BMW’s fast, comfortable, and luxurious grand tourer is going head to head with the Audi A7 and Mercedes CLS in the relatively new four-door executive coupe niche.
By Saif Haddad
BMW’s 6 Series Gran Coupe might share the same name as the German automaker’s standard 6 Series Coupe and Convertible, but it comes with added utility thanks to its two extra doors. The extra 11 centimeters that have been added to its length not only allow for more comfort in the rear, but also allow the car to elegantly progress from being merely a coupe into a Gran Coupe that has more of a grand tourer feel than a saloon.
Classic BMW exterior traits are clearly present on this model, from the fierce looking LED rear lights to the beautifully re-imagined classic BMW front grille, large and sleek taillights, and a slanting roofline that is ever so elegant. Body lines and curves not only give it a sports car aesthetic, but also make it more aerodynamic and improve its performance at high speeds.
The interior could be the best we’ve seen in recent times. High quality materials are used throughout the cabin, which is heavily loaded with top of the market technology and massive comfortable electric seats complimented with memory presets, fine leather, and wood or carbon fiber accents on the dash and doors’ interior.
The 640i version we drove comes with a 3.0 liter, 315 hp engine that delivers outstanding performance. The ride is comfortable and handling on winding roads is fantastic with plenty of grip. The 8-gear transmission obviously plays a big part in adding comfort, but the presence of automatic sport and manual shift modes and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters give you the sporty driving experience you expect from a BMW, whether you’re using it for a weekend getaway or a commute to work.
Moving on to the braking system, this model features BMW’s Brake Energy Regeneration technology that converts kinetic energy into usable electrical power, that’s the power it uses when the auto start/stop function is activated. This function, which we’re used to seeing only on hybrid cars until now, turns off the engine when the car is idle and BMW claims that this helps with the car’s fuel economy.
As the car is quite large in size and corners and dimensions can be hard to grasp. But you can use one of the five cameras that can show you side views of junctions, 360-degree views for driving the massive vehicle through tight spaces and the rear-view camera with guidelines and parking sensors to make your parallel parking experience as easy as possible.
The rear space has a decent amount of leg and head room, but the middle seat is quite useless and whoever is unlucky enough to sit on it is in for a rough ride. That said, having the mid-console connected all the way from back to front creates an armrest while having two separate, and more comfortable, rear seats.
Finally, with a hefty price tag that’s close to that of a Porsche Panamera, the 6 Series Gran Coupe is significantly more expensive than its rivals in class. But remember that BMW is pitching this as the stylish, modern alternative to its range-topping and much more conservative 7 Series.
Specs
Size: 3.0-liter BMW TwinPower Turbo
Cylinders: Inline 6-cylinder
Transmission: 8-speed Sport Automatic transmission
Horsepower: 315 hp
Torque: 450 N·m
0 – 100 km/h: 4.5 Seconds
Top Speed (Km/h): 250
