6 Series seductress
BMW's road-hugging new coupe turns on the power, prestige

MIJAS, Spain - BMW has a heritage of sporty luxury coupes dating back to 1938, but it's been 15 long years since one graced our roads. We are not counting the bulky 850, which could hardly be called sporting. In addition to looking forward to spring for the usual reasons, we can add the arrival of the 2004 BMW 6 Series Coupe to the list.

The word "coupe" comes from the French word "couper" - to cut. Think of the new 6 Series coupe as a cut back 7 Series - cut only in terms of size and weight. The result, accordingly, is a very fast and agile sports-luxury car that any enthusiast would be proud to own.

The long hood, short deck and minimal overhangs contribute to an aggressive look. Like all Chris Bangle designs, it is controversial, especially from the rear. But nobody will refer to the new 6 Series as dull or conventional, and everyone will know it's a BMW.

At the front, the headlights have the current hooded look with ring shaped parking lights surrounding both high and low beams and turn signals extending across the entire headlamp unit. The trim strips along the sides are evocative of the 3.0 CSi coupe of the 1970s, and at the rear lights once again play a major role in the design, although to these eyes not as successfully. The resultant package fits perfectly within BMW's design strategy.

The fresh design continues inside, albeit in a much more normal and formal fashion. There is an air of luxury and technology suitable to the range, from interior trim strips fashioned in "pearl gloss ruthenium galvanic technology" to Dakota leather on the seats. The instrument panel consists of two binnacles, one housing the instruments, surrounded by matte chrome; the other the iDrive control display.

The standard seats are heated and come with 3-position memory. The optional sport seats have firmer padding and additional support. A pair of body-contoured buckets in the rear are separated by a tall centre cushion offering adequate room for adults over short distances. The trunk is remarkable for a coupe, with enough room for a large suitcase and two golf bags. A massive panorama vent roof is available. It does not slide open but does pop up at the rear for ventilation.

Much of the technology found on the company's flagship 7 Series sedan is shared with the 6 Series. But absolutely fanatical attention to weight saving results in a very light vehicle, considering a list of luxury features and amenities worthy of the rather hefty six-figure price tag. Dietary considerations included aluminum hood, doors, brakes, suspension and driveshaft, a trunk lid of Sheet Moulding Compound (SMC) and thermoplastic front fenders. The result is 3,560 lb distributed 50/50.

The heart of the 6 Series Coupe is its wonderful 4.4-litre V8 engine. Recipient of the Engine of the Year award in 2002, it has been specially tuned for this more sporting application. Infinite adjustment of virtually all relevant parameters, including valve timing, lift and even intake manifold length results in an output of 333 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque. One hundred kilometres per hour arrives in a scant 5.6 seconds and top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h. While virtually silent at idle, thanks to a twin chamber exhaust, the V8 emits a gorgeous, throaty 8-cylinder bellow when pressed hard.

Lucky buyers will get to choose from a trio of 6-speed transmissions: Manual, automatic and SMG - BMW's F1-style sequential gearbox that lets the driver control shifts by paddles on the steering wheel or with the gear lever without the use of a clutch.

BMW's innovative Active Steering is also available. As speed increases, the system successively reduces the steering angle and power assist to provide better and smoother directional stability. Conventional steering is a compromise between boost or assist and feel or feedback. Active Steering combines the advantages of all-electric steer-by-wire systems with the genuine feedback of mechanical systems.

The 6 Series is equipped with BMW's most advanced and sophisticated chassis control systems - Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) in conjunction with anti-lock brakes (ABS) and Cornering Brake Control (CBC) are standard. DSC applies slight brake force on the inner rear wheel in a turn at medium to high speeds to enhance stability.

Innovation can even be found in the standard 8-speaker sound system where two central woofers are housed in and connect the side sills, thus getting the necessary volume - a concept patented by BMW. The automatic climate control has a new feature that allows conditioned air to contain more moisture for improved health, without causing problems with windows fogging up. Front, side and side curtain airbags are standard.

A lot of effort has gone into the lights - front and rear. Adaptive headlights are available that swivel as required to follow the course of the road. The result is 90 per cent more illumination than conventional lights and unlike other systems, BMW's system operates at all speeds with both high and low beams.

Other available technology includes voice command, active cruise control, Park Distance Assist, Dynamic Drive, rain sensing wipers and a head-up display.

All 6 Series Coupes are equipped with run flat tires as there is no provision for a spare. Eighteen-inch, cast aluminum wheels fitted with 245/45 tires are standard. Our tester had the optional 19-inch forged wheels wrapped in 245 fronts and 275 rears. They were not impressive in the wet.

Immediate competition:
Jaguar XK8, Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class, Porsche 911 Carrera