BMW Turns on the Way-Back Machine, Comes Back with an 8-Series Successor

[YSSMAN]

I'm probably one of only a handful of people who actually liked the previous 6-series. I will grant everyone the fact that the car wasn't pretty, and only looked good in the kind of colors you see on raw meat, but nevertheless, BMW did something amazing...

2012 BMW 650i

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You get a 400 BHP twin-turbo V8, a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic, and all of the '80s goodness that comes with a 2+2 8-series successor. Well, minus two digits in the name.

 

[Tornado]

I like the rear end treatment, but the front still looks kind of frumpy.

 

[Crumpet]

Great looking car!

 

[Philly]

I think the previous car kind of ruined the concept of a 6-series for me. I never really found it that exciting. Maybe I'll like this one a little better, but I'm not convinced so far. It doesn't really help that the latest BMW products don't really inspire me all that much.

 

[Spacegoat]

I still prefer tho look of old 6- series over this one.

 

[niky]

Until I'd driven one, I'd always thought the 6-series was just too big to be any fun... but it's a nice drive... at least in the lighter variants.

Wonder how this one will go?

 

[sanmusa]

I never liked the new 6 series, it looks way too fat and heavy, as do most cars nowadays. BMWs just don't do it for me, the E30 was one of the last good looking models for me.

The first 6 series was much more elegant, svelte and athletic looking.

Here's the classic 635 CSi:

Gorgeous car!

 

[Spacegoat]

Here's the classic 635 CSi:

Gorgeous car!

Other than the E30, this is my favorite BMW.

 

[MatskiMonk]

I miss my old E24

Anyway, the new F13 6 is a good looking car, and definatley better than the E63 generation in my opinion. The previous gen had a great shape, but in anything less than M guise, it had a face only a mother could love.

I look forward to seeing the new one in the flesh, and I also look forward to seeing the Gran Coupe, since the 4 door 6 has apparentley been approved.

 

[Luminis]

It looks pretty good, in my opinion, a lot better than it's predecessor. But... The 4.4 litre V8 twin turbo makes only 400HP? I mean, they get more than that from the naturally aspired power plant of the M3...

Wondering what the M version will be powered by, though.

 

[MatskiMonk]

It looks pretty good, in my opinion, a lot better than it's predecessor. But... The 4.4 litre V8 twin turbo makes only 400HP? I mean, they get more than that from the naturally aspired power plant of the M3...

Wondering what the M version will be powered by, though.

It's all about the engine characteristics though, the M3's engine wouldn't suit a cruiser such as this IMO.

The M6 will be powered by a slightly tuned version of the X6M/X5M engine ( A 4.4 Twin Turbo delivering 555hp) The engine will also be used in the upcoming M5. It is expected that the engine will deliver 560-580hp in the 5 and 6 compared to the 555hp in the X5 and X6 - I assume this is because it requires less torque and the can 'fiddle' with it abit.

Personally, I'd like to see a 660i with the V12 TT from the 760.... 544hp

 

[AlexGTV]

The more I look at it the more I like it. In particular the british curves and how despite being styled as a coupe it seems there is adequate headroom for back seaters.

 

[Imari]

Reminds me of a Maserati for some reason.

 

[Stotty]

The red car above looks a lot better than the gold one's I've seen in the UK car magazines... it's a relatively handsome car, but doesn't do anything to exite me.

My wife ran one of the previous generation 6's as a company car for a year and it was a reasonably decent mode of transportation... certainly great at covering long distances in a lot of comfort. But for a BMW it was very ordinary to drive.

 

[JCE]

I like it but I'm kind of disappointed that it's only got 400bhp. That's a letdown. I'll take an Audi S5 or Merc CLK AMG.

 

[Stotty]

I like it but I'm kind of disappointed that it's only got 400bhp. That's a letdown. I'll take an Audi S5 or Merc CLK AMG.

Sign of the times I guess that 400bhp in the non-flagship model is unimpressive.

Personally, I'd take the 4.0 diesel.

 

[YSSMAN]

I guess I'd look at the disappointing 400 BHP figure this way... In terms of smooth, flat, and powerful delivery, that engine is going to do exactly what's necessary for a $60K+ luxury coupe.

