2014 BMW 640i Reviews

Peter Anderson road tests and reviews the BMW 650i Gran Coupe with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

The 640i Gran Coupe is the Bavarian carmaker's answer to the highly successful Mercedes-Benz CLS, even if it is eight years late. The CLS is in its second generation, while the Audi A7 Sportback has been around for a couple of years.VALUEOn sale now for $194,872.08 drive away, the four-door 640i is about $6500 more than the two-door coupe version, but is $9500 less than the convertible. The V8 650i Gran Coupe is available from about $250K on road, then the M6 range-topping autobahn stormer next year. A diesel version is a possibility. The Gran Coupe also is targeting the far more expensive Maserati Quattroporte, Porsche Panamera and Aston Martin Rapide.Standard equipment on even the most basic 640i includes a 10.2-inch screen for the BMW Professional satellite-navigation system, in-car internet and rear camera as well as tilt-only sunroof, head-up display, electric power steering, Dynamic Damper Control, adaptive LED headlights with cornering function, heated front seats, keyless entry and start, four-zone climate-control, a rear folding backrest, full-length rear-screen LED brake lights (a BMW first) and 19-inch alloy wheels.TECHNOLOGYThe 1750kg 640i Gran Coupe is powered by the same 3.0-litre straight six as the Coupe and Convertible. Using direct-injection TwinPower Turbo twin-scroll forced induction, 235kW of power from 5800 to 6000rpm and 450Nm of torque from 1300 to 4500rpm are delivered to the rear wheels via a ZF eight-speed automatic Steptronic transmission. It reaches 100km/h in 5.4 seconds and the top speed is electronically limited to 250km/h.The combined fuel consumption is 7.8 litres per 100km (7.9 if fitted with the optional 20-inch alloys) and carbon dioxide emissions average 182g/km. Colleagues achieved about 11.5 on the drive around the Far North. Fuel use is aided by the stop-start system at idle, regenerative braking and on-demand ancillary components.Single-piston aluminium floating-calliper disc brakes (vented up front) bring the 640i to a quick stop, helped along by the usual suite of stability, traction and cornering controls, as well as BMW's Dynamic Brake Control, Dry Braking Function, a brake fading system and start-off assist systems. Steering is speed-sensitive electric power-assisted while the standard run-flat tyres are 245/40R19 up front and 275/35R19s at the back.DESIGNThe Gran Coupe can seat five with a smaller person in the middle of the rear seat at a pinch. It's basically a stretched version of the 6 Series Coupe and Convertible, with the same nose and rear and a less raked A-pillar. It sits on a 2968mm wheelbase, 113mm longer than the other 6 Series models. The doors and bonnet are made from aluminium, but the roof is longer and flatter, as well as 24mm higher for better headroom.It is 5007mm long, 102mm more than the 5 Series but 65mm less than 7 Series, 1894mm wide and 1392mm high, with extra dimensions to increasing rear seat legroom versus the two-door models. The rear backrest folds to increase boot volume from 460 litres (the same as the coupe) to 1265 litres. Apart from a different and cosetting centre console layout in an otherwise identical dashboard, the front half of the interior is shared with other 6 Series variants.DRIVINGIt's a slinky, low-slung car and fortunately there is lots of go with the show. The twin turbo straight six can lift its skirt and run with the best of them. Our speed limit of 100km/h comes up in a mere 5.4s and it will storm on to a limited 250km/h, if you dare.Our drive program took us along the Bruce Highway to Gordonvale, up the Gillies Range, across the Tableland with a detour to my favourite section of Springmount Rd between Walkamin and Dimbulah and then to Mt Molloy and down the Rex Range to Port Douglas. The following day was a brief spin from Port Douglas to Cairns.The Gran Coupe follows BMW's mantra as a dynamic driving machine and enjoyed being punted through the twisty bits on the Gillies, zipping around the curves as if on rails with great feel through the steering and plenty of surety in the brakes. The coupe wafts along at 100km/h with nary any noise from the silky smooth engine, some wind rustle courtesy of the big door mirrors but unfortunate road noise over coarse bitumen surfaces. The ride is firm but not unpleasant.It lunged across the undulating and bendy Springmount Rd between Walkamin and Oaky Creek like a grippy rally car, powering