BMW's New 6 Series Gran Coupe breezes in

If you’re in the market for a prestigious, elegant, 4-door BMW then you’ve now got three models to choose from – 5 Series, 7 Series and the 4-door 6 Series Gran Coupe. With the 7 Series positioned more as a limousine, the new 6 Series Gran Coupe will be a welcome addition for the user-chooser executive.

It’s the first four-door Coupe in the BMW’s history and the third model in the BMW 6 Series line-up. BMW describe it as a 4+1-seater, with the middle rear seat being ideally suited to families with a toddler.

At 5.0 metres in length with a 2.97 metre wheelbase, the Gran Coupe is 6 cm shorter than a 7 Series and 10.8 cm longer than a 5 Series. It shares its wheelbase with the 5 Series, so should be similarly spacious inside. Boot capacity can be increased from 460 litres to 1,265 litres with the rear seats folded down.

On a like-for-like basis, the 6 Series Gran Coupe weighs in just 35 kg heavier than the equivalent 5 Series (1865 kg vs 1830 kg for the 650i GC when compared with the 550i Saloon).

From the front and rear view, you’d be hard pressed to distinguish the Gran Coupe from the 6 Series Coupe, but from the side it presents its own distinctive character, with a strikingly low-slung appearance that immediately makes Audi’s A7 and Merc’s CLS look suddenly ‘awkward’ by comparison.

Inside, the Gran Coupe has its own unique ambience, in the same way Merc’s CLS differs from the E-Class, the driver-focused cockpit cocoons its occupants with door panels flowing seamlessly into one another. The seating position is slightly higher than in the 6 Series Coupe and Convertible and the angle of the rear seats can be adjusted for maximum comfort.

There will be three engines available from launch; the 315bhp six-cylinder 640i with twin-scroll turbocharger, 309bhp 640d Gran Coupe with variable sequential turbocharging and common-rail direct injection, and the flagship 444bhp 650i Gran Coupe with its twin-turbocharged eight-cylinder engine. Both petrol engines comes with direct injection and VALVETRONIC , whilst all models are fitted as standard with BMW’s latest eight-speed sports automatic transmission.

The full gamut of EfficientDynamics technologies are in use, including BMW’s new ECO PRO mode which is activated using the Driving Experience Control switch. ECO PRO modifies the engine management characteristics, the accelerator mapping and the shift characteristics of the automatic transmission, and supports a low-rpm driving style for optimised fuel consumption.

The chassis is as you would expect, with Electric Power Steering and Dynamic Damper Control as standard. Active Steering and Adaptive Drive is available as an option whilst xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive will be available from launch on the BMW 650i Gran Coupe.

Also available from launch is the specially designed M Sport version, which includes an M aerodynamics package with bespoke body components for the front end, side skirts and rear apron, exhaust tailpipe embellishers in dark chrome, black-painted brake callipers, LED foglamps, a sports exhaust system for the BMW 650i Gran Coupe and 19-inch light-alloy wheels in M double-spoke design.

20-inch light-alloy wheels in M double-spoke design are also available, whilst customers ordering the M Sport package can also opt for two special M paint finishes, Carbon Black metallic and Imola Red non-metallic.

The new 6 Series Gran Coupe will be available with the optional M Sport package from launch.

The sporting theme continues inside the car in the form of special M Alcantara/leather sports seats with blue contrast stitching, an M leather steering wheel with multifunction buttons and gearshift paddles, and aluminium hexagon interior trim strips. Plus, the M Sport package adds door sill finishers sporting the M logo and an M driver’s footrest to the mix.

Prices are yet to be announced, but the 6 Series Gran Coupe should make its public appearance at next year’s Geneva Motor Show, before going on sale from the summer.

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