Motoring Editor Malcom Baylis cocoons himself inside the new BMW High Security 7-Series, secure in the knowledge that occupants are safe from bullets and grenades.

IT takes more than a quick glance to see that the new BMW 7 Series has had more than a nip- and-tuck operation performed on it.

While clearly keeping the unique identity that has proved so popular during the last three-and-a-half years, a closer look reveals a totally new shape that carries none of the exterior bodywork from the previous model.

Its overall looks are a lot softer, certainly more acceptable, and the obvious changes include reshaped headlight clusters, and a wider kidney grille, introduced partly for aesthetic reasons, but also to provide extra cooling for the range of new and more powerful engines.

The front bumper has been given a new look, too, mainly to give the car a more powerful stance on the road, while the front spoiler and lower air intakes have also been changed for increased aerodynamics. The bonnet is bigger, with a subtle power bulge.

Other touches that influence the overall look include giving the side and lower valance a design crease, which, according to the designers, plays light and shade and adds to the definition of the overall shape.

There are three new styles of optional alloy wheels available, and to accentuate the look of the wheel, the back bumper wraparound is slightly narrower.

In addition, the continuous red strip, which used to run along the boot lid to connect the two rear light clusters, has gone, replaced by a chrome strip.

Inside the car, the differences are hard to find, the most obvious the reshaped steering wheel and several of the control knobs now have a chrome surround. The iDrive controller, the nerve centre for audio, navigation, telephone and all round info, has been given a leather insert, which in itself does not seem to do much for the car.

However, prospective buyers will be able to choose from 23 combinations of interior colours and five different types of trim. There will be 12 different exterior colours available, too.

To keep ahead of the competition, there are five engine variants for the moment, with four petrol and one diesel - the £47,500 730d - which so far has accounted for more than half the sales. In the latest version, the straight-six engine has been completely rebuilt with the crankcase now made of aluminium, which reduces engine weight by 20kgs. The induction process has also been refined with the fuel-air mix now being fed to the combustion chamber via piezo crystal injectors working in conjunction with a new generation of turbochargers.

The end result is greater power for less fuel, cleaner exhaust emissions and a reduction in engine noise. Output is increased by six per cent to 231bhp to give a 0-62mph time of 7.8-seconds and a top speed of 149mph.

On the petrol front too, there are significant changes, starting with the £48,925 730i, which now has the world's lightest volume production six-cylinder petrol engine. It is the same unit as now in the 330i, 530i and the 630i and is 10kg lighter than the outgoing engine.

The braking systems on the £55,350 740i and £59,700 750i have both been upgraded from those used in the earlier models, and also work in conjunction with dynamic stability control, traction control, corner brake control, anti-lock braking and two-stage brake force control.

As with the 740i and 750i, there's improved performance and increased economy.

This car may be big, but it still follows the BMW principle of driving pleasure. BMW provided chauffeurs for the first 30-or so miles of the test drive, allowing motoring journalists to enjoy the superb suspension and comfortable ride that any top-flight exec can expect.

However, comfortable ride apart, the 7 Series can still be driven with a great deal of enthusiasm, because the suspension is built largely from aluminium, which again means big savings in weight.

The latest 7-Series is superb and it can only improve on the success of the previous model, which is the most successful to date with sales of about 2,000 a year in the UK.

Prices start at £48,925 for the 730i rising to £78,850 for the 760i or up to £80,975 for the long-wheelbase models.

I was also allowed to drive BMW's High Security 7 Series which, depending on the specification and the need to survive an armed assault, comes in around the £220,000 mark.

Each one is custom-built from scratch with integrated steel armour forming the body shell.

The bullet and bombproof windows are more than three inches thick and the car itself can withstand two grenades on the roof and two underneath. The doors are so heavy, they are electrically powered to open and close and the tyres have a solid rubber core so they can still operate even if all four have been punctured by gunfire.

The car bristles with electronics and is able to patch into police radio networks, has its own air supply and exterior fire extinguisher system. In addition, if things get really bad, an emergency button under a safety cover will fire explosive charges, which blow out the windscreen to provide an emergency exit.

In these security-minded times, this is designed for world leaders and heads of state, big names from politics and business and a growing number of celebrities.

Last year, BMW sold almost 200 of them -- including about a dozen in the UK -- and that number is expected to grow with the new model.

The driving experience meant following a high-speed BMW X3 through a long, coned slalom course, with the gaps between the cones gradually narrowing, meaning the car had to be "thrown" into gaps. The car was remarkably stable, but then weighing in at 3.5 tonnes, it is designed to keep its wheels firmly on the ground.

Dealers: Castle, Clifton Moorgate, Clifton Moor, York (01904 693313); Malton BMW, York Road, Malton (01653 600700)

:: Bumper to bumper

Model: BMW 7 Series: 11 standard models (from 730i, 740i, 750i and 760i), three specification levels, and five long-wheelbase models.

Prices: From £48.925 to £78,850 standard models; £51,525 to £80,975 long wheelbase.

Dimensions: Length 5,039mm, width 1,902, height 1,491mm; wheelbase 2,990mm.

Engines: Four petrol and one diesel.

Transmission: Six-speed automatic with Steptronic, with Sport selection.

Suspension: Aluminium integral rear axle and a double-joint strut spring front axle. Sport suspension on Sport model.

Brakes: Discs at front and back on all models. With stability control, traction control, corner brake control, anti-lock brakes and brake force control.

Updated: 11:38 Friday, May 06, 2005