The 2011 BMW 6-SERIES COUPE (650I) - review and pricing

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

2011 BMW 6-SERIES COUPE (650I)
The 2012 BMW 650i convertible has been rumbling around for a little while now, with its sleek lines, 400-horsepower 4.4-liter V-8 and drop top making headlines around the world.
Funny thing is, BMW did the whole 6 Series intro a little backwards. Usually, you'll see the coupe before the convertible, especially considering that the drop-top was unveiled in the winter. Nonetheless, that's the way BMW has rolled it out and now, Part 2 is ready.
The 2012 BMW 650i Coupe doubles down on the sleek lines of the convertible, ditching the heavy looking styling of its predecessor. Gone are the droopy headlights and weird offset trunk. The shape is still immediately recognizable, but the sheetmetal looks tighter, as if the whole car got Botox. There's a bit of history, too. The long, lean coupe is reminiscent of the mid-80s 635 CSi, and there's even a hint of the E46 3 Serie
s coupe around the rear side windows and wheel treatment

The BMW 6-Series coupe is essentially an upscale two-door bodystyle with two-plus-two seating built on the 5-Series chassis. Powered by a 360 horsepower BMW 4.8-liter V8, with three choices of transmission, it offers BMW�s traditionally excellent handling performance and driving satisfaction, with luxury interior appointments and an extensive list of high-technology innovations.

Though BMW engines have been shedding turbochargers of late — the recently redesigned 535i switched to single turbocharging for its in-line 6-cylinder — the 650i positions two turbos between the cylinder banks of its 4.4-liter V-8. The unit produces 400 horsepo
wer from 5,500 to 6,400 r.p.m., while its maximum 450 pound-feet of torque is spread across a wide band, from 1,750 to 4,500 r.p.m. BMW says the 650i coupe moves from zero to 60 m.p.h. in 4.8 seconds.


Transmission choices include a 6-speed manual or BMW’s 8-speed Sport Automatic. Chassis stiffness and throttle response can be manually adjusted among four settings: Com
fort, Normal, Sport and Sport Plus. The latter mode adjusts the thresholds of the 650i’s stability control system, which should allow the car’s considerable tail to wiggle a touch during spirited cornering.

The sharklike countenance of the previous 6 Series coupe, one of the car’s most contentious design elements, has been reined in more consciously to the hood and fron
t fascia. The hood, however, remains the focal point of the car, while behind the front axle, the body work clearly strives to evoke that of the shapely 335i coupe.

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