is no hatchback in this lineup because, at the premium end of the scale, hatchbacks are notoriously difficult to sell. In terms of powertrains, the products are split among diesel and petrol engines, plug-in hybrids, and battery electric vehicles.
Narrowing it down to just five was no mean feat, but here we are giving it a stab anyway.
In the age of SUVs, the BMW 7 Series continues to hold its own and is the only four-door saloon car, or sedan, to make it to this list. Its classic three-box silhouette not only makes it look elegant but also ensures a certain timelessness to its appeal. The choice of those who are at the very pinnacle of success, the venerable 7 Series, which starts at Rs 1.83 crore, is rivalled only by the Mercedes-Benz S Class and the Audi A8L.
In India, the 7 Series is available with two internal combustion powertrain options in addition to an all-electric version. The diesel variant is powered by a 286hp 650Nm twin turbocharged 6-cylinder engine that can push this stately car from 0-100kmph in 5.8 seconds. The petrol-powered car features a 3-litre twin-turbo 6-cylinder engine with 381hp and 520Nm.
At the very top of this chain is the sporty form of the EV version of the 7 Series – the i7M, which has a 650hp motor with more than 1000Nm of torque on offer. The i7M breaches the 100kmph barrier in just 3.7 seconds on its way to an electronically limited top speed of 250kmph.
Of the two coupés featured in this list, the M8 Competition Coupé sits above the other and keeps it simple with its offer of a single powertrain option. Under that muscular bonnet hides a straight eight petrol engine with twin turbochargers, pushing our 625hp and 750Nm of peak torque. Watch yourself blitz the 100kmph marker in about 3.2 seconds, while you’re ensconced in the comfort of leather Merino and Alcantara blended upholstery, listening to your favourite tunes from the Harman Kardon music system with Surround Sound. It also gets an M Sport exhaust and an Active M differential and configurable M brakes that offer the driver two pedal feel settings – Comfort and Sport.
If you think that nearly two and a half crore is too much for a car with just a couple of doors, you could also pick the BMW M4 CS. Power comes from a smaller 6-cylinder petrol engine with twin turbochargers. Peak output is 550hp and 650Nm of maximum torque. Styled to offer the sportiest experience, both on regular roads as well as on race tracks, the M4 CS is a sports car par excellence, with some interesting paint options.
The iX appeals to those with a taste for luxury, a desire for the flexibility of an SUV, but with a stronger-than-usual penchant for technology. One of the key draws is the iX’s futuristic interior with the 12.3” information display merging with the 14.9” control display to form a single screen designed to create the impression of a floating curved screen on the dashboard.
The theme inside is minimalist and is pared down to just the essential elements. Nothing here is over the top. It is all electric and all wheel drive. Peak output is 523hp and 0-100km/h is done in 4.6 seconds, but that’s not why you’d want the iX. You want this one for the sheer level of refinement it brings to your travel experience with its silent powertrain and air suspension. And of course, the superb design that not only makes it look stunning but also makes it incredibly aerodynamic with a drag coefficient of 0.25.
The BMW XM is a plug-in hybrid SUV that uses a petrol engine in combination with an electric motor to produce 653hp. With power being transmitted to all four wheels, the XM goes from 0 to 100km/h in 4.3 seconds. It takes around three hours for the 25.7kWh battery to charge fully, and BMW claims it can do an astounding 69 kilometres for every litre of petrol while emitting just about 36.5g of CO2 per kilometre travelled.
Visually, it stands out with its unique gold bevel around the cabin windows and the iconic kidney grille up front. It also features 22” alloy wheels with double spokes and a unique bicolour finish. Topped up with BMW Gesture Control, Connected package Professional, massage seats up front, Parking Assistant Plus, and a whole host of other functions, the XM is then quite the proposition for those who stand at the crossroads of the old world of internal combustion and the new order represented by EV.