out of the tight bends and providing loads of braking when required. Overtaking slower vehicles was a cinch as the bi-turbos whipped into a frenzy. The straight six emits a delicious growl when prodded but can be eerily quiet at 100 clicks.I almost fell asleep as my co-driver took the wheel between Mareeba and Mt Molloy. Its roadholding and superb brakes came to the fore on the downhill leg of the Rex Range between Julatten and Mossman. Inside is a delight, a cosy cabin with lashings of leather and comfortable seats front and rearVERDICTBMW has done a great job at its first attempt of a four-door coupe even if they are a few yearslate but it's expensive. The GC provides a slinky alternative to the more humdrum 5 and 7 series Beamers. The 640i Gran Coupe continues the BMW tradition of a superb, powerful and addictive straight six power plant. It's more grand tourer than a sporty four-door coupe but having said that it also can be hurried through curves and bends with vigour. The Gran Coupe is all about style with substance.BMW 640i Gran CoupePrice: from $194,872 (for F12 model)Warranty: Three years/100,000kmSafety:  n/aEngine: 3.0-litre 6-cyl, 235kW/450NmTransmission: 8-speed auto, RWDThirst: 7.8L/100km, 181g/km CO2Body: 5m (L), 1.9m (W), 1.4m (H)Weight: 1825kgSpare: None. Run-flats

Out there there’s the sedate sedan man who covets a sporty two-door coupe; there’s a coupe owner who craves the convenience of four doors. Now both can have it all with the new BMW 640i Gran Coupe.VALUEPriced at $184,800, plus on-road costs, to say it’s a blend of heart-racing good looks and eye-watering performance is not to overstate the Gran Coupe. Efficiencies are obtained through the use of an Eco Pro driving mode, auto stop/start engine function, brake energy regeneration, electromechanical power steering, ancillary units used only on demand, an air-conditioning compressor that can be disengaged, active air flap control to cut drag and the use of lightweight materials throughout the vehicle. Advanced chassis technology, which includes the use of aluminium for strength and weight saving, ensures premium ride quality and dynamic performance of the Gran Coupe. Also standard is a full-colour head-up display projected onto the windscreen directly in front of the driver giving speed, sat nav guidance, messages and alerts from the lane departure system and night vision.A range of interior finishes are also available. Topping the lot is an M Sports package that includes M aerodynamics up front, side skirts and rear apron, dark chrome tailpipe tips, and black brake callipers on 20-inch alloy wheels with double spoke design, plus M body colours.TECHNOLOGYFollowing the well travelled road of full-on sporty performance with exceptional fuel economy, the Gran Coupe calls on BMW’s award-winning 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine with precision petrol injection and twin scroll turbocharger. Peak power of 235 kW comes up between 5800 and 6000 rpm and 450 Nm of torque from 1300 to 4500 revs. This means the car will clear the line on the way to hitting the 100 km/h tape in just 5.4 seconds.With the motor matched to an eight-speed Sport automatic transmission and benefiting from BMW’s Efficient Dynamics technology, average fuel consumption is claimed to be 7.9 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined urban / highway cycle, while putting out 183 grams of carbon dioxide every kilometre.DESIGNAs the name suggests, the luxurious Coupe makes itself known in a Gran(d) manner. With limousine proportions - the car measures 5007 mm long thanks to a 2968 mm wheelbase, 113 mm more than the 6 Series Coupe and Convertible - the winners here are the back seat passengers who enjoy increased leg room.Indeed, it is the longest vehicle in the segment, one that includes the likes of the Aston Martin Rapide and the Maserati Quattroporte. The extra couple of doors mean there are more windows, letting more light into the cabin. The front of the vehicle returns to the beloved company shark nose and kidney radiator grille, while the BMW emblem itself dominates the long bonnet which reaches out to the set-back passenger cabin.In profile, there’s no missing the fact of the Gran Coupe’s low centre of gravity, which is only emphasised by sharp horizontal lines across the rear and a third stop lamp which runs the full width of the top edge of the rear window. Exterior paint includes a matt finish Frozen Bronze which, among others, produces a facial Max Factor would have been proud