Test Drives

World Debut of the New BMW 6 Series. Heralding the Large 645Ci Coupé.

Passion, elegance, power and performance - the 645Ci is the synthesis of all these attributes. This new BMW marks the very top of the large coupé segment. 

With its sophisticated and sleek proportions, the new 6 Series makes a clear pledge to the world of the classic, sporting and elegant coupé. The dynamic looks of the car bear a clear testimony to exceptional driving agility at very first sight. And indeed, the 8-cylinder power unit interacting with the outstanding chassis and suspension, innovative active steering and the most advanced driver assistance systems such as Dynamic Drive (roll stabilisation) ensures a truly impressive, powerful and refined driving experience. 

Despite its sporting performance and dynamic character, this thoroughbred coupé ensures driving comfort of the highest calibre: A fully-fledged 2+2-coupé, the 645Ci offers all four passengers maximum seating comfort for a coupé, luxury features all round, and an ambience of sheer elegance. All this is combined with exceptional practical qualities including safety features that are inherent in every new BMW. 

Combining progressive technology, fascinating design and all the amenities desired by the customer, the new 6 Series offers its passengers dynamic driving pleasure of the highest standard setting a new benchmark in the luxury sports coupé segment.

Exterior design: powerful - exciting - emotional. 

The 645Ci is a car full of style and presence. Its character lines flow smoothly around the car without a definite beginning or end, joining the front, side and rear to form one complete, harmonious sculpture. The curved surfaces emanate a feeling of power and breed pure emotion, creating an aura of visual tension not allowing even the slightest touch of boredom. This is not just the design of an outstanding coupé, but also an expression of unique, aesthetic character giving the new 6 Series its unmistakable style.

Following the design language of a classic coupé, the engine compartment lid stretches out in a long, sleek line merging into the shorter, low-slung roof line of the passenger cell positioned further back towards the rear end of the car. The tail of the 6 Series coupé with its integrated spoiler, finally, is truly sporting in every respect, reminiscent of a typical Gran Turismo sports car.

Dynamic harmony throughout the interior.

"Dynamic harmony" is the philosophy underlying the interior of the new 6 Series coupé. Dynamism lies in the tense interaction of the surfaces and lines, harmony is borne out by the mutual support and inter-relationship of the various body segments and contours mingling with one another. 

The interior design powerfully enhances that unique feeling of BMW driving pleasure. Beginning beneath the windscreen, the side contours extend upwards and backwards in a dynamic, curved line into the doors on either side, surrounding and accentuating the armrests. The driver and front passenger are cocooned right in the middle of this field of tension, enjoying a unique feeling of comfort, class and style. A similarly exciting line in the centre console emanates the same feeling of forward-surging dynamism, originating in the instrument panel and extending diagonally over the centre console, round the padded top section and on to the rear seats. 

Benefiting from features of this calibre, the interior design forms a perfect blend with the attractive exterior design of the new 6 Series. Outside and inside, from every perspective, the new car is a work of art clearly highlighting the exclusive and sporting statement made by the BMW 6 Series with its heritage so full of class and style.

Sophisticated materials and harmonious colours creating an ambience of sheer luxury.

Sophisticated, perfectly finished materials such as leather, wood and metal, as well as a sensitive combination of carefully matched colours, create an ambience of sheer luxury inside the passenger compartment, without in any way neglecting the need for superior function. Again in typical BMW style, the cockpit is oriented towards the driver: All functions important to the driver are arranged ergonomically on or around the steering wheel. Nearly all other functions relevant to both the driver and front passenger are grouped together in the area of the centre console. With only a handful of visible switches and controls, the interior appears very calm and well-arranged mainly thanks to the Controller serving as a central control system to activate and mastermind nearly all comfort functions within the 6 Series via the Control Display (incorporating a TV function as standard) extending out of the height-adjustable armrest giving the user steady support at all times in the interest of greater comfort and control ease.

Driver and front passenger seat coming as standard with memory function.

Electrically adjustable sports seats and with a triple memory function featured as standard, the driver and front passenger seats also serve to optimise the car's ergonomics. To provide equally supreme surface quality, the seats are finished in the finest and most supreme Dakota leather. Exclusive leather in a whole range of colours is available as a cost option.

A fully-fledged 2+2-coupé.

