Best Car Models & All About Cars: BMW 2012 6 Series Gran Coupe

BMW 2012 6 Series Gran Coupe

BMW's half dozen-Series Convertible and Coupe models have been redesigned with contemporary styling, technology and safety features throughout the lineup. New for the latest model year on these full-size luxury machines is a turbocharged inline-six base engine and availability of all-wheel-drive.

Whereas BMW's previous recent makes an attempt at the half-dozen-Series models drew a truthful quantity of criticism, the new six-Series is really new, with additional purposeful, bold lines that simultaneously convey a more tangible sense of sport and finesse.

At the same time, while the changes to the sheet metal are in an exceedingly sense quite simplistic, and unarguably not way from those found on the most recent 3-Series Coupe, the changes seem to be what this coupe required to convey the sporty characteristics that have been hiding beneath the sheet metal.

Let’s talk power

The 6-Series is obtainable because the six-cylinder 640i or the eight-cylinder 650i. Both engines return normal with an eight-speed automatic transmission, whereas the 650i conjointly offers the selection of a row-your-own six-speed.

The 640i features BMW's sleek single-turbo “N55? 3.zero-liter inline-six, that makes 315 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque. Though slightly slower than the 650i, the 640i's smaller engines equates to a lighter overall weight and slightly additional nimble handling plus an impressive fuel economy: the EPA rates the car at twenty one mpg in town and 31 mpg on the highway.

The 650i packs BMW's twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 under the hood, a mill that cranks out four hundred horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque. Zero-to-60 mph can be achieved in underneath five seconds, though fuel economy drops to just fifteen/twenty two mpg with the manual and 15/twenty three for the automated.

Transmission technical details

It’s no secret Americans love their automatic transmissions, sadly, even in coupes sporting four hundred horsepower, thus BMW says it created a brand new eight-speed Sport Automatic transmission that aimed to mix speed, flexibility, sportiness and in fact, efficiency. BMW points to its minimal torque converter slip and speedy gear changes because the transmissions’ stronger features, however don’t forget the now commonplace paddles located behind the steering wheel additionally.

A coupe for all seasons

Available exclusively on the 650i is BMW's "xDrive" all-wheel-drive system, which adds a pair hundred pounds of agility-sapping weight however permits the large coupe to motor its way through all but the worst inclement weather.

Hop inside

As BMW likes to try to to, the most recent vi-Series Coupe features a terribly driver oriented cockpit, and one will notice the central section of the instrument cluster, the iDrive central show, air vents and audio controls all angled towards the driver for easy use.

A key feature of the inside is what BMW is calling an “trade leading” head-up show. The Head-Up Show isn't found on any alternative automotive within the section, and helps drivers to keep their eyes traveling by displaying important info on the within of the windshield. The most recent system boasts 3-dimensional pictures and the next resolution than the outgoing model.

Where the Head-Up Display extremely earns the cool points is with the BMW Night Vision system, which help drivers establish objects on even the worst lit back roads.

Don’t forget concerning BMW ConnectedDrive

Packed to the gills with technology is the 650i, including many technologies that fall into the ConnectedDrive system. The driver Assistance Package can add automatic high beams, lane departure warning, active blind spot detection, rear and prime view cameras, parking assistant and the aforementioned Head-Up Display.

LEDs, or lightweight emitting diodes, are a widespread sort of light that are often praised for their low power consumption and long service life. For the all-new 650i, BMW has utilized adaptive Xenon headlights as normal, however if you are one to load up your new automobile purchases, then the Adaptive LED Headlights are likely for you, that feature both a high and low beam, and feature LED light-weight rings that perform as each parking lights and daytime running lamps. BMW says the LED headlights exhibit a bright white lightweight that is abundant nearer to natural sunlight than standard halogen bulbs, or maybe xenon headlamps.

The end result is a lightweight pattern and color that provides drivers within the 650i unprecedented vision during driving things that don’t get pleasure from the added benefit of sunlight.

I would really like to determine a lot of, please

Want to work out a lot of? The 650i has you lined thanks to Rear-view, High View and Side View cameras. The cameras are half of the Park Distance Control system, that utilizes ultrasonic sensors in order to work out the distance between the automobile and other objects either in front of, or behind the car. In conjunction with the audible warning from the sensors, BMW also fitted a rear-read camera in the trunklid, allowing the driver to determine exactly what is approaching from behind the vehicle while reversing.

The optional High View system with Side Read utilizes fish-eye camera lenses mounted within the aspect mirrors, together with laptop facilitate, which then in flip creates a bird’s eye read image of the vehicles’ surroundings. This system, says BMW, is great for improving visibility during low speed maneuvers below 10 mph.

Less is more

It’s no secret that less weight equals higher performance in cars, and BMW has taken that data to heart with its newly developed light-weight seats that feature an integrated seatbelt system and twenty-means adjustability. If that isn’t enough to tickle your fancy, the optional Luxury Seating Package will add ventilated front seats with active fatigue reduction.

It has “German” designed safety, right?

German luxury cars are known for for their soft and supple leather seats, but house owners of luxury cars have conjointly come to appreciate the suites of safety technologies found in the latest German luxury models – the 650i is not any exception. Expect to find standard front and head-thorax side airbags built into the seats, plus an alphabet soup collection of safety technologies ranging from ABS (Anti-lock Brakes), to DST (Dynamic Stability Control), to DTC (Dynamic Traction Management), CBC (Cornering Brake Control), DBC (Dynamic Brake Management) and plenty a lot of.

BMW 2012 6 Series Gran Coupe