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BMW 745LI: Portrait on the background of the pagodes

To evaluate the new limousine of the highest class of journalists invited to Thailand
For contrast, for the sake of exotic, but the company arranged a presentation of an elongated version of the 7th BMW series not in a native to Europe, but in the distant Thailand. With that, probably, super -assessment, so that invited journalists can evaluate little with the comparable comfort of the new BMW flagship against the background of sometimes shocking visiting Asian realities. Such, for example, the poverty of the main population of the country and the heat and humidity reigning here all year round.
The machine of the 7th series BMW (AI No. 2, 2001) already familiar to our reader received the LI index, which means an additional 14 centimeters of length. This is a lot or a little, mainly the rear passengers who value more comfort in the presidential place and are only occasionally transplanted to the driver's seat. Recall that in the previous test we noted: the design of the car and, above all, its massive silhouette evoke conflicting feelings.
The outlines of the car, which have not been too pleased with the fans of the former BMW series, do not personally cause me hostility. On the contrary, the elongated version looks, I would say more harmoniously and stylish. My subjective feeling was indirectly confirmed by company representatives, saying that it was this model that was supposed to become the flagship of the company, although it later appeared of an ordinary seven.
Unfortunately, even in an elongated version, the passenger does not have the opportunity to control the climate control, an audio system or a TV. He does not have access to the Idrive system, familiar in machines of this class, and in the headrests of the front seats we did not find liquid crystal screens. According to the creators of the car, annoying shortcomings will be corrected in the very near future, and they are explained only by the fact that this is the first batch of samples with the LI index.
In a country such as Thailand, where daily temperature rarely drops below 30 degrees with a relative humidity of 70 - 80%, especially appreciate the air conditioner. Without it, it is unbearably hot and, excuse me, Lipko, but the standard climate installation of the BMW in a couple of minutes creates a pleasant coolness even in the rear of the cabin. So on trips around the country and its capital, we were, as it were, isolated from the environment and contemplated it from silence and comfort.
A motorcade of black and one white BMW with a pair of journalists in each car decorously drove away from the hotel. The police escort accompanying the column overlapped the road to another transport and protected expensive cars and their contents from desperate Thai drivers, who absolutely do not bother themselves with compliance with the rules of the road. In a word, each of us was able to fully feel what it feels like to be a VIP person in Thailand. True, it became somewhat uncomfortable in the thought that it caused the next traffic jams, already paralyzing traffic in Bangkok.
You see the loading of the city right away. Old, one -story buildings are adjacent to the damaging and architecture skyscrapers. Antisanitaria on the streets is strikingly contrasting with the local hotels of the world class, where each of the service is obliged to bow and greet, only noticing you from afar. A wide river and numerous channels dissect Bangkok into countless islands. A huge herd of vehicles freeze on three-level road interchanges during peak hours, among which motorcycles, mopeds and local attraction-tuk-tacks, three-wheeled motor-rollers-taxi are snooping without interference. Many foreigners and locals prefer them - even in the heat in the open body it blows with the wind, and the Kamikaze drivers turn the path from point A and point B to an unforgettable, complete adventure.
The impression is that the city is never sleeping. At any time of the day, the traveler will always find something special for himself here. At night, when it becomes cooler, life is in full swing with a key, and in places of accumulation of tourists a huge number of street shops open. Souvenirs, including national, clothes, fake Rolex and much more can be purchased at prices that will seem just funny to any European ...
A separate story is Thai massage. If someone tells you that this is an erotic action, do not believe it. I assure you: not true, distributed by the Thais themselves to attract tourists. In fact, the real local massage is much more similar to what we call manual therapy. True, the therapy, which gives medieval torture is no longer so much manual, that is, manual as ... In general, according to your body, they literally walk with their feet and bend it like a bow. And you feel after an execution by some plasticine doll, a person without bones ...
After the Thai massage session and a brief acquaintance with the local climate, the spacious rear seat of the elongated BMW version turned out to be the most welcome place in the world. Having settled on it in a pleasant half -day, I almost missed the moment when we turned off the road and found ourselves at the airport, where we had to try out the car ourselves.
