UPDATED: BMW reveals the new 6-series. Concept

With less than two weeks to go before the Paris Motor Show, BMW has revealed the Concept 6 Series Coupé, a low-slung 2+2-seater sporting 20-inch multispoke wheels milled from a solid aluminium block. Based on the current 5 Series’ underpinnings and the design language of the Gran Coupé shown in Beijing last April, we expect this ‘concept’ to be on sale as the fully-fledged production 6 Series in early 2011.

This is the first BMW to feature all-LED twin round headlights with adaptive functionality, LEDs are used for all functions, from the dipped and main beam to the sidelights and daytime running lights, and the direction indicators. The LED effect extends to the L-shaped rear light clusters, featuring two LED light strips to create the typical BMW night-time look – the direction indicators, tail lights and brake lights are also LED-powered.

The Concept 6 Series Coupé has a full glass roof which lets a great deal of light into the interior of the 2+2-seater – BMW claims there to be “lavish headroom and legroom” at the rear of the 6 Series, but you can interpret that as meaning ‘for kids’ rather than full-sized adults. The new 6 Series will be a similar length to the outgoing E63 version, but is said to be wider and lower sitting on a longer wheelbase.

The Concept 6 Series Coupé uses a freestanding 10.2-inch iDrive Control Display and the Head-Up Display system. The fully active hi-fi system was designed especially for the Concept by Danish car hi-fi specialists Bang & Olufsen and specially matched to the interior acoustics of this 2+2-seater.

The driver-centric interior design, which is said to be elegant and exclusive, is typical of BMW with the Concept using two-tone leather upholstery with wood trim and black detailing to provide a high-end luxury feel.

Powerplants are expected to come from the current 5 Series, starting with the 302 bhp turbocharged six-cylinder all the way up to the M6 which will use the same twin-turbo V8 engine due to be released in the forthcoming M5. We’ll have to wait until 2012 at the earliest for this new M-model, however the mainstream 6 Series will be with us from Spring 2011.