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| 2012 BMW 6 Series Coupe. Scroll down for more images. |
The new car may have grown - it’s around seven centimetres longer and four centimetres wider - but BMW has played it much safer with the styling this time around. The back half in particular is a lot less bold than the last 6 Series, and from some angles it seems that the long-defunct 8 Series provided most of the inspiration.
Up front, the view is dominated by a wide double kidney grille that, in a nod to BMW models of old, has slightly forward-slanting slats. This is flanked by the familiar quad-headlights, which are bi-xenon as standard. If they’re not good enough though, adaptive LED units can be specified as a cost option instead.
At launch buyers will have the choice of 640i or 650i versions, both of which feature direct petrol injection and twin turbochargers. The only transmission on offer is an eight-speed automatic, with no manual alternative available.
Surprisingly, there’s no diesel option yet, but expect one to join the line-up at a later date.
| BMW 6 Series Coupe (F12) Technical Specs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Model | 640i Coupe | 650i Coupe |
| Engine | ||
| Type | I6 petrol, TwinPower Turbo, direct High Precision Injection, Valvetronic | V8 petrol, TwinPower Turbo, direct High Precision Injection |
| Displacement | 2,979 cc | 4,395 cc |
| Power | 315 bhp (235 kW / 320 PS) at 5,800 rpm | 401 bhp (300 kW / 407 PS) at 5,500 - 6,400 rpm |
| Torque | 450 Nm (331 lb/ft) at 1,300 - 4,500 rpm | 600 Nm (442 lb/ft) at 1,750 - 4,500 rpm |
| Performance | ||
| 0-62 mph (100 km/h) | 5.4 secs | 4.9 secs |
| Top speed | 250 km/h (155 mph) | 250 km/h (155 mph) |
| Efficiency | ||
| Average fuel consumption | 36.7 mpg (7.7 l/100km) | 27.2 mpg (10.4 l/100km) |
| CO2 emissions | 179 g/km | 243 g/km |
Both variants feature various BMW EfficientDynamics technologies that are there to increase fuel economy and reduce emissions. These include electric power steering (Integral Active Steering is optional), brake energy regeneration, low rolling resistance tyres and on-demand use of ancillaries.
Lightweight materials have also been extensively employed: for instance, the front wings are plastic, the boot lid is made from a glass fibre composite and the bonnet, doors, and front axle spring mounts are all aluminium. However, despite that, body strength doesn’t suffer and it’s claimed that the torsional rigidity of the new 6 Series is 53 percent greater compared to the previous generation model.
The 640i furthermore benefits from an automatic start-stop system, plus active air flap control to optimise the aerodynamics. It also gets an Eco Pro mode for the Drive Dynamic Control in addition to the standard Normal, Sport and Sport+ settings.
Eco Pro essentially configures everything to save fuel. So, the engine management system, gearbox shift patterns and accelerator mapping all work together to keep revs down, while power consumption for electrical items such as the climate control, seat heating and door mirror defrosting is kept to a minimum.
On the inside, the growth in exterior dimensions and wheelbase should be particularly appreciated by the rear-seat passengers, who now enjoy more shoulder, elbow and head room. Luggage capacity is 460 litres (16.24 cu. ft.), but BMW’s need to point out that three golf bags will fit in the boot clearly signals the intended target market for the car.
UK prices for the BMW 6 Series Coupe have been set at £59,550 for the 640i SE and £67,300 for the 650i SE.
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