When BMW Individual releases a new model for the world to see, we know that with the design, craftsmanship and overall love put into every inch of the automobile, it will be extraordinary. Celebrating 25 years, BMW Individual has worked with Nautor’s Swan in Finland to design this M760Li that is simply beautiful.
This model is especially interesting to me as I traveled to Finland a few years ago, and spent several days getting to know the team at Nautor’s Swan, and quickly came to appreciate the great lengths that the designers and builders go to when creating these amazing sailing yachts. Coincidentally, I also spent time that week learning how to maneuver when driving on ice thanks to a performance driving instruction with the team from BMW. When two great brands that believes in finding inventive ways to provide their consumers with faster, safer and more beautiful products come together, this is the result – a high performance automobile that is as sleek and fast as it is luxurious. Here are all the details of this BMW Individual M760Li inspired by Nautor’s Swan.
Luxury and High Performance: Nautor’s Swan
Over the past 50 years, the renown of Nautor’s Swan has spread beyond the world of sailing, and is understood to be synonymous with luxurious, high-performance yachts. BMW and the Finnish yacht designer and manufacturer share a partnership of many years’ standing. The two brands appear together at prestigious regattas such as “Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez”.
This cooperation has produced a one-off model to celebrate the 25th anniversary of BMW Individual, combining the best of both worlds. The result: The BMW top model M760Li xDrive V12 Excellence, inspired by a glamorous sailing yacht.
Yachting Inspiration
A brief glance is enough to reveal the yachting inspiration behind the unique BMW Individual M760Li inspired by Nautor’s Swan. Cooperation partner Nautor’s Swan produced some elements for this special model by hand at their workshop in western Finland. These include teak panels with joints filled precisely with a fine layer of rubber. This allows the wood to expand and contract with changing temperatures. This is particularly sensible for the deck on a yacht – but also in a car. That is why this carbon-bonded wooden component graces the trunk floor in the BMW Individual M760Li inspired by Nautor’s Swan. The trunk of the car is also intricately fitted out in Alcantara Smoke White.
The interior trims, entry sills and floor mats are also made with teak, and they have been produced by Nautor’s Swan. You can feel and see the yachting flair in every inch. This is enhanced by the presence of the Finnish brand’s insignia. The Nautor’s Swan signet is stitched into the headrests and cushions. It also adorns the sun visors and interior trims made of European oak on the driver’s side and the central console.
Elegant and Discreet Exterior Design Details
The cooperation between the two brands is also apparent on the exterior. The brake calipers on the BMW Individual M760Li, which are exclusively finished in the same color as the car, each bear a sublime, raised Swan logo, which is manufactured in an extra procedure. The trunk lid of the car is also decorated with the Nautor’s Swan arrow, which is usually found on the side of the yachts. By way of analogy, the side of the car features a coachline, underlining its luxury quality.
Based on the BMW M760Li xDrive Luxury Limousine
The starting point for such a special car was the already impressive BMW M760Li xDrive V12 Excellence. It has an exterior finished in the special BMW Individual color damask red and a two-tone fine-grain Merino leather interior in smoke white and Criollo brown. The same is true of other features finished in leather, such as the footrests in the back of the car. BMW Individual takes the full leather interior to the next level, integrating top-quality BMW leather varieties into the trims for the A and B pillars, seat trims, door sills and the side covers for the instrument panel. The vehicle manual is also produced inside the Manufaktur and bound in Criollo brown Merino leather.
Sporty Street Performance with Maximum Comfort
The BMW Individual M760Li inspired by Nautor’s Swan special model is just as impressive on the road. An M Performance TwinPower Turbo 12-cylinder petrol engine provides plenty of drive. A cubic capacity of 6.6 liters allows the engine to perform at 448 kW/610 hp and provides maximum torque of 800 Nm. The high- performance engine lets the car accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds.
In conjunction with the modern 8-gear Steptronic Sport transmission, the matchless characteristics of the V12 engine provides plenty of sporty yet controlled thrust. The innovative Executive Drive Pro chassis system also combines remarkable driving dynamism with maximum driving comfort. As you would expect from such a high-quality car, the on-board technology is also state-of-the-art. Semi- automated driving, touch display and BMW Gesture Control are just three of the technical highlights of this unique part of BMW’s history.
The BMW Individual M760Li inspired by Nautor’s Swan celebrates its debut at the Frankfurt International Motor Show on September 12, 2017. This automobile is sure to be the hit of the show!
