The BMW 7-Series is smart to pick its fights mostly with the Mercedes S-Class and Audi A8.
Today's S-Class looks imposing, but doesn't quite have its styling act honed.
Its AMG-gone-wild editions one-up the BMW's lightly done Alpina edition.
The next Audi A8 gains some distinction, but we have serious reservations about its Palm Pilot-like controller for audio and navigation.
The Jaguar XJ is the sexy alternative, radically removed from its stuffy past with an aero body, a swinging new interior, and amazing backseat room.
Remove the backseat, make it even more gorgeous and expensive, and you have the utterly fantastic but impractical Aston Martin Rapide.
Want tire-smoking performance and backseat space, but don't care much about aesthetic perfection? The Porsche Panamera hits all those notes, with a 0-60 mph time of about 3.3 seconds for Turbo models.
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 2010 BMW 7-SeriesBrowse Used Listings |  2011 Audi A8Browse Used Listings |  2011 Jaguar XJBrowse Used Listings |  2010 Mercedes-Benz S ClassBrowse Used Listings |  2010 Porsche PanameraBrowse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | ||||
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Call us converts: The latest 2010 BMW 7-Series turns our eyes more than ever and drives with real big-guy brio. |
Suave styling, an impeccable cabin, innovative cabin tech, and a lean, athletic driving feel earn the 2011 Audi A8 a spot in the top tier. |
The 2011 Jaguar XJ severs ties with its past, and rocks a mod new look that suits its dynamic personality. |
The 2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class goes from exclusive to earth-friendly to exotically fast-in just a couple hundred thousand dollars. |
The 2010 Porsche Panamera weds astonishing performance to remarkable interior space, but its styling doesn't quite gel. |
| MSRP From | ||||
| $82,000 | $78,050 | $72,700 | $87,950 | $89,800 |
| Gas Mileage | ||||
| 13 MPG City / 22 MPG Hwy | 16 MPG City / 27 MPG Hwy | 15 MPG City / 23 MPG Hwy | 11 MPG City / 25 MPG Hwy | 15 MPG City / 24 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | ||||
| Turbocharged Gas V8 | Gas V8 | Gas V8 | Gas/Electric V6 | Gas V8 |
| EPA Class | ||||
| Large | Large | Large Car | Large Car | - TBD - |
| Style Name | ||||
| 4-Door Sedan 750i RWD | 4-Door Sedan | 4-Door Sedan | 4-Door Sedan S 400 Hybrid RWD | 4-Door HB S |
| Drivetrain | ||||
| Rear Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | ||||
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Passenger Doors | ||||
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | ||||
| 4-Door Sedan | 4 Door Sedan | 4 Door Sedan | 4 Door Sedan | 4 Door Hatchback |
| Transmission | ||||
| Automatic | Automatic | Automatic w/OD | Automatic | PDK Automatic |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | ||||
| 2010 BMW 7-Series vs. 2011 Audi A8 | 2010 BMW 7-Series vs. 2011 Jaguar XJ | 2010 BMW 7-Series vs. 2010 Mercedes-Benz S Class | 2010 BMW 7-Series vs. 2010 Porsche Panamera | |
