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BMW 6-Series Convertible

New 6-Series Convertible hits the road and we're first to drive it

BMW 6-Series Convertible ft

By Jo Oliviera

January 2011

It’s open season on the 6-Series! Seven years after the original car arrived, BMW has launched an all-new version. While the Coupé and a four-door variant are set to go on sale later in the year, it’s the Convertible that’s available first, in good time for summer. And Auto Express drove it on South Africa’s sweeping coastal roads.

Engine choices will include the in-line six-cylinder 635d diesel and 640i petrol. However, we tried the range-topping 401bhp 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol 650i, which costs a whopping £73,430 and reaches dealers in April.

The car certainly looks good, and its styling is far less controversial than that of its Chris Bangle-designed predecessor. Its sleek lines work well to conceal the vast size – at 4.89m it’s 7.4cm longer and 4cm wider than before, but 1cm lower – and with a forward-leaning kidney grille and set-back passenger compartment, it turns heads even if it’s not as pleasing to the eye as Jaguar’s XK Convertible.

The electric, triple-layered, fabric roof can be operated via either a centre console button or remotely from the key fob. It takes 20 seconds to open and 25 to close – operations which can be executed while on the move at up to 25mph. The upright, heated glass rear window is set directly behind the back seats, and can be lowered separately from the roof.

BMW claims the 6-Series’ torsional stiffness has increased by 50 per cent. Despite being bigger and with extra reinforcements to meet stricter US rollover rules (which add 70kg to the overall weight), the cabrio is only 20kg heavier than before. 

This is thanks to plenty of aluminium and fibreglass composite components. Rear seat space is good for two small adults, and there’s room for 350 litres of luggage, too. Highlights up front include a new on-board monitor in the form of a freestanding seven-inch screen, plus a new-generation head-up display. 

All 6-Series models have Drive Dynamic Control, which allows the driver to pick from three driving modes (Normal, Sport and Sport+). Optional Adaptive Drive lets you tweak the response of the dampers, engine, steering, traction control and eight-speed automatic box.

On the move, body stiffness is impressive, with no squeaks or rattles whether the roof is up or down. Over really big bumps the rear suspension can be quite harsh, but the car is generally very stable and offers plenty of traction. The steering set-up is well weighted and very direct, giving plenty of feedback, while the gearbox is fantastic: it shifts quickly and smoothly via the steering wheel-mounted paddles.

The twin-turbo V8 is the star of the show, though. Capable of pushing the car from 0-62mph in five seconds and on to 155mph, it’s a mighty powerplant. With 600Nm of torque – available from only 1,750rpm – there’s always a deep reserve of urge, and it sounds fabulous, too, boasting a mean but smooth V8 rumble. 

Thanks to Drive Dynamic Control and Adaptive Drive, you’ve got a highly capable sports car that’s able to cruise comfortably one minute, and behave like a sports car the next. And while it’s certainly not cheap, this new 6-Series is a hi-tech feast for the senses.

Rival: Jaguar XK Convertible
For sheer glamour, the 380bhp 5.0-litre V8 XK is hard to beat. It might not boast as much tech or space as the BMW, but it’s great to drive and hugely desirable.

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11 Comments

Looks like a Merc SLK

....on steroids. Nothing wrong with that, it's just very uninspired.

By jcrowley012 on 21 January, 2011, 11:10pm

Looks UGLY

As title. How can they get the 3 and 5 series so right and get this so wrong?

By Bugeye on 25 January, 2011, 7:19am

Only for the US

Gosh this is so ugly, you can tell it's aimed at one market and one market ONLY........ the US!!!! nevermind.

By taaudi on 25 January, 2011, 8:47am

Bmw have lost the art of style.
Sadly the sheep in Company management will still keep buying them in black and grey!

By toycollector on 25 January, 2011, 11:01am

I like !

By far a much better looking car than it's predecessor and especially en profil a very good looking design. Park it sideways in front of your house and you'll have a smile on your face each time you look outside! Drive it and the smile will never leave your face, I'm sure.

By xedor2003 on 25 January, 2011, 11:26am

Pew Pew Pew

Don't park it outside MY house or I'll use it for target practice... :P

What a hideous fat-ass'd barge!!! Seems to have been designed by Pontiac... ^^

By sgtgrash on 26 January, 2011, 3:50am

Ugly ?

This car is a technical masterpiece. It leaves the inferior Jag for dead. Looks? Well you brits seem to thinks that anything called Jaguar looks better than anything BMW. The rest of the world dosen't agree - sales prove it. This is not a sportscar. Even though it performs at a sportscar level, it's a GT. This means bigger. Get over your strongly held prejudices, and understand what this car is about.
I'd like to do without the white piping on the dash, otherwise this car is a honey. However, give me the tightness of the coupe anyday.

By larrygold on 26 January, 2011, 9:51pm

Sorry Larry, there's a word we use for it over here. it's called sheep and the Jag's sure are better looking cars

By paul13bernard on 29 January, 2011, 12:57pm

Larrygold, it is certainly BIG, and obviously HEAVY, as are all cars at the top of a makers' range. OVERWEIGHT!!! I wont even get into the 'ugly' debate. because like it or not beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I of course expected the Coupe to follow, and no doubt the [unnecessary] M6, and hell why not throw in a CC, but buggar me, before I could get this written, I had to read in the article that some utter moron at BMW thinks it might need 4 doors!!! What on earth would that be called, and its purpose???? BMW already have [to my eye] a very ugly GT. A 'chopped' 5 series wagon on steroids! Maybe Bangle should have stayed because I reckon BMW are well and truly lost market wise. Just my mere opinion though, :-) And not a shot at you Larry.
Living in neither Germany nor the UK, it would be the Jaguar on my drive thank you.

By barina47 on 30 January, 2011, 4:11am

What happened to the sharp looks?

I love BMW's purely for the history and producing same great cars. But the new BMW's seem to have lost that look! Look of sharpness and mean look. Instead they look a bit saggy. Shame really, Audi's are starting to win me over.

By dan123 on 2 February, 2011, 12:45pm

i doubt bugeye or larry gold have driven this car but I can tell you I have and its very very good.

By mbsbmw on 23 March, 2011, 9:47am

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FIRST OPINION

    If a luxury cabrio’s job is to turn heads and make you feel good, then the new 6-Series scores top marks. With a body that’s far less controversial than its predecessor’s, even more space and a raft of hi-tech gizmos, it’s set to be a success. This range-topper packs a costly punch, so expect to see more 640i and 635d models on the road. We look forward to testing them, and the Coupé, very soon.
     
 

AT A GLANCE

    Price: £73,430
    Engine: 4.4-litre twin turbocharged V8
    Power: 401bhp
    Transmission: Eight-speed automatic; rear-wheel drive
    0-60mph: 5.0 seconds
    Top speed: 155mph
    Economy: 26.4mpg
    CO2: 249g/km
    Equipment: Electric soft top roof, retractable heated rear window, 18-inch alloys, full-colour head-up display, latest iDrive functionality with freestanding flatscreen design, 9.2-inch black-panel control display
    On sale: April  
     
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