THERE’S a lot about the air in the latest BMW flagship, the M760Li xDrive. In the airiness of the extensive 7 Series-based cabin, the breath-taking list of convenience and comfort features, the breathlessness of its powertrain and the way it slices through the scenery.

Even the BMW history has some important moments held in the air.

Based on the latest 7 Series but sharing much of the drivetrain with the Rolls-Royce Ghost and Wraith, the M760Li is the German brand’s Jekyll and Hyde model – a machine that will whisk occupants through cities without even a murmur of ambient chaos entering the cocoon, and yet on an open freeway, through a winding mountain pass or an unlimited section of an autobahn, it will bite the bitumen, roar its exhaust and reward the driver with its V12 performance.

Nothing from the BMW production line costs as much and not much from other manufacturers can catch it in a straight line. It is faster than a Porsche GT3 manual to 100km/h, clearing the sprint in 3.7 seconds compared with the GT3’s 3.9 seconds.

It seats four, rubbing against the similarly-priced – and equally as brisk – Porsche Panamera Turbo and Bentley Flying Spur V8 but may be hard to justify against Audi’s S8 Plus that offers similar performance for a saving of about $100,000.

But it’s more than wheels with an engine. The M letter before the numerals states it’s a serious road weapon and the 760 – well, it’s the biggest number BMW currently has on its books. The L is for the long wheelbase and the “i” is a carry over of the injection days but more refers to the sophistication of its onboard electronics.

It is BMW’s only V12 on the market and its only passenger sedan offered with all-wheel drive in Australia. Less impressive but similarly telling, it is the only BMW in Australia with a standard smoker’s kit. In contemporary language, ashtrays and cigarette lighters.

But it has a problem – its identity. Is this a sports-sedan that one buys because it’s such a rewarding car to drive, or is this one that you hand over the keys to someone you trust while you take up position in the rear?