For a coupé even the passengers at the rear enjoy supreme luxury: Although coupés generally have a lower and sleeker roof line than a saloon, even adults sitting on the rear seats of the 6 Series will enjoy ample space and motoring conditions giving them the most wonderful experience in the BMW coupé. And they will also benefit from good side support in the two body-contoured leather seats separated from one another by an elevated cushion in the middle. 

Thanks to the extra-comfortable vehicle access system on the driver's and front passenger's seats, both rear seats are easy to reach without having to unduly bend your body. This again makes the new 6 Series a fully-fledged 2+2-coupé for all purposes. 

Yet another practical feature of the 645Ci is remarkable luggage capacity of 450 litres taking up a complete set of one large, one medium-sized and one small hard-shell suitcase or one large suitcase and two 46-inch golf bags all accommodated with absolute ease.

Large panorama sun roof made of glass. (No-cost option)

The unusually large panorama vent roof made of glass is a particular highlight in every sense of the word, giving the interior a truly generous and bright ambience. Apart from its extra-large 806 x 578-millimetre opening, the glass roof also comes with an electrically retracting roof liner guaranteeing the highest standard of climate control and soundproofing through its aluminium sandwich structure, without unduly reducing the occupants' headroom. The roof features a lift/tilt function only.

V8 power unit for dynamic driving pleasure beyond all doubts.

The new BMW 6 Series spells out pure emotion not only through its design. For the sensational 4.4-litre eight-cylinder makes the aficionado of refined power units wax lyrical in every respect, maximum output of 245 kW and maximum torque of 450 Newton-metres raising the 645Ci beyond any discussion on performance and motoring refinement. Indeed, this is clearly confirmed by the International Engine of the Year 2002 Award presented to BMW for this unique V8. 

Infinite adjustment of virtually all relevant parameters such as valve timing (bi-VANOS), valve lift (VALVETRONIC) and even intake manifold length enables the eight-cylinder to adjust perfectly to every situation. The customer benefits from this technical masterpiece from Munich through supreme output and fuel consumption of only 11.7 litres premium plus/100 km - very low indeed for an eight-cylinder of this calibre (with manual gearbox).

And it is almost superfluous to add that BMW's new coupé complies in full with the currently most demanding EU4 emission standard not required by law on new cars until the year 2005. In Germany and Sweden this means that the 645Ci qualifies for a reduced level of taxes, and in the USA the new coupé meets the LEV emission standard. 

Featuring a six-speed manual gearbox as standard equipment or optional six-speed SMG transmission allowing the driver, like in Formula 1, to shift gears by means of paddles on the steering wheel or by the gearshift lever without using a clutch pedal, the BMW 645Ci offers a level of performance on the road only a few thoroughbred sports cars are able to match: Top speed is 250 km/h (limited electronically), acceleration from 0-100 km/h is in 5.6 seconds. 

Dynamic performance of the highest standard - this naturally also applies, without restriction, to the optional six-speed automatic transmission combining sports motoring and a smooth, comfortable gearshift with a standard of perfection never seen before in this category: running in automatic transmission, the 645Ci accelerates from 0-100 km/h in just 5.8 seconds and returns superior fuel economy of 10.9 litres/100 km in the European combined cycle.

Performance of an even higher standard at the touch of a button. (Standard)

Pressing the Dynamic Drive Control or 'Sport' button featured on all transmissions, the driver is able to give the entire car an even more sporting and dynamic character. Motoring comfort is intentionally reduced at the same time, the engines responding with even faster acceleration while the gas pedal remains in the same position. Pressing down the gas pedal, in turn, the driver will trigger an even more dynamic, progressive response. 

On models fitted with automatic transmission, DDC waits for higher engine speeds before shifting to the next gear, whilst on models with SMG transmission gearshift times become even shorter. A further effect of DDC is the modification of steering forces (only if Active Steering is deleted from the standard menu), DDC thus giving the sporting and ambitious driver an even better response and feel for the road.

Sporting, safe, comfortable.

Performance beyond any doubt is one thing, the way this supreme power is conveyed to the road is another. And to ensure perfect transmission of power to the road beneath, the new 6 Series comes with an all-aluminium chassis and suspension tailored perfectly to the sporting character of the car. Hydraulic rack-and-pinion steering with Servotronic ensures the high standard of directional accuracy and precise feedback from the steering so essential on a coupé of this calibre, Servotronic varying the degree of steering assistance by means of a control curve geared to road speed.

