BMW 6-Series: First Look

In German motoring circles there is one name that polarises all views - Bangle.

Hammered for his work on the ugly 7-series, which is already going through a rather premature mid-life upgrade, Chris Bangle who is now the head of design for the entire BMW Automotive Group, is perhaps finally starting to 'come good' in the eyes of his peers.

Perhaps the company needs to show a bit of loyalty itself and get behind the oft-criticised head of design with a new slogan: The BMW Angle - the B.angle.

Or maybe not.

But with the new 5-series already looking very swish and the Z4 turning heads at busy intersections, the Bangle-meister's fourth new model for the Germanic marque could well be his best work yet.

Perhaps now that Bangle is past the jittery opening stages of his very high-profile job, he may be finding the going a little easier, not trying to develop a BMW that is all things to all people.

Take the new 6-series for instance. A lovely-looking car if we ever saw one, with a little bit of heritage and what looks like - on paper at least - something that will give Mercedes' powerful SL-class of coupes a good fight.

The first official photos to come from Bavarian Motor Works highlight the 645i, which is fitted with BMW's proven 4.4-litre V8, and at first glance it's obvious that this is a sports model.

The sleek overall look is very pleasing, very crisp, and perhaps a little understated compared to the last few BMW model launches.

Even in the photos the car appears to have an abundance of road presence, so you can bet that on the road these curvy-yet-purposeful coupes will draw quite a bit of attention.

The new-look headlight cluster is similar to that of the 5-series, but doesn't wrap around quite as far into the side panels, giving it more focussed gaze.

The steeply raked front and rear windows help reduce the drag co-efficient, and the low roof-line measuring just less than 1.4 metres (1373mm) contributes too.

The new 6-series models are 1855mm wide and fairly long at nigh on 5 metres (4820mm) from front bumper to exhaust pipe.

And speaking of exhuast pipes, the V8-powered 6-series pictured is graced with a very sporting twin exhaust system, above which BMW claims is a boot big enough for two golf bags and a suitcase.

The 6-series also has an interesting history, starting life in 1976 as the 630CS. The model range was designated E24 internally, and following the CS came the 633CSi, 635CSi plus the L6 and fiesty M6, but then BMW stopped producing the 6-series in 1989.

There are plans for a 2005-model M6, which will be gifted with the same 5.5-litre V10 that's making its way into the highly-anticipated M5, and should give Mercedes' heavier SL 55 AMG a swift kick in the cods.

But back to the standard 6-series models, and the rear-wheel drive 645i will be quite the blacktop bully, with BMW types suggesting 0-100km/h times of 5.6 seconds. Such an impressive (alleged) 100km/h dash is possible thanks to its tasty V8 mill thumping away under the bonnet, but also a mixture of low-weight and efficient transmissions.

BMW reckons the new 6-series will be limited to 1600kg, which ain't too bad considering all the BMW techno-goodies that ship as standard. The German car gurus have taken advantage of what they call WRAT - Weight-Reduced Aluminium-Technology.

In essence, this fancy acronym makes stuff like the car's front section lighter. Meanwhile, the bonnet and doors are 100 per cent aluminium and the front-side panels are made of thermoplastic, all of which helps keep the kerb weight down.

Early reports also suggest the new Six-er has a weight distribution between front and rear axles of close to 50:50, which if true should make the new 6-series very attractive to the serious driver.

The 645i comes standard with BMW's tried-and-tested 4.4-litre V8 (also used on 5, 7 and X-series). This eight-cylinder mill makes use of variable valve control (Valvetronic) to churn out a very respectable 245kW @ 5500rpm. The 4398cc front-mounted powerplant creates 450Nm of torque, peaking @ a very usable 3600rpm.

As per BMW tradition, the new 645i will be electronically governed, and speeds over 250km/h will be theoretically impossible without a little 're-wiring'.

Three transmissions will be offered - a six-speed manual, a six-speed automatic (w/Steptronic) and an SMG, or Sequential Manual Gearbox, which will feature a generic lever shift and also shift paddles on the steering wheel for that F1 feeling everyone seems to want.

Helping drivers out will be a plethora of gadgets and doodads, including a reworked version of the counter-intuitive iDrive system first seen on the updated 7-series.

Potential 6-series drivers will be in acronym heaven with: DDC (Dynamic Drive Control), DSC (Dynamic Stability Control), DTC (Dynamic Traction Control) and ACC (Active Cruise Control).

You can also (optionally) fit the 6-series with BMW's "intelligent" Dynamic Drive suspension that is supposed to compensate for body roll in a corner, and then there's BMW's Active Steering, which gives a more direct steering response at low speeds, and vice versa at high speeds.

Not to be outdone by countrymen Mercedes Benz, run flat tyres will make the cut - so far the domain of only super and luxury cars - and other options include adaptive swivelling headlights and a techno-cool HUD, or head-up display (projects important data - speed, rpm, fuel etc. - transparently onto the inside of the windscreen).

Together with what is promised to be a killer sound system, the new coupe from BMW will be good company for the likes of the Monaro to keep, though don't expect a similar price tag. Early mumblings suggest the new 6-series will mirror 7-series pricing, which start at a smidge over $174,000.

Still, it is a prestige 2+2 coupe from a marque that knows how to pamper its customers, and is expected to launch in Germany and the rest of Europe by the end of 2003, followed by a dearer convertible version.

Chris Bangle's exciting new creation will be officially launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September and should arrive on Australian shores by the second quarter, 2004.