- The all-new four-door 6 Series variant arrives next summer in the U.S.
- The 6 Series Gran Coupe is aimed at such premium "quad coupe" competitors as the Audi A7 and the Mercedes-Benz CLS.
- The 6 Series Gran Coupe is 4.4 inches longer than the 6 Series Coupe.
WOODCLIFF LAKE, New Jersey — The new 2013 BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe, a four-door, four-passenger sibling to the 6 Series Coupe, arrives late next summer in the U.S., taking aim at such premium "quad coupe" competitors as the Audi A7 and the Mercedes-Benz CLS.
First seen as the Concept Gran Concept at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show, the 6 Series Gran Coupe will hit the U.S. market initially as a six-cylinder model, the 640i Gran Coupe, powered by a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-6 rated at 315 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque — enough muscle to provide 0-60 acceleration in less than 5.4 seconds, while returning average fuel economy of 30 mpg on the EU test cycle.
Following later in the year are two V8 versions, the 650i Gran Coupe and the all-wheel-drive 650i xDrive Gran Coupe. Both models feature a more potent variant of BMW's twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8, rated at 445 hp and 480 lb-ft. Zero-60 acceleration takes less than 4.6 seconds in either model; fuel economy averages 27 mpg.
All three 6 Series Gran Coupe variants use BMW's eight-speed automatic transmission, and all have top speed restricted to 155 mph.
BMW calls the 6 Series Gran Coupe a four-passenger model, but says a fifth passenger — presumably a non-adult — can fit in the rear seat. The four-door Gran Coupe is 4.4 inches longer than the standard two-door 6 Series Coupe, with much of the additional length in the rear compartment.
As with the 6 Series Coupe, the 2013 BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe will offer a full array of cutting-edge technology, infotainment and safety systems. Options include adaptive LED headlamps, Active Roll Stabilization, Integral Active Steering, active cruise control, night vision with pedestrian detection, and a Bang & Olufsen surround-sound audio system.
Among the option packages are a Luxury Seating package that bundles ventilated multicontour seats, rear sunshades and a four-zone climate control system, and a Driver Assistance package with lane departure warning, active blind spot detection, rear- and top view cameras, a parking assistant and a three-dimensional, full-color head-up display.
An M Sport package, available at launch, includes an M aerodynamics kit with unique front fascia, side skirts and rear fascia, as well as black chrome exhaust tips, black-painted brake calipers, LED foglamps, a sport exhaust system and a choice of 19- or 20-inch alloy wheels that replace the standard 18-inch rims. Optional M paint finishes include Carbon Black metallic and Imola Red non-metallic. M Sport interior upgrades include Alcantara/leather sport seats with blue contrast stitching, an M leather steering wheel with multifunction buttons and gearshift paddles, and aluminum trim.
Inside Line says: Yet another sensational-looking Bimmer. Pricing will be announced closer to launch.
Add A Comment »
atlrider87 says:
12:56 AM, 12/18/2011
I would have to say that this is my favorite design in the "4-door coupe" market and probably should have been the design of the 5 series.
krankshafted says:
11:38 PM, 12/17/2011
Why, BMW...?
daharder says:
03:33 PM, 12/16/2011
Wow! The squished a 5-Series and mislabeled it a 'coupe' - How Revolutionary!
b_boy_007 says:
02:30 PM, 12/16/2011
I like it a lot. Except for one detail, the full width brake light.
danwilson1 says:
08:40 AM, 12/14/2011
Looks great inside and out. I'd have a hard time choosing a car here. A7, 6er Gran Coupe and CLS? They're all gorgeous.
bestjinjo says:
05:08 PM, 12/13/2011
bodyblue,
Can you please list 2-3 cars that you find to have good interior design/quality? Just so that we can have an idea of what you actually deem to be a good modern interior design.
Also some of the comments here keep repeating over and over that A7 is not a hatchback and looks more like a coupe.
A7 looks like a hatchback with a sharp sloping rear roofline and has none of the sillouhoute of a coupe:
http://www.car61.com/wp-content/uploads/bmw-6-series-gran-coupe-audi-a7-mercedes-cls-02.jpg
By definition, a coupe has a clearly defined rear trunk. Between the 6 series, CLS, and A7, the only car that doesn't follow this is the A7, making is a straight up hatchback with a more aggressively slopes hatch section.
This is what a coupe looks like in profile:
http://p.webwombat.com.au/motoring/images/audi-s5-3-big.jpg
Does A7 look anything like that? Nope. The BMW and CLS actually do look more coupelike.
In fact, the only company here that fooled everyone is the Audi USA because they somehow convinced the world that their car is NOT a hatchback when clearly it is:
http://image.automobilemag.com/f/34699525+w750+st0/2012-audi-a7-hatch-open.jpg
There was another famous car that already did what Audi A7 did almost a decade ago: Mazda 6/ Atenza Hatchback:
http://www.autoevolution.com/images/gallery/medium/MAZDA6-AtenzaHatchback-medium-298_9.jpg
Now people can of course still perfer the A7's styling over its competitors. However, A7 was not called an A7 hatchback in America because most Americans hate hatchbacks. But that doesn't change the fact that is is one!
jacton says:
12:44 PM, 12/13/2011
Yet another answer to a question no one seems to be asking.
Just like the 5-Series GT and X6.
panamera4 says:
11:59 AM, 12/13/2011
"I am sure it is good quality but just is in very poor taste."
This is the concept's interior, its color scheme is not what you will see on a normal production car (unless you go through BMW Individual).
The materials will be that same though and it looks like every surface is covered in their high quality supple Napa leather, I'm not sure if the Alcantara headliner will be standard as that only comes on the AMG version of the CLS.
bodyblue says:
07:44 AM, 12/13/2011
"Elegant" is not a word I would use for the interior. Overwrought would be the word I would use. Also garish comes to mind. I am sure it is good quality but just is in very poor taste.
lolxd says:
09:52 PM, 12/12/2011
It's gorgeous. The headlights could've been better but that doesn't spoil the looks much. It looks to have better interior quality than the Audi but I'll reserve judgement when I finally get my hands on the dash.
It's probably gonna be lighter than the Mercedes CLS, it WILL have 4wd but standard is RWD unlike the Audi A7 and the quality of the inside and under the bonnet will be miles better than the Jaguar XF (if it really competes with these fastback sedans) not to mention, probably gonna be more expensive but who cares.
Will this appear in the new MI movie? I hope so but probably not.