to call his own.Despite the low lines, the vehicle height is increased over the Coupe model and the 460 litre boot is capable of carrying three golf bags, expanding to 1265 litres with the rear seat backs folded flat. Inside the cabin it will comfortably seat four adults, with the option of using the centre rear position for a fifth providing he or she is prepared to straddle the centre console. All seats are wrapped in Dakota leather, with the option of Nappa hides with contrasting stitching adding extra class.SAFETYSafety is high on the list of Gran Coupe features. These include active cruise control which will keep the vehicle at a pre-determined distance from the vehicle in front. A collision warning system automatically sounds an alarm and applies the brakes to slow down the vehicle can be activated via the car’s iDrive menu.A park distance alarm and a reversing camera which projects the rear view onto the in-car screen are standard and can be added to with a surround view system that incorporates a side view too. Optional park assist helps the driver seek out a potential parking space and takes control of parking, steering into the space with the driver operating only the accelerator and brake.At night standard high beam assist sets high beam and dips the lights automatically for oncoming, or close-ahead, traffic, while an optional night vision system uses a thermal imaging camera to pick up pedestrians, animals or anything emitting heat and show them on the control display in the cabin.DRIVINGAn option unique to the class is integrated active steering in which the steering angle of the rear wheels is altered to match the power assistance and steering angle of the front wheels. Agility is improved on tight bends, in lane changing and in city traffic.When it comes to driving, the Gran Coupe could well be described as being ‘all cars to all men’. A so-called Driving Experience Control button on the centre console dishes up Comfort, Sport and Sport+ modes which work on accelerator pressure and engine response, gear shifts, power steering and stability control to suit the driver’s style and the occupants wishes. The button also brings into play Eco Pro which highlights driving style and how to match it to maximum fuel economy.While all this is going on, cabin occupants can be entertained by a premium Bang and Olufsen audio and for an extra $16,000 a high-end surround sound system with 14 speakers and two sub-woofers in thrall to 1200 Watts of power. Notes from the engine finding their way into the comfortable and classy cabin were perfectly in tune with the sporty aspect of the vehicle.Adaptive LED headlamps feature white LED corona rings as parking and daytime running lights. These are flattened at the bottom and overlapped at the top edge with a further LED light. It’s almost as if the car were sharply concentrating on the road ahead. The 6 Series Gran Coupe standard package is a whole box and dice of what is best about BMW’s adherence to producing drivers’ cars, a point repeatedly illustrated on our run.VERDICTThe Gran Coupe offers a great example of luxury with a touch of larrikin ladness.BMW 6 Series Gran CoupePrice: From $184,800Warranty: 3 years roadsideSafety: Not ratedEngine: 3.0-litre, 6-cyl turbo petrol, 235kW/450NmTtransmission: 8-speed auto, rear-wheel driveThirst: 7.9L/100km, 183g/km CO2Body: 5007mm (L), 1894mm (W), 1392mm (H)Weight: 1750kg

In common with every other luxury brand in the world — and we're talking designer label anything, not just cars — BMW has its gaze fixed longingly upon the bountiful riches, there for the taking, in China.The Middle Kingdom has high-end Western brands totally in its thrall. The enthusiasm with which wealthy Chinese people are opening their wallets to acquire the baubles, big and small, of the decadent, capitalist Occidentals is breathtaking.So BMW has added rear doors to the 6-Series coupe — a necessary feature for Chinese luxury car buyers — and extended the wheelbase to liberate a liveable rear seat. Going deep into Beijing bling territory has created the new 6 Series Gran Coupe.The 3.0-litre  straight six turbo 640i goes on sale here in July. The 4.4-litre V8  twin turbo  650i follows in October. The 3.0-litre twin turbo diesel 640d is a maybe. Hopefully, it will soon become a definite.VALUENo prices are fixed for Australia but the Gran Coupe will sit between the two-door and the convertible. So the 640i will cost about $190,000, give or take a few dim sims, while the 650i will occupy the low-mid $240,000 