2012 BMW 6 Series

What's New for 2012

The BMW 6 Series is completely redesigned for 2012.

Introduction

Coupes and convertibles designed for grand touring are a breed apart. The people in the front seats count and those in the back do not, so the spacious rear compartments of the sedans with which they share their platforms are not part of the formula. At the same time, neither do such GT cars offer the tart sporting flavor of their smaller sport coupe and convertible siblings. And yet there is no denying their irresistible appeal, a response to their artful styling, athletic dynamics and uncanny ability to effortlessly cover hundreds of miles while coddling their occupants. The 2012 BMW 6 Series is a textbook example of a fine grand touring car.

With this redesign, the 6 Series trades the swollen styling of its former look for a leaner, more chiseled look. Yet the 6 is larger than before, as it has grown about 3 inches in both wheelbase and overall length as well as 1.5 inches in width. These increases should make for an even more spacious cabin than before, which was already pretty good for this segment. And since the 6 Series shares its basic platform with the latest 5 and 7 Series models, this car also will gain a similar amount of weight.

Handling the extra weight should not be a problem for the new 650i, however. It packs BMW's twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8, the one with 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. All that power will be sent to the rear wheels via a standard six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic. Factory estimates for the 650i convertible put the 0-60 time at 4.9 seconds with either transmission. To put that swiftness into perspective, that would be only three-tenths slower than the last-generation, V10-powered M6 coupe. It's believed BMW will also offer a six-cylinder-powered 6 Series (the 640i) and an all-wheel-drive variant of the 650i.

The 6 Series' suspension will be comprised of double wishbones up front and a multilink setup out back. The dampers will be electronically controlled and as before, buyers can opt for Active Roll Stabilization, which senses the amount of body roll and then counteracts it through hydraulic actuators in the sway bars. The steering will be electrically assisted, while the optional Active Steering will incorporate rear-wheel steering to enhance both low-speed maneuverability and high-speed stability. BMW's increasingly ubiquitous Driving Dynamics Control will allow one to customize throttle and steering response, the electrically controlled shocks, stability control intervention and, if so equipped, automatic transmission shift characteristics.

The 2012 BMW 6 Series will first debut in convertible form, with the coupe to follow. The convertible will retain a cloth top (as opposed to a retractable hardtop) with the stylish "flying buttress" design and versatile power back window used before. Lower the window with the top up and you'll have a breezy yet sun-free cabin. Raise the window with the top down and you'll have an effective wind deflector.

Check back later for a full report on the 2012 BMW 6 Series with additional driving impressions, equipment information and buying advice.