The character is the same, there are no changes
On the move, the elongated version is not much different from the standard 745th. And this is to some extent plus the car and the success of its creators. Although the extra 14 centimeters of the length should inevitably affect the running qualities of the machine, this did not happen, at least by my sensations. You perceive it exactly as the one already familiar in tests in Italy BMW, with the same running qualities. With a sharp acceleration, you simply flatten about the back of the chair, and if you do not turn the suspension into sport mode, then the body rolls in the turns will not seem small. As on the standard seven, the nature of the elongated option changes dramatically when all electronic systems are turned off. And in this hypostasis, the car passes a snake or a rearrangement on the airfield field with much smaller inclinations and more confidently. And the bagel showed that she still has a feedback and that she depends on the settings selected by the driver. The brakes left no doubt that they could quickly stop the car on any coating. Moreover, even on a steep turn, where Abs comes to the rescue.
Having played enough, we again comfortably settled down in the back seats, and we were already taken back to the city. This time without a motorcade. Now, the unable to restrained local population surrounded cars at every stop, and some local souvenirs and flowers tried to sell us. In general, trade, one might say, is the national passion of Thais. One has only to ask about any product, it doesn’t matter whether it is a bicycle or a plane, as you will definitely find it and offer to buy it. Moreover, as in any other Asian country, in no case should you agree with the named price, because, having bargained, you will halve it with a guarantee.
Flight
After half an hour, we drove into the territory of the military unit, where Bravo and with the singing of the Thai version did not cry, the girl ... The soldiers marched. As it turned out, the Bavarians decided to demonstrate that they are the best in everything, including in the organization of journalistic test drives. And they prepared for us the next adventure - now an aviation and fraud. As if four helicopters were waiting for real VIP-persons, which were called to deliver the group back to the hotel. Great and rare for tourists, the opportunity to look at Bangkok from a bird's eye view. Malaysian pilots, namely, hired them for a 40-minute air tour, excellently owning English, willingly agreed to deviate from the route in order to examine the capital of Thailand in more detail.
Having landed safely on a special helicopter platform near the city center, we moved to a boat, which already delivered us to the hotel. Here, on the riverbank, BMW staged an official dinner, which, undoubtedly, became the main decoration of which ... Prince Leopold Bavarian. The personality is legendary, a 59 -year -old man of real royal blood, 35 years old participating in automobile races, even for some time - even the factory driver of BMW. Having left the sports and test world, the prince now acts as the company's ambassador at its most important events, brilliantly performing this honorable representative function. Open for communication, extremely delicate, Leopold Bavarian with humor and genuine enthusiasm spoke about his driver's career and BMW cars.
The apotheosis of the holiday and presentation of the new car was the last surprise of the organizers. I don’t know what guests from other countries thought, but the Russians, alas, accustomed to such sounds, shuddered when a powerful explosion rang out nearby. Opposite the restaurant, in the middle of the river the letters BMW broke out and the fireworks began to amazing beauty. Having admired the spectacle, I thanked for all the owners in the person of BMW CEO Rusland Trading Mr. Wolfgang Shlimme and took a short interview from him.
- Mr. Shlimme, why did Thailand choose Thailand for the presentation of the elongated version of the BMW series?
- In my opinion, because the country is completely amazing both in color and in contrasts. I judge by my own impressions, because here I have been three or four times already. I am sure that the local test and the car itself will be remembered for a long time. In addition, Thailand is a rapidly developing market, like all of Asia. This will seem strange, but here they prefer the elongated version of the 7th BMW series, which is confirmed by all the experience of the previous generation machines.
- And what, in your opinion, are its prospects in Russia?
- Russian clients also prefer cars of this class. We assume that most of the cars sold 7th series will be with the LI index.
- When will the car appear at official dealers?
- I can say that in the very near future, already in the middle or at the end of spring. Unfortunately, I can’t call the exact price yet. This issue is now being discussed with our dealers, and soon the final decision will be made. However, without a doubt, the elongated version of the 7th series will cost customers more than a standard percent of ten or so. I note that there will be as much car in Moscow as, say, in St. Petersburg or in any other region of Russia. This is our pricing policy, and we are not going to change it.
Andrey Osipov
Bangkok Moscow

Source: "Automobile Izvestia"