An emotional ride

What's your best memory behind the wheel? For me, the list is long — driving a Mercedes-Benz S-Class from Milan, Italy to St. Moritz, Switzerland, whipping around a Las Vegas track in a 400-horsepower Ford SVT Mustang Cobra, or squeezing into a Reynard F2000 single-seat, open-wheeled race car. But all those experiences pale in comparison to the day I brought my dad home from the hospital. After four months, seven days and nine hours, he finally got the green light to come home — a move we thought he might never make. At 81, he survived severe burns — 3rd and 4th degree covering 30% of his body from below his waist to his ankles. He's the only person over 80 at Sunnybrook's Ross Tilley Burn Centre to make it with burns of that scope and magnitude. So when it came to his ride home, he left in high style, chauffeured in a 2006 BMW 750Li luxury sedan.

The sleek profile of a 7-Series is unmistakable; it's captivating, especially in the early morning hours. The colour of my tester, ruby black metallic (part of the $9,900 "Individual Composition" package) glimmered deep red in direct sunlight. It garnered attention immediately from the moment I reached the hospital — compliments came in every direction. My dad, on the other hand, was oblivious to BMW's famed propeller — too excited to get inside and begin his long-awaited journey home.

Honestly, I wanted to floor it so he could get home fast. Despite the 750Li's size, this 2,065 kg Bimmer can hit 0-100 km/hr in only 6.2 seconds. But after 12 surgeries and all the effort surgeons Dr. Fish, Dr. Cartotto, Dr. Beveridge, and Dr. Tremblay, put into him, I couldn't risk it. I set the cruise control to 98 and enjoyed the 120 kilometre trek to Niagara.

Make no mistake, the 750Li is powerful, smooth, and fast. Its 4.8-litre V-8 engine delivers 360 horsepower and 360 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission with Steptronic is mated to the engine.

Even though it's a large sedan, it doesn't feel cumbersome to drive or park. It's extremely agile, cornering and hugging the road perfectly. And no noise enters the cabin, either — you could only hear the crystal-clear sound of Pavarotti playing over my tester's optional Harman Kardon LOGIC7 HiFi sound system with 13 speakers including two subwoofers. It’s part of the Executive package, which also includes electric rear and side sunshades that raise and lower with the touch of a button — perfect for blocking the sun's rays and adding some privacy to the cabin. Ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and an active seat for the driver which acts like a mini-massage on your backside are also part of the package. It costs $9,500.

Face it: luxury comes at a price. My BMW 750Li (long wheelbase) tester starts at $106,900. The short wheelbase version, the BMW 750i, costs $100,500; while the top-of-the-line BMW 760Li sells for a whopping $174,500.

Before nodding off, dad asked smiling, "Want me to drive?" Knowing very well it may never happen again. Still, I shared some of the 7's impressive technical features like the keyless access and ignition system. Just carry the proximity key in your purse or pocket, pull any door handle and it opens automatically. The engine starts by simply pressing a button. The park distance control system gives you an audio and visual display of obstructions in your path. Rain-sensing windshield wipers start instantly with the hint of moisture. I explained iDrive, which controls, among other things, the climate, entertainment, navigation, and communication systems via a computerized knob and dashboard screen. It's a bit too complicated and often distracting — a simple manoeuvre like changing the radio station requires several steps. Thankfully, there are conventional switches for basic audio and climate control functions. And don't worry, if you buy a 7-Series at BMW Toronto, for instance, they'll teach you everything you need to know about iDrive.

That's when dad fell asleep. But he was comfortable. The ergonomic seats sculpt the body perfectly — the front seats are 20-way power adjustable. Likewise, the rear seats are fit for a king. The length of the long wheelbase 750Li is 3,128 mm, which means unbelievable legroom. And my tester's rich rust brown merino leather felt incredible against the skin. As did the bi-colour 3-spoke leather multi-function, heated steering wheel.

Dad woke up just as I pulled into the driveway, eyes watering instantly. It has been a long, painful path, and it’s far from over. I still don't know whether he'll drive his Ford F-150 pick-up, walk the soil he toiled for decades, or dance the Italian tarantella again. But I know he's on the right road to recovery. And he had the perfect ride to begin the journey on his first road trip home.

Image courtesy of autos.ca