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By
EWAN KENNEDY
5 May 2008
BMW's flagship 6 Series, offered in coupe and convertible format,
is a large machine with just a touch of arrogance. The styling, it’s
one of the later cars to be designed by the controversial Chris
Bangle, works well and drew plenty of positive comments during our
recent week with a coupe. It received a facelift and tail-tuck
late last year, with the latter being the most recognisable change
as it features a built-in spoiler.
At the front, the grilles are unchanged, but the air intake in
the bumper centre has a greater area, giving the body a wider,
lower look than before.
Inside, the overall styling is as before, with bold lines, good
choices of materials, and many detailed touches to delight the
eye. For the 2008 year, there are new leathers and metals and
these are offered in different hues than in the previous versions.
Though this is a large car on the outside, the latest 6 Series
continues BMW's unfortunate tradition in its coupes of being
surprisingly cramped inside. While the front seats provide plenty
of space for a pampered couple, those in the back should be small
and preferable not have a liking for legroom. The rear seat is
specifically designed for two and entry and exit aren't
particularly easy. Stowage spaces in the interior are small and
fiddly to use and even finding a spot for a largish mobile phone
isn’t easy.
On the other hand, the boot is huge and can carry large
suitcases suited to a long cruising holiday. As a car for two, the
big ‘6 works beautifully – and we guess that’s what it’s
intended to be.
Incidentally, BMW has quietly toned down the controversial
iDrive system and now provides ‘favourites’ buttons as seen in
other recently revised models. The widescreen display is handy as
it’s simple to simultaneously display, say, a satellite
navigation map as well as trip computer readouts.
Ride comfort is exceptionally good and the big BMW coupe really
does offer a magic carpet method of transportation on normal
roads. Even the rough outback areas that are part of our regular
test route failed to upset its composure. And the dreadful
concrete finish on the M1 motorway stretch that runs from Brisbane
to the Gold Coast only managed to marginally increase interior
noise levels.
Handling is very good, you don’t expect a car of this size to
be nimble in the true sense of that word, and it isn’t. But the
ability of the 6 Series coupe to hang on during harsh cornering
really is amazing. In any case, it’s designed to be a high-speed
cruiser not a full on bruiser. For those that do want to go really
hard and fast BMW can supply the sensational V10 M6 version of the
coupe.
In its latest format, the BMW 270 kW 4.8-litre V8 engine has
had some modifications to the electronic control unit to spread
the torque over a wider range than before. The peak of 490 Nm is
there at just 3200 rpm so the big Bimmer lopes along with not a
hint of fuss and feels lively on the road even on minimal throttle
openings. But when you get bored with that, full bore acceleration
is accompanied by a big roar and that slightly uneven V8 note that’s
sure to bring a smile to the face of driving enthusiasts.
An all-new six-speed automatic transmission has been installed.
It gives plenty of ratio choices, has fast shifts and an
intelligence that sees it in the right gear virtually all the
time. If you don’t agree with the transmission’s decisions,
manual overrides are on offer either through the floor shifter, or
paddles behind the horizontal spokes on the steering wheel.
The ratios on the new auto are well chosen and give you plenty
of punch off the line in the lower end, and high gearing in top
for the aforementioned effortless touring. Indeed, fuel
consumption at the slow speeds permitted on Aussie motorways often
hovers around the eight litres per hundred kilometres mark. That’s
sensationally low for a big, powerful V8. Around town the fuel
numbers are likely to climb to 13 to 16 litres per hundred, but
that’s not bad for a large car crammed with lots of
body-pampering accessories that carry plenty of mass.
An audio system with 16 speakers, and 19-inch alloy wheels were
amongst the welcome extras installed in our test car. As is the
way with BMW you can set up the car to your personal choices if
you’re willing to outlay thousands of dollars more. May we
suggest a leisurely couple of hours at your local dealership to
see the huge range on offer?
Those looking for a large, comfortable touring car, or one that
simply oozes presence wherever it goes could do a lot worse than
opting for one of these magnificent Bavarian masterpieces.
AT A GLANCE
MODEL RANGE
650i 4.8-litre two-door coupe - $212,000
650i 4.8-litre two-door convertible - $228,800
FEATURES
ABS Brakes: Standard in both models
Air Conditioning: Standard in both models
Automatic Transmission: Standard in both models
CD Player: Standard in both models
Central Locking: Standard in both models
Cruise Control: Standard in both models
Dual Front Airbags: Standard in both models
Front Side Airbags: Standard in both models
Stability Control: Standard in both models
Traction Control: Standard in both models
SPECIFICATIONS (BMW 650i 4.8-litre two-door coupe)
ENGINE:
Capacity: 4.799 litres
Configuration: Longitudinal V8
Head Design: DOHC, four valves per cylinder
Compression Ratio: 10.5:1
Bore/Stroke: 93.0 x 88.3mm
Maximum Power: 270kW @ 6300rpm
Maximum Torque: 490Nm @ 3400-3750rpm
DRIVELINE:
Driven Wheels: Rear
Manual Transmission: Six-speed
Automatic Transmission: Six-speed
Final Drive Ratio: 3.46:1
DIMENSIONS, WEIGHT AND CAPACITIES:
Length: 4820mm
Wheelbase: 2780mm
Width: 1855mm
Height: 1373mm
Turning Circle: 11.4 metres
Kerb Mass: 1640kg
Fuel Tank Capacity: 70 litres
Towing Ability: Not available
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES:
Front Suspension: Independent, MacPherson struts, lower aluminium
alloy I-arms, coil springs, anti-roll bar.
Rear Suspension: Independent, multiple links, coil springs,
anti-roll bar
Front Brakes: Ventilated Disc
Rear Brakes: Ventilated Disc
PERFORMANCE:
0-100 km/h Acceleration: 5.5 secs
Standing 400 Metres: 13.8 secs
FUEL CONSUMPTION:
Type: Petrol 98RON
Combined Cycle (ADR 81/01): 11.9 L/100km
GREEN VEHICLE GUIDE RATINGS:
Greenhouse Rating: 4.5/10
Air Pollution Rating: 5/10
STANDARD WARRANTY:
Three years/unlimited km
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Marque Publishing Company
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