I'll have mine in bronze with the 8-speed automatic, please. This is one of very few cars where I'd choose the slushbox first.

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

While it looks decent, I will wait until I hear about the weight.. Yes, it looks good but if it's as heavy as the 5-series, it will be a lumbering whale..

 

[barryl85]

Looks good but it just looks like a stretched 3-Series.

Whether some will see this as a good or a bad thing - I would have preferred something that looks different (although this is where they went wrong with the last 6 series).

hmmmm....... what to think.

 

[Stotty]

It's going to be heavy... 1,800kg's at least.

 

[MatskiMonk]

It's going to be heavy... 1,800kg's at least.

Can't see figures on press release but BMWBlog are quoting:

640i – Unladen weight EU: 1735 kg
650i – Unladen weight EU: 1830 kg

 

[niky]

Isn't EU unladen with fluids, already?

Either way, that's pretty darn heavy... only a few potato sacks short of the mid-rung X6s.

400 hp is more than enough, when it's mated to a good automatic and comes with the stump-pulling torque and flat torque curve you'd expect of a twin turbo V8.

 

[YSSMAN]

Exactly. This is meant to be a GT car, and that's it. What I'd do to have one for a quick trip to Chicago, or a run up to Traverse City. Absolutely perfect.

 

[Crash]

I think this car looks fantastic. Other than the slightly too big kidney grills, I like how the car is proportioned and don't really ave an awkward hump out in the butt like the E63.

As a GT car, 400hp will be plenty to get you there on time. The Mercedes CL, Audi A5 and Jaguar XK have roughly the same amounts of power.

 

[Dan_]

It looks fantastic and to be honest, better than the convertible, which was launched a few months ago.

 

[Philly]

Exactly. This is meant to be a GT car, and that's it. What I'd do to have one for a quick trip to Chicago, or a run up to Traverse City. Absolutely perfect.

There are quite a few cheaper cars that can do that as well, pretty easily. The GTI is pretty perfect for those trips I've found. I'm sure a lot of other modern cars that are much cheaper will also make the trip quite enjoyable.

 

[YSSMAN]

Certainly, the GTI applies, but it is not of the GT style/mindset. If we had the Scirocco, that may be able to take a pass at it, but that is going to flex the idea pretty hard. Of all the cheap cars I can think of off the top of my head, perhaps, the Scion tC comes close. I've yet to be able to fathom how they got that much room behind the front seats...

 

[Dan_]

Um, I'm pretty sure the GTi and even the Scion Tc would have proved to be competent cars for long, relaxed trips, but I don't think they're are comparable to the BMW in this particular aspect. When you're driving through 300 miles you'll notice even the overall material quality and feel of the cabin, that's part of the trip and the pleasure inerent to it.

 

[///M-Spec]

There are quite a few cheaper cars that can do that as well, pretty easily. The GTI is pretty perfect for those trips I've found. I'm sure a lot of other modern cars that are much cheaper will also make the trip quite enjoyable.

Strip steak vs. filet mignon. Swatch vs. Tag Heuer. Yellowtail vs. Revana.

For every luxury product, there is a mainstream product that does the same job. The value add for any high-end product is that it ostensibly performs at a superior level (or at the very least, is perceived to), otherwise no one would pay for it.

High-speed travel in supreme comfort and style. Combining the refinement and comfort of a luxury car with the performance and drama of a sports car. That is what a GT car does. It may be the best vehicle in its class, but your GTI does not really fit that description.

As for the new 6er... not really feeling the front end styling. Headlights in particular look over-wrought. But at least an improvement on the deep-sea creature eyes from the E63. Overall shape is nice and it'll probably grow on me the say way the old one did.

But every time BMW makes a car with electric assist steering, God drops a kitten into a wood chipper. So please BMW, think of the kittens.


M

 

[Pupik]

But every time BMW makes a car with electric assist steering, God drops a kitten into a wood chipper. So please BMW, think of the kittens.


M

At this rate, BMW better start making wood chippers; although the old 6-series was the ugliest impersonation of a Dodge Stratus I've ever known...it caused kittens to haz Boca Burgers.