RSS Feed

Related Articles

Related Categories

The new BMW 6 Series Coupe

14th March 2011 Print
BMW 6 Series

Now in its third generation, the new BMW 6 Series Coupe takes the luxury 2+2 concept a step further by matching enhanced comfort and elegant design with sporting performance on a even higher level. The BMW 6 Series Coupe features a sweeping coupe roofline while the long bonnet, short over-hangs, set-back passenger compartment with Hofmeister kink, long wheelbase and flat waistline embody the typical proportions of a BMW coupe more than any other model.

Two exceptional BMW turbocharged petrol engines, a newly developed chassis and a host of class-leading driver assistance technology ensure that the new BMW 6 Series Coupe is full of substance, while interior space and comfort have been enhanced.

A distinctive and exclusive exterior design
The new BMW 6 Series Coupe features a long sweeping bonnet, set-back passenger compartment and flowing roof-line.  Its now traditional BMW “shark nose”, with a large, forward-slanted BMW kidney grille, broad air intakes, wide, contoured bonnet and muscular wheel arches, allude to the powerful engine beneath.  Inspired by the movement of water, the fluid lines of the car combine with the subtly curved surfaces to create a look of athletic elegance, which together with the 74mm increase in length and 5mm lower height creates a powerful stance.

Character lines stretching the full length of the body define the side view of the
BMW 6 Series Coupe.  The long, flat bonnet elongates the silhouette while the roof sweeps down in one fluid line, combining with the main body effortlessly, in an elegant coupe fashion, while the frameless doors and chrome side window border emphasise the tight lines of the typically BMW Hofmeister kink.

From the rear, bulging wheel arches and horizontal lines highlight the wide track of the new BMW 6 Series Coupe, alluding to its sporting performance and impressive road holding.  Two-part rear light clusters give the typical BMW L-shape lights a particularly sporty, dynamic edge. Inside the units, two LED-powered light strips create a striking night-time look.  The rear indicators and brake lights also use LED units.

Longer, lower and wider, the new car is larger in every dimension than its predecessor except height, where it now stands half a centimetre closer to the ground.  At 4,894mm in length, the new model is 74mm longer than its predecessor, while the wheelbase has stretched similarly, to 2,855mm.  The car has also grown by 39mm in width, and now measures 1,894mm across, while 5mm have been shaved off its height.

High-visibility innovation
As standard the new BMW 6 Series Coupe is equipped with xenon headlights that have BMW’s familiar double corona look while high-quality chrome elements, such as the fog lamps consisting of a string of three LED units, on the outer edges of the front apron accentuate the width of the car. 

Optional Adaptive LED Headlights are available for the first time and provide a bright white light, similar to natural daylight, with low beam and high beam LED light rings.  Horizontal LED ribs are positioned in the centre of the light rings ensuring BMW’s hallmark twin round headlight look is expressed in a strikingly fresh way.  More than just style over substance, the Adaptive LED lights automatically pivot and adjust to the line of the corner depending on the car’s speed, steering angle and yaw rate to provide the best visibility possible for the driver.

The interior: made to measure luxury for four
Despite its lower height, the new 2+2 BMW 6 Series Coupe offers greater headroom in both the front and the rear, and height adjustment of the driver and front passenger seats now cover a greater range too.  The individual rear sets also provide passengers with additional shoulder and elbow room, making for more comfortable cruising.

The front passenger area is bordered by a surface curving elegantly from the armrest over the side edge of the centre console, upwards and outwards into the instrument panel and then horizontally into the door trim, surrounding the front passenger area with a feeling of exclusive security.

In tune with the rest of the car’s optimised performance and greater comfort, the new BMW 6 Series Coupe is fitted with newly developed lightweight seats with an integrated seatbelt system, and Easy Entry function to the rear passenger compartment: a brief tap of a switch automatically moves the seat as far forward as possible.  Sports seats and Comfort seats can be fitted as an option too.  The boot can accommodate 460 litres of luggage, equivalent to three 46-inch golf bags or two medium hard-shell cases and a flight case.  To utilise the rear space further the rear seats can be specified with a through-loading ski hatch, allowing two pairs of skis to be transported with ease.

Drivetrain
The new BMW 6 Series Coupe is available from launch with two petrol engines: the 650i and 640i. Both offer unique character from their respective V8 and inline six-cylinder engines through the use of twin and single turbocharger technology to produce even more responsiveness, efficiency and higher power levels.

The 4.4-litre eight-cylinder engine in the new BMW 650i Coupe is unique in that the brace of turbochargers are positioned in the V-shaped area between the cylinder banks.  This design results in more efficient packaging and greater engine efficiency.  A maximum 407hp is developed between 5,500 and 6,400rpm, with peak torque of 600Nm available between 1,750 and 4,500rpm.

