Car and Driver: Four-Cylinder BMW 730i—It’s Not Coming Here, and We’re OK With That

In BMW’s new math, four goes into seven—at least in some cases. BMW is putting a four-cylinder engine in its flagship new 7-series, but it’s not for the U.S. market. Instead, it’s buyers in Turkey who will be able to choose the new 730i (not pictured), with its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 258 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Somehow, we’re not so envious.

The 730i costs the equivalent of $210,000 in Turkey. Like many nations outside the U.S., Turkey charges an annual tax based on engine capacity, and so a 4.4-liter V-8 is not in the cards in that country. China, according to BMW Blog, is also on the list for the 730i. A long-wheelbase 730Li (remember, all U.S. 7s are long, even without the L designation) and a 730d, with the 3.0-liter turbodiesel six from the outgoing 740Ld, are also available.

The new 730i is effectively our upcoming 740e only without the plug-in hybrid element, which boosts total output to 321 horsepower. While we’re sure a rear-wheel drive four-cylinder 730i would chop a bit off the 4883-pound curb weight of the 750i xDrive we tested, it’s still a big car with a small engine.

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• New BMW 7-series Plug-In Hybrid Packs a Four-Cylinder-
• BMW 7-series Full Coverage: Tests, Reviews, Specs, Pricing, and More-
• Comparison Test: 2011 Audi A8L vs. BMW 750Li, Jaguar XJL-

Mercedes-Benz and Audi don’t offer four-cylinder engines in their flagship sedans, but Jaguar does. In India, Turkey, and a few other markets, the XJ comes standard with a 2.0-liter turbo four that makes 240 horsepower. Here in the States, the closest equivalent might be the Cadillac CT6, which comes with a 265-hp 2.0-liter turbo four—along with a more powerful V-6 and a twin-turbo V-6.

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