Friday 11th July 2003

6 Series is Back

4.4 litre V8 powered Coupe takes on Mercedes

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BMW have finally revealed the production version of the new 6 Series Coupe. Not since 1989 has BMW had a 6 series in the range, leaving Mercedes to pick up the wealth customers seeking two door, premium fun.

The 4.4 litre V8 is lifted from BMW's 7 series and is good for 333bhp and 332 lb-ft of torque. Top speed as ever is limited to 155mph. The 645 will reach 60mph in 5.6 seconds.

Six speed gearboxes will be standard with manual, automatic and the Sequential Manual Gearbox option with both steering wheel paddles and gear lever.

The new coupe weighs in at a reasonably respectable 1600kg, thanks to extensive use of aluminium and synthetic materials in its construction. In fact the bonnet, doors and the entire front body structure are made of aluminium. The front wings are thermoplastic whilst the boot is made of something called 'Sheet Moulding Compound'.

Car balance should be good with a 50:50 weight distribution and if things to go pear shaped BMW's usual assortment of electronic aids will step in to try and regain traction and stability. Active cruise control will also stop you driving into the car in front if you're busy reading a book or on the phone. Variable ratio steering comes as standard.

This will also be the first BMW to feature a Heads up Display on the windscreen showing navigation instructions, speed etc.

There's no spare wheel clogging up the boot and BMW don't expect you to bluff it with a car of Tyre Weld either. The 6 series comes with run-flat tyres allowing you to drive up to 90 miles at 50mph to get you home.

The new car will be available in the UK from December and the 645Ci will be supplemented by a convertible version next year. Prices are yet to be confirmed.

[deanpluthero]

arse like the 5 series! apart from that it seems well spec'd but i bet it'll be pricey!

[RacerX]

You call this a Six Series???

[kevinday]

That rear 3/4 view looks like a Pug 406 coupe. I remember when the 8 series came out and Top Gear took it and the Calibra round for peoples impressions. Many people thought the Calibra more expensive looking. Maybe the same with this 6 series, compare the Pug and BMW and what will the result be?

[Digga]

Yes, yes, yes I agree with all the criticisms above, and I'd add that of late BMW seem to have dispensed with forming body panels with hydraulic presses, in favour of belting the metal into shape with clubs made from ugly tree wood, but I want one.

It's like the Ferrari 465 and 550/575 - it's not overtly sporting or austentatious in the way other cars of similar price and performance night be, but discretion IMHO is part of the appeal. Less gong, more dinner.

[gemini]

Now thats nice - gone are the boxey lines of recent big beemers!

[alex33]

I love it.The Porsche will definitely go once the M6 comes out.

[iains]

Hmmm, I'd like one of those!

[mickj]

A Monaro with a BMW name.......

[FourWheelDrift]

What a seriously ugly car.

Looks like it's been designed by a cluster of colour blind hedgehogs in a bag.

[ghunter]

looks like they are trying to carry over some of the Z4 lines....front and back end looks remotely similiar.

[ErnestM]

Seperated at birth?:

New 6:


New Pontiac (Monaro) GTO:

[smele]

Hmm, looks pretty nasty to me. The front and back look very messy, but the middle seems ok. Looks very Z4 at the front, which is the worse part of the Z4 in my opion.

The i-Drive system certainly does make the interior look less cluttered.

[Big_Boost]

That car looks amazing,imagine what the M6 will be like. a v10 coupe hmmmmmmmm

[Andrew Richmond]

Should I buy the 645i cabriolet I have sigbned a letter of intent for to replace my Merc CLK 500 cabriolet? How much is it? If Autocar (sorry!) is right and the base price of the 645i cab is £60k is it too much (it has to be!). So what should I do?

[miss pj]

I really fancied one of the new 6 series cab's until I saw the rear........just don't like it. And to be honest the more and more I look at it, the more it reminds me of the Maserati. So it'll be an M3 cab or a Noble for me next I think!

[robbo64]

First decent pics I have seen of it-I applaud BMW for daring to be different but...this is just too different -not to mention it's back end!

[ScoobyZoom]

wait for it in the flesh....

it is gorgeous the pictures make it lok a pig i agree

the noise from it though is to die for

[sacha]

saw a six yesterday on the road in italy, very different!! the front is very nice while the rear is really a mix between the 7 and the 5, but its growing on me!

[rassi]

I saw the new 6 in the metal this weekend, in black with xenons, and pictures don't do it justice!

Menacing and gorgeous - thought that it was almost as nice as my M Coupe

[Marki]

Its not bad looking , but i think i would go for the Merc CL now that is a gracefull looking car even if it is maybe getting on a bit now