New BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe

BMW has revealed the new 6 Series Gran Coupe, a four-door coupe rival to the Mercedes CLS and Audi A7 that will have a UK release date of June 2012, starting at a price of £61,380.

The firm's first four-door coupe, the new 6 Series Gran Coupe is a classically-styled model with a long sweeping bonnet shared with other 6 Series and a distinctive stretched-wheelbase look. The roofline has a gentle arc and it has a traditional three box-style boot at the back.

BMW says the aim was to create 'the proportions of a classic grand tourer coupe' blended with the room and easy access of an executive saloon. This means the new 6 Series Gran Coupe becomes an upscale alternative to a BMW 5 Series, as well as the Mercedes CLS and Audi A7.

It is a big car: it's based on a stretched 6 Series Coupe platform, and is over 5 metres long (113mm longer than the big 6). The stretched wheelbase is just under 3 metres long.

BMW says this long wheelbase has enabled its designers to keep a flowing coupe roofline without eating into rear passenger headroom. The frameless does also have long side windows to reinforce the roomy feel inside.

There are some distinctive styling elements throughout, not least at the rear. BMW's trademark L-shaped brake lights create a distinctive light pattern at night, while the high-level rear brake light stretches the full width of the rear screen. All these horizontal lines combine with the wide rear wheel arches to accentuate the wide track and, yes, overall width.

Inside, BMW has designed a four-seat layout with bucket seats in the rear too. However, while the centre console runs through the cabin, it still leaves space for a fifth 'jump seat' between the two rear seats - having this additional seat is a canny move by BMW, as some buyers eschew strict four-seaters.

Seats from the 6 Series Coupe and Convertible, with built-in seat belts, are also fitted to the 6 Series Gran Coupe, giving a special touch within. The dashboard is shared with other 6 Series, with some unique trim and colour combinations. The boot is huge, too: 460 litres with the seats up is just 20 litres smaller than the new 3 Series - and the setbacks split-fold too. With them down, it stretches to 1,265 litres.

The 6 Series Gran Coupe marks the debut of Bang & Olufsen in-car audio for a BMW. The Advanced Audio System developed for the 6 Series is the 'most advanced audio system ever offered in a BMW'. It has 16 speakers and can apparently recreate the acoustics of a reference living room.

6 Series engines
Three engines are offered in the 6 Series Gran Coupe. Although the 313hp 640d will easily be the best seller, thanks to an almost unbelievable combination of 0-60mph in 5.4 seconds, 50.4mpg, 148g/km CO2 and a touring range of 800 miles, BMW offers two petrol engines too.

The 320hp 640i 3.0-litre is familiar, but the 4.4-litre V8 in the 650i is new. Producing 450hp, it's very, very fast, with 0-60mph taking just 4.6 seconds. Yet it can also, impressively, do 32.1mpg. The power and economy boosts are thanks to the addition of Valvetronic variable valve timing to the twin turbo V8 motor.

All 6 Series Gran Coupe get engine stop-start and an eight-speed automatic gearbox.

The rear-wheel drive chassis is as per the 6 Series, with double wishbones at the front, a multi-link axle at the rear and Variable Damper Control optionally available.

On sale June 2012
The BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe goes on sale in the UK on 2 June 2012: initially, the 640i and 640d will arrive, with the 650i arriving a month later. For how much? The 640i SE costs £61,380, with the 650i M Sport taking the price range up to £75,130.

This pricing puts it firmly in the top end of its competitor set; a bottom-of-the-range Audi A7 Sportback can be had for a shade under £40,000, while a four-cylinder Mercedes-Benz CLS 250CDI costs £46,360.

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