The new BMW 650i Coupe sprints from zero to 62mph in 4.9 seconds, with a top speed electronically limited to 155mph.  For a model of such blistering performance and refinement, it is also extraordinarily efficient, with average combined fuel consumption of 27.2mpg and CO2 emissions of 243g/km.

The six-cylinder in-line engine in the new BMW 640i Coupe uses single turbocharger technology alongside petrol direct injection with VALVETRONIC fully variable valve control.  This enables the 3.0-litre unit to develop a maximum 320hp at 5,800rpm and maximum torque of 450Nm between 1,300 and 4,500rpm.  This engine propels the BMW 640i Coupe from zero to 62mph in 5.4 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.

Perhaps even more remarkable are its efficiency figures.  The BMW 640i Coupe achieves 36.7mpg on the combined cycle, while CO2 emissions are only 179g/km, proving that at BMW luxurious sporting performance does not come at the expense of economy.  Indeed, this model is fitted as standard with an automatic transmission that features Auto Start-Stop technology and an automatic active air flap control behind the car’s kidney grille for optimum engine performance.

The BMW 640i Coupe debuts the fuel saving technology that is the ECO PRO mode.  By a touch of the Drive Dynamic Control button ECO PRO mode tweaks the engine management system, accelerator mapping and gear-shift characteristics to favour a relaxed, low-revving driving style.  At the same time, power usage for electronically operated functions such as climate control is regulated to ensure maximum efficiency.  A display on the instrument cluster keep the driver informed of the levels of energy efficiency being achieved to encourage an economical driving style.

As with all BMWs, both derivatives of the new 6 Series Coupe come with a raft of BMW EfficientDynamics measures to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.  In addition to the features highlighted on the 640i Coupe, both models have technology such as Brake Energy Regeneration, Electric Power Steering (EPS), the need-based operation of ancillary components and intelligent lightweight construction to ensure maximum efficiency as standard.

An eight-speed Sport automatic gearbox is standard fitment on both models, and its wide range of ratios offer a perfect balance of muscular, sprinting performance, refined high speed cruising and low speed efficiency.

Newly developed chassis offers agility and refinement
The newly developed chassis of the new BMW 6 Series Coupe comes as standard with Drive Dynamic Control, which allows drivers to choose how responsive they want the gearbox, steering and throttle to be, while the Adaptive Drive system is available as an option with electrically controlled dampers and anti-roll stabilisation.

Both the double wishbone front axle and the integral rear axle are made predominantly from aluminium.  The chassis set-up is geared to the requirements of drivers looking for a sporting character, although the dampers also respond sensitively to bumps in the road surface under high lateral acceleration.

In addition to the standard electromechanical power steering, another unique feature in this segment is the optional Integral Active Steering system.  This system combines Active Steering for the front axle with a steering rear axle, allowing the steering angle and power assistance to be controlled at both the front and the rear with the help of electric motors.  This precisely harmonised system offers extraordinary agility in dynamic driving situations, while allowing for an impressively deft touch around twisty mountain passes and in city traffic.

Highest ever standard specification
The new BMW 6 Series Coupe comes with the highest ever level of standard specification on a Six. Standard for the 640i Coupe are 18-inch light alloy wheels, while the 650i Coupe comes as standard with a 19-inch light alloy wheel.  Both derivatives feature Dakota leather upholstery, eight-speed Sport automatic transmission, electric seat adjustment with memory, BMW Professional Multimedia Navigation system, Xenon headlights, LED front fog lights and front and rear Park Distance Control to name but a few of the standard specification highlights.

Most advanced audio system ever to grace a BMW offered
Exclusively developed as an option for the new BMW 6 Series, the Bang & Olufsen High-End Surround Sound System produces an exceptionally natural sound from 16 speakers distributed around the cabin.  Jointly developed by the Danish audio specialists and BMW, the superb sound system, comprising of two bass speakers, seven mid-range speakers and seven tweeters, all with individual amplifiers, uses Dirac Dimensions technology to recreate the acoustics of a reference listening room.  This allows all passengers to enjoy the same outstanding sound quality regardless of where they are sitting.

In addition a number of other options, exclusive to the premium luxury segment, can be specified such as Surround-view, BMW Night Vision with pedestrian recognition, Parking Assist, Lane Change Warning System, Lane Departure Warning System, and Speed Limit Display.  The new BMW 6 Series Coupe is also the only car in its segment to be available with a Head-up Display.  The latest generation Head-up Display system uses a broader palette of colours and three-dimensional graphics to create an even sharper image.

The BMW 6 Series Coupe goes on sale in the UK on 15 October, 2011.  Prices will be announced at a later date.

More Photos - Click to Enlarge

BMW 6 Series BMW 6 Series