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The latest 7-Series is superb to travel in, either as a driver, or in the vastness of the rear of the long-wheelbase version with a chauffeur up front, and it can only improve on the success of the previous model, which in spite of criticism is the most successful 7 to date with sales of around 2000 a year in the UK. It still lags behind the Jaguar XJ and the Mercedes S-Class but BMW seems happy to have something which is seen as being a little more exclusive with sportier driving characteristics.

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. BMW also let me loose in the very exclusive version, the High Security 7-Series which, depending on the specification, comes in around the £220,000 mark.

In these security-minded times, this is designed for world leaders and heads of state, big names from political and business and a growing number of celebrities. Each one is custom-built from scratch with integrated steel armour forming the bodyshell. The bullet- and bomb-proof 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 extinguisher system. And 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.

Last year, BMW sold almost 200 of them - including around a dozen in the UK - and that number is expected to grow with the new model. But that's as much information as BMW will give you. Customers are as closely-guarded a secret as the car itself. All BMW will say is that Germany and Russia are the two biggest markets.

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