BMW 6er GT driving report
Pure luxury for the luxury class
With the addition of "Gran Turismo", BMW has been trying to make the hatchback sedan socially acceptable since the 5 Series. What ended with the era from 2009 this year will now start again with the 6-series model in late autumn 2017. The Bavarian automobile manufacturer wants to present and position the "newcomer" lighter, more sporty, more comfortable and more efficient. According to the Munich company, he is supposed to shake up the premium manufacturers' luxury vehicles. Freshly presented at the IAA in Frankfurt this year, it will probably be in the dealer's portfolio at the beginning of next year. For the first deliveries, three engines of the latest drive generation as well as BMW's own all-wheel drive xDrive for two model variants are available. In addition, the 6 Series GT should generate its customers with its attractive design. In terms of price, the 6 Series starts at 62.300 euros.
6 sedan with GT addition
In the eyes of those responsible from the Bavarian capital, the classic limousine body has no future. This is to be remedied with the “Gran Turismo” suffix at BMW. The hatchback gave the already sporty design an even more agile performance. The result is a coupé with a bonnet that is pulled far down and headlights that appear narrower. When viewed from the side, the vehicle underlines its coupé character with the ratio of two-thirds aluminum to one-third glass. Supported by a bead that shows itself from the rear side door and ends at the rear. These small changes make the car stand more confidently and aggressively on the road. The aluminum-heavy body made it possible to save up to 150 kilograms of weight compared to the predecessor thanks to the lightweight construction, which is reflected in both the consumption figures and the Cd value of 0,27. In order to get a first impression of its overall performance, BMW invited two days to the hinterland of Lisbon / Portugal. There we were able to test its dynamics on beautiful switchbacks on the Atlantic coast.
Coupé interior with plenty of space
The revised cockpit of the 6 Series Gran Turismo shows the driver all the information in front of him on the dashboard or on the display acting as the control center in the center of the dashboard. We can even use the GoogleMap-based navigation system in real time to navigate the 6 Series. So that the front passenger and the other occupants can read the information on the 10,25-inch touch display, the device is not only leaning towards the driver. Once seated, the flood of information from the on-board computer comes to us digitally and analogously, but this is only visual, because the data to be set individually is reflected purely digitally. After the first changes we made, the work area in the 6 Series Gran Turismo no longer seems so overloaded. With the BMW iDrive, the people of Munich want to follow the ongoing trend of networking and have the system operated via a controller in the center of the center console. Passengers in the front seats enjoy ample legroom. If you have to take a seat in the rear seat of the Coupé, you can travel comfortably even with a body length of more than 1,70 m. Despite the limited coupé shape, BMW engineers were able to increase the trunk volume to functional 610 - 1.800 liters.
Motors from 250 PS upwards
Two petrol and two diesel engines are driving the new 6er Gran Turismo. You trust the most modern version of BMW's own TwinPower Turbo technology. The petrol engine with 2.0 liter four-cylinder (190 kW / 258 PS) and 3.0 six-cylinder (250 kW / 340 PS) as well as the 3.0 liter diesel with 195 kW (265 PS) and 235 kW (320 PS) are combined as standard with the eight - Steptronic gearbox. If the xDrive system developed by BMW is still optionally available in the 640i and 630d for all all-wheel drive enthusiasts, the 640d is fitted with this drive as standard. The xDrive version of the 640i in particular, which we were only allowed to test, had a more than positive impact on the first few rides. Directly appealing without a break and agile, they lead us on the coastal road in the hinterland of Lisbon. The way back via the motorway was also self-controlled. With a wide chest, the Gran Turismo drives through the gate of the event location. On the chassis side, the new BMW hatchback sedan is equipped with rear-axle air suspension with automatic level control. However, the highlight of our test drives is the adaptive chassis with two-axle air suspension and dynamic damper control system, which can be booked as optional equipment. The “Executive Drive” option gives us that special kick. In combination with integral active steering and active "roll stabilization", 6er offers a high degree of reliability, especially when there are rapid load changes, and gives the feedback to the driver to move as if on rails. The two-axle air suspension enables further manual adjustment. When driving on unpaved paths or steep ramps, the ground clearance can be increased by up to 20 millimeters at the push of a button in the center console. The vehicle can be lowered manually by 10 millimeters in Sport mode or automatically at speeds of more than 120 km / h. Until now, the optional suspension systems could only be ordered individually, but BMW is now offering the combination with the all-wheel drive system xDrive.
Goal: autonomous driving, in series!
Autonomous driving is also the step into the future at BMW. Accordingly, all systems in Munich are being installed in the vehicles of the present in preparation and tested in "real" traffic. The engineers from the Isar use the standard stereo camera and optionally the radar and ultrasonic sensors to monitor the surroundings. The standard equipment of the 6 Series Gran Turismo includes a collision and pedestrian warning with city braking function. Optional systems include active cruise control with a stop & go function that works in the range from zero to 210 km / h. The steering and lane guidance assistant that works in the same speed range matches this in the portfolio. Based on the lane markings and vehicles ahead, he keeps the BMW in the recognized lane. The comfort and safety of the car manufacturer from Munich also includes a lane departure and lane change warning system as well as a side collision warning system. There is also a cross traffic, right of way, intersection and wrong-way warning system, all of which are intended to avoid potentially dangerous traffic situations. The 6 Series Gran Turismo finds its prices above the 60.000 euro mark. According to this, the potential BMW customer needs 6 euros to drive a 630 Series Gran Turismo 2.0i with a 62.300 liter petrol engine. The 3.0 liter gasoline engine of the 640i starts at 68.100 euros, with the BMW xDrive system asking for an extra charge of 2.600 euros. The “small” diesel 630d is available for a price of 66.900 euros. The 2.600-cylinder diesel is equipped with the xDrive system for the same surcharge of 6 euros. The flagship of the 6 Series Gran Turismo, the 640d xDrive, starts its price range at 73.500 euros.
And finally ... The new BMW hatchback sedan, the 6er Gran Turismo, offers total driving pleasure with feasible efficiency with all its body and drive variants. Its chassis options make driving in the upper class "Coupé" a very special experience.
With the 6i xDrive, the new BMW 640 Series Gran Turismo offers pure luxury for the upper class, coupled with a good dose of SPORT. The result is pure driving pleasure.
Text: Stefan Beckmann, Beitragsbild: Manufacturer Picture: Stefan Beckmann and Wolfgang Groeger-Meier