range. If the 640d gets here, it will be pricier than the petrol six but not by much.You'll pay similar money for a 3.6-litre six-cylinder petrol or 3.0-litre turbo diesel Porsche Panamera but the Porsche V8 is a $297,100 ask. The Mercedes CLS350 is $159,200. The bargain in this class is Audi's beautiful and underrated A7, which kicks off at $142,700 for the 220kW 3.0-litre V6 supercharged petrol TFSi quattro.TECHNOLOGYThe Gran Coupe is a design exercise. That said, BMW tech is always interesting and, with a few exceptions, extremely effective. The 640i's petrol engine, six years on, runs one turbo instead of two, to improve fuel efficiency. On our drive around the mountains of Sicily, it averaged 12.9L/100km. The official number is 7.7L. This version has 235kW and what makes it remarkable in the petrol donk context is a torque curve as flat as the Nullarbor: the full 450Nm is all yours from from 1300rpm to 4500rpm.The eight-speed automatic, and drivetrain maps that range from ECO to nuke-the-planet Sport+, allow you to drive it any way you choose. The auto never leaves you wondering what it's going to do next, or when. It's only when you hop into the 640d that the petrol engine feels underdone.This is the world's best turbo diesel six. With 630Nm, it seems to pull with half the effort of the turbo petrol, yet with 230kW it's hardly short on power, either, and happily spins to a most un-diesel-like 5800rpm. I averaged high 11L/100km; the official 5.5L is probably wishful thinking. Both sixes hit 100km/h in 5.4 seconds. The V8 (which was unavailable on launch) takes 4.6 seconds.DESIGNThe Gran Coupe looks stretched and tight, like a good BMW should, emphasised by the famed Hofmeister kink here extending deep into the rear pillar. But I'm not sure if it's a true coupe. The boot has a flat deck rather than a Kate Winslet-esque rump, so this is really a sedan. They probably wanted to avoid, at all costs, giving it a barge-arse like the Panamera.A striking new matt colour, called Frozen (burnished, to the eye) Bronze, is exclusive to the Gran Coupe. Inside, the theme is nautical but this is no tinnie. The test car's cabin featured a wild combination from the BMW Individual custom design palette: white leather seats, dash and door trim, enveloped by an earthy brown hue on the roof, doors and floor. Think Vegas brothel meets Birdsville pub. It should look horrible but it works. I like it. I can't believe I just wrote that.SAFETYNo NCAP results yet but this car will be eminently crashworthy. The head-up display allows you to monitor your speed and navigate without taking your eyes off the road. Active cruise control can automatically stop you rear-ending another car at low speed. Infra-red light can detect an errant pedestrian stumbling into your path at night; he's then caught like a bunny in a bright LED beam while you think about how pleasant it would be to contribute to this year's Darwin awards.DRIVINGWhatever engine you choose, performance is not an issue. The 640d, though, is an absolute wonder. If you think a diesel is a weird, or low rent, choice for a car such as this, drive this one. Hopefully, BMW Australia will give you the opportunity.The Gran Coupe, 5m and a smidge long and nearly 2m wide,  is not to be confused with a genuine sports car. It takes open sweepers as fast as you like and with tenacious precision. However, in tight corners it requires help from the adjustable suspension and (optional) anti-roll system to get around with its dignity intact. That said, at 1825kg the 640i is light for a car of this size, so when you set everything to Sport or Sport+ mode, it's almost athletic. The diesel weighs only 40kg more, and there's no discernible difference in dynamics between the two.Electric steering is suitably light, a touch remote and not too direct, the brakes are up to it and the ride might be a bit lumpy on our goat tracks. The sporty suspension settings actually work better in this regard than the two Comfort modes. These offer no resistance at all to big hits, which crash through the body.VERDICTLong, low, louche and loaded, the 6-Series Gran Coupe says you take your pleasure very seriously. And why not?BMW 640i Gran CoupePrice: From $190,000 (est)Warranty: 3 years/unlimited kmResale: N/AService interval: On demandSafety: Not ratedEngine 3.0-litre, 6-cyl turbo petrol, 235kW/450NmTtransmission: 8-speed auto, rear-wheel driveThirst: 7.7L/100km, on test 12.9L, 183g/km CO2. Tank 70LBody: 5m (L), 1.9m (W), 1.4m (H)Weight: 1825kgSpare: None. Run-flats