Gadget Guru

THE BMW 750Li HAS THE PERFECT COMBINATION OF PERFORMANCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR A SUCCESSFUL TECH ENTREPRENEUR LIKE JACKIE LEE.

Portrait of Tammy Strobel
THE BMW 750Li HAS THE PERFECT COMBINATION OF PERFORMANCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR A SUCCESSFUL TECH ENTREPRENEUR LIKE JACKIE LEE.
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Like most people who work in the IT field, Jackie Lee knows and loves his gadgets. The 40-year-old, who has a degree in electrical engineering, founded Hardware Zone and is currently the chairman and group CEO of clickTRUE, a company that specialises in pay per performance online advertising.

If there was ever a limousine suited to a techie like Jackie, it would be the BMW 7 Series. Jackie took the 750Li for a drive, and had lots to say about the car’s technology and abilities. 

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Performance-wise, what did you like most about the car?

The turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 is very responsive. I am really impressed that this large car accelerates from a standstill to 100km/h in under five seconds. Overtaking and turning other drivers’ heads are a breeze.

What did you think about the laser headlights?

Laser headlights made available in the 7 Series after first being introduced in the i8 are indeed welcome. I could see road signs more clearly, and they improve safety and visibility in inclement weather.

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How do you feel about gesture control?

Can you see this function becoming standard across other car models in the future? Gesture control is definitely a talking point and a “wow” factor to my passengers. It can be pretty useful once you get used to it. However, my kids kept playing with the volume function while I was driving!

Which of the tablet’s functions did you find the most useful?

There are so many functions and features! However, I found myself focusing on the controls for the sunroof, ambiance lighting and massage.

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Did you find remote control parking useful?

I felt like James Bond while using it! My family was impressed and this is a big step forward with regard to autonomous driving. It’ll definitely push other carmakers to go beyond assisted parking and 360-degree camera views.

As a tech person, what would you like to see in cars in the future?

I look forward to a day when the instrument panel and GPS are all projected onto the windscreen, and a further integration of internet into cars (ioT). I’d also like to see more inter-car communication. I’m sure the next major subscribers of SIM cards will be cars.