We found it odd that BMW chose to launch the convertible version of the new 6 Series six months prior to the coupe. But here we are in the middle of summer and we can understand why.
Introducing the soft-top together with the hard-top now would have cost BMW the opportunity to snag European buyers who desire something new for their summertime cruising. (Here in Munich, it’s actually rather hot and humid, almost like Singapore, so chilling inside the coupe is preferable to cooking in the cabrio, thank you.)
Despite the criticism and controversy surrounding the Bangle-era designs, they have been instrumental in carving out a bold new styling path for BMW. One of the milestones is the earlier 6 Series. Offering more of the same successful formula is the replacement model, which immediately looks more comfortable in its new skin.
Though this might appear to be an elaborate facelift, it is actually a complete redesign. The latest BMW 6 Series has eschewed its predecessor’s complex (and expensive) aluminium-steel hybrid chassis for a more conventional setup based on the current 5 Series, albeit with extensive use of high-strength steels to beef up structural rigidity by a whopping 50 percent.
This stiffness provided a perfect starting point for the engineers, who could then uprate the suspension for sharper handling yet keep the occupants nestled comfortably.
For now, there are two petrol variants of the new BMW 6 Series coupe – the BMW 640i Coupe with a 3-litre 320bhp TwinPower inline-6 and the BMW 650i Coupe with a 4.4-litre 407bhp twin-turbo V8. The latter can also be specified with xDrive, an intelligent torque-vectoring four-wheel drive system from the X6.
The BMW 5 Series model with the 3-litre TwinPower unit is badged 535i, but the 6 Series with the same engine is called 640i because (according to BMW marketers at least) it offers a 14bhp and 50Nm boost in output. Maybe they wish to align this car in the marketplace closer to the BMW 740i, which employs the same powerplant.
That “TwinPower” moniker actually refers to the twin-scroll turbine, which has superseded the original twin-turbo unit that continues to serve the BMW 1 Series M Coupe and the BMW Z4 35is.
Direct injection allows for a high compression ratio of over 10 to 1, which enables more efficient torque production through the entire power band. Coupled with the Auto Start-Stop feature (increasingly popular with manufacturers keen to cut their CO2 average), the 640i consumes just 7.6 litres per 100km on the combined cycle and produces 177g of CO per kilometre. (The figures will, of course, be a bit less impressive when the car is running on upsized 245/45 R18 tyres.)
The Steptronic gearbox is a ZF 8-speed torque converter automatic. “Transmission hunting” of forward gears is a thing of the past, even with eight ratios, and this autobox shifts very quickly, so eager drivers won’t get frustrated.
BMW 640i Coupe is longer than before in both wheelbase and length, but there is not much extra room for backseat passengers.
The torque converter smoothens the gear take-up, especially when moving off from the lights, but this is also its weak point, as this slippage wastes about three percent of the fuel. Mitigating this inherent inefficiency is the new 8-speeder’s ability to lock-up every one of its ratios on the go. It has a tall, overdriven top gear to reduce engine revs significantly at high speed and thus cut fuel consumption.
Being lighter and more compact than an equivalent dual-clutch also made the ZF auto easier to package into the vehicle. The transmission’s party trick is Sport Plus mode, where it instinctively drops down to a lower gear if the driver is braking and turning into a corner.
Twin-scroll turbocharged 3-litre straight-6 engine develops and outsized 320bhp and 450Nm.
This feature is welcome over long winding mountain roads, but in the city it would be just hyperactive and could hamper progress. The Normal mode is ideal for most situations, working seamlessly in the background, and it does a good enough job for most drivers – unless you are trying to set a quick lap time on some circuit.
The Servotronic electric power steering feels, to all intents and purposes, like a hydraulically assisted rack. Our test car came with integral Active Steer, which has new operating algorithms.
The way it “slows” down the variable-ratio steering on motorways and “speeds” it up in carpark manoeuvres (for less twirling of the wheel) is less aggressive now and therefore more natural, especially for drivers new to the system.
The BMW 640i Coupe is a mere half-second behind the range-topping BMW 650i Coupe in the century sprint, taking 5.4 seconds. Drivers who opt for this “entry-level” version won’t feel short-changed in performance terms. The well-developed 3-litre TwinPower drivetrain really behaves like it has a lusty 4-litre instead.
New BMW 640i Coupe rides smoothly like a personal limousine and handles sportily like a two-door BMW 5 Series (which supplied its mechanical make-up).
Whatever trace of turbo lag is concealed by the rapid kick-down and precise re-engagement of the transmission, making the acceleration seemingly relentless. Select the gears manually, however, and the engine’s slight hesitation at lower revs is revealed.
Our test route included a lot of autobahns to show off the BMW 640i Coupe’s strengths, namely its iron-fisted chassis control at serious velocities, lively pick-up and superb straight-line composure. It is remarkable just how easy it is to reach and sustain speeds of over 200km/h in the car.
This, indeed, is its station in life – a German grand tourer par excellence; one that makes trans-continental motoring a relaxed affair and gladly tackles extended road trips.
Due credit goes to the sturdy chassis (which shrugs off road blemishes), the rigid body (which allows firmer damping and springing without undue disturbance in the cabin), and the optimised aerodynamics (which enhances high-speed stability, even though the drag coefficient of 0.30 is nothing to shout about).
Autobahn-friendly, too, is the steering, which expertly resolves the smallest of inputs either side of the wheel’s straight-ahead position. Not forgetting, of course, the flexibility and capability of the 3-litre engine and its 8-speed gearbox.
Off the autobahn and on twisty trunk roads, the 640i is entertaining yet sure-footed. It has no fancy motorsport-derived parts, but it plays the handling card with conviction. The front end tracks accurately and the suspension as a whole is very well-sorted, regardless of the driving mode.
The BMW 640i Coupe is a Teutonic grand tourer that conquers long driving distances in a classy manner.
The new BMW 6 Series is a safe upgrade for the over 118,000 owners worldwide of the previous model. The styling might be evolutionary, but the car is more comfortable, faster and yet more frugal.
The new BMW 640i Coupe will certainly improve the “six” drive of people who want a logical, large continental coupe with a solid reputation.
BMW 640i Coupe 3.0 (A)
ENGINE 2979cc, 24-valves, inline-6, turbocharged
MAX POWER 320bhp at 5800-6000rpm
MAX TORQUE 450Nm at 1300-4500rpm
GEARBOX 8-speed automatic with manual select
0-100KM/H 5.4 seconds
TOP SPEED 250km/h
CONSUMPTION 13.2km/L (combined)
PRICE INCL. COE To be announced (ETA Singapore 2011 Q4)
Check out the latest BMW 640i Coupe
https://www.torque.com.sg/reviews/bmw-640i-gran-turismo-review/ https://www.torque.com.sg/features/bmw-6-series-6-series-gran-coupe-deliver-coupe-de-grace/
