BMW muscles into the super sedan market with new flagship 7 Series

On March 1 at the Geneva motor show BMW will take the wraps off a luxury executive car with a twin-turbocharged V12 engine under its aggressive hood and 600hp going to all four wheels.

The BMW M760Li xDrive V12 is the first car ever to come from the company with a twin-turbo M Performance 12-cylinder engine.

Although the company's ‘M' division has carte blanche on smaller models -- the M2, M3, M4, M5 and M6 -- the flagship sedan historically has remained out of reach. The logic being that a car that large and comfortable should be about smooth rather than hair-raising performance.

However, the new model, set to debut in Geneva is certain to raise hair and one or two eyebrows due to its vital statistics. As well as 600hp on tap, the car, which is over 5m long and 1.9m wide can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 3.9 seconds and can potentially break the 200mph barrier. Its speed will be electronically restricted in some territories.

As well as permanent four-wheel drive, the car's handling and performance is aided by a much more aggressive external aerodynamics package, while inside, the designers have found a balance between sport and comfort through choices of materials and textures.

However, BMW knows that while many will want the 600hp on tap, not all clients will want to drive like they're on the circuit every day and so the car will also be offered with an Excellence Design package which tones down the external spoilers and turns up the internal luxury.

Prices, options and availability for the new flagship M760Li xDrive V12 will be announced towards the end of 2016.