BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe : First Drive

BMW has already tasted success with the 6 Series Coupe and Convertible, and now with the brand new 6 Series Gran Coupe, the company is venturing into a bold new marketplace with their first ever 4 door coupe. There isn’t an iota of doubt that BMW is bullish about the prospects they intend to achieve with this new car for it does offer a formidable combination of being the perfect offspring between an all out sports car and a luxury sedan. 

Set your eyes on this beautifully sculpted machine and there is no denying its drop dead gorgeous looks. The metal has been crafted with elegant lines that work to highlight its powerful aura and the quintessential BMW flare has been tossed in for good measure. The car possesses a stretched look, with short front and rear overhangs which give the 6 Series Gran Coupe its sporty demeanor. The greenhouse is set back and visually enhances the long hood to create a rather purposeful stance. The hood itself has two lines that start at the emblem and run all the way to the end of the car. The front double eyed headlights flank the slightly protruding kidney grille and the lower bumper gets a dosage of chrome décor elements along the slick fog lights and the car itself possesses a neat wide stance. The silhouette is dominated by the sloping roof and window line that runs flat towards the rear.

The long wheelbase is evident and the swage line along the shoulder of the car pronounces its sporty demeanor. Of course the large 245/45 R 18 rims add their own touch to the glamour quotient as well. The tail end is also a masterpiece in design aesthetics and the first item that ticks all the right boxes is the sleek, almost hidden, tail light that stretches across the full length of the rear glass right where the glass meets the roof. The taillights are standard to the 6 Series family line and the boot has a taunt sculpted look to it. The genes of a sports car are apparent with the twin exhausts that complete the rear visual package.

Inside the 6 Series Gran Coupe, the driver is the center of attention. The dashboard, information systems, audio controls, multi media interface system as well as the gear lever are all ergonomically placed such that it almost feels intuitive to the touch. The horizontal design lines stretch to the back area and bring about a connect to the entire symmetry and layout of the interiors.

Finished in a dual tone treatment and wrapped in fine leathers, the 6 Series Gran Coupe offers a rather cozy atmosphere. The car has been stretched a little compared to its coupe and convertible siblings resulting in freeing up enough space for the rear bench, which BMW claims can seat three people, however, with the center console extending all the way from the dash to the rear seat, the middle man would have to straddle it and in doing so the air-conditioning vents would be rather precariously pointed! Not to mention, the low sloping roofline doesn’t offer much headroom while seated in this center position.

At best, the Gran Coupe is a four seater, and a rather roomy one at that. The seats are comfortable; there is ample legroom, however tall people might find their noggin rather close to the roof. Having said that, it is one of the most spacious 4+4 seaters we’ve come across in recent times; that too with a practical edge thanks to the 40:60 split folding rear seats that allow you to increase luggage space from the standard 460 litres to a solid 1265 litres. 

Adding to the charm of the 6 Series Gran Coupe is the high level of tech and innovation that has gone into this car. For starters, you have the advanced HUD (heads up display) unit that also shows navigation information, night vision with pedestrian recognition, surround view, auto start/stop, LED ring day time running lights, and a reverse parking camera. Creature comforts include a high end Bang & Olufsen surround sound system, 2-zone climate controlled air conditioning, cruise control, paddle shifts, electronically adjustable seats with memory function and a numerous driver aids to ensure that you are pampered in luxury yet connected with the car through all the tech on board.

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For India, the 6 series Gran Coupe is set to debut with two engine options, namely the 650i and 640d. These TwinPower Turbo engines have been tuned to offer great drive dynamics as well and enhanced fuel efficiency, making them rather formidable pieces of work. The petrol powered 650i is essentially a 4395cc, 8 cylinder unit that is capable of churning out 450PS @ 5500rpm and generates 650 Nm of torque between 2000-4500rpm.

The 2993cc diesel unit has a 6 cylinder layout and offers 317PS @ 4400rpm and a solid 630 Nm of torque between 1500-2500rpm. According to BMW, the 650i can go from 0-100 km/h in just 4.6 seconds and the diesel is no slouch for it manages the 0-100 km/h sprint in 5.4 seconds! Both engines are mated to the latest 8 speed automatic gearbox, which is designed to harness all this power and translate it to a rather engaging drive experience. Despite its size, the 6 Series Gran Coupe can unleash a lot of muscle on the tarmac and speaking from the heart, you have to be behind the wheel to truly enjoy the sheer acceleration accompanied with the solid roar of the engine that this car offers when it takes off from standstill. 

As with all high end Beemers, the 6 Series Gran Coupe comes packed to the hilt with safety features which include front airbags, side airbags integrated into the seatbacks, head airbags for both front and rear passengers, three-point automatic seatbelts for all five seats, ABS, ASC, DTC (dynamic traction control), CBC (corner braking control) and DBC (dynamic brake control). 

Not only is the car extremely powerful and cocooned in safety, it also comes with a robust chassis. The double track control arm front axle and integral rear axle offer better directional stability and reduced body roll. The electromechanical steering provides improved steering feedback and you feel more in control.

As an option you can also get Dynamic Damper Control, and Adaptive Drive, however, even without these optional extras, the 6 Series Gran Coupe can literally be hustled through corners without upsetting it or feeling nervous behind the wheel yourself. Incidentally, ride quality doesn’t take a back seat in the name of drive dynamics and the car soaks up road undulations with ease and on board comfort is at par with what you would expect from a car of this nature.

The 6 Series Gran Coupe has been derived directly from BMW’s prized DNA and while BMW today is all about the joy of driving, this machine conforms to the list of Ultimate Driving Machines. For India, this particular version of the 6 Series is bound to find maximum takers for it offers a heightened level of practicality as compared to its siblings. In many ways, it’s possibly the most desirable BMW sedan yet!