Active Steering for even better handling. (Standard)

Only active control systems are able to further enhance the safe and comfortable driving pleasure the BMW 6 Series offers from the start as a regular feature. Fitted with Active Steering (a standard feature), the 645Ci responds even more directly and, as a result, with a far higher standard of agility and precision to the driver's steering commands at low speeds, steering response then becoming increasingly indirect at higher speeds in the interest of even better and smoother directional stability. The big advantage for the driver is that the 645Ci is far more agile and offers much better handling than one would expect of a car of this size. Indeed, it is quite appropriate to describe this as a kind of go-kart feeling, with Active Steering enhancing the agility of BMW's large coupé to a standard never seen before. 

In town Active Steering is particularly convenient in parking manoeuvres, the wheels turning from one lock to the other with less than two turns of the steering wheel. At high speeds, on the other hand, the more indirect transmission ratio ensures superior, smooth and relaxed motoring of the highest standard. 

Active Steering also incorporates yaw rate control and is networked with the DSC (stability control) system, thus allowing the driver to intervene quickly and efficiently for extra stability on the road by slightly correcting the steering angle of the front wheels. This, in turn, reduces any noticeable intervention of DSC in the low response range, Active Steering and DSC forming a prefect team in the process.

Most advanced control systems assisting the excellent chassis and suspension. (Standard Dynamic Drive)

Equipped with BMW's most advanced and sophisticated chassis control systems, the new BMW coupé offers the driver all of BMW's major chassis assistance functions, improving the truly outstanding chassis and suspension of the 645Ci to an even higher standard. The first example is DSC Dynamic Stability Control interacting with ABS anti-lock brakes and CBC Cornering Brake Control slowing down individual wheels as required on slippery surfaces in order to prevent the car from swerving out of control. Then there is the "intelligent" Dynamic Drive chassis control system (standard) almost completely eliminating any sway or roll of the body even in fast bends.

Consistent lightweight technology for an even higher standard of dynamic performance.

Lightweight technology and engineering applied consistently in BMW's large coupé makes a significant contribution to the car's excellent driving comfort combined with thrilling dynamism. Particular highlights of this lightweight technology are the innovative aluminium/steel structure of the car's body, the Weight-Reduced Aluminium Front (WRAF) much lighter than steel, the rear lid made of SMC sheet moulding compound composite glass fibre, the side panels made of thermoplastics at the front, as well as the front lid and doors made of aluminium, together with a wide range of other detailed improvements serving to reduce weight, all of which make the new BMW 645Ci a very light car for a vehicle of this size and calibre, weighing in at just 1,615 kg, with axle load distribution of almost 50:50 typical of BMW. This gives the all-aluminium suspension of BMW's large coupé an excellent starting point for driving characteristics and qualities far superior to the general standard even in this class, particularly when it comes to the car's precise steering response.

Adaptive Headlights for even greater safety. (Standard)

Adaptive Headlights (another standard feature) significantly improve the very good bi-xenon headlights featured as standard on the 645Ci from the start. Swivelling as required, these headlights follow the course of the road and therefore illuminate both the road ahead and the surroundings up to 90 per cent clearer and more brightly than conventional headlights. To provide this function, the control unit for the high and low beams is fed with an ongoing stream of data on the car's steering angle, yaw rate and road speed through the on-board network, an electric motor serving to swivel the bi-xenon headlight modules in either direction - that is to the left or to the right - as the car proceeds. In practice, this ensures a far higher standard of safety when driving down winding country roads at night.

Optional Head-Up Display giving the driver the most important information directly in his line of vision.

BMW's innovative Head-Up Display (optional from September 2004) projects important information relevant to the driver directly into his line of vision while on the road. Inter alia, this includes the current speed of the car, navigation instructions, speed limit data, and information from the Check/Control. The virtual picture generated in this way appears in front of the driver on the road ahead, ensuring even safer motoring free of fatigue, also because the driver is no longer required to take his eyes off the road at any time.

Innovative voice entry system - the 6 Series follows all your commands. (Standard)

The innovative voice entry system* (standard) featured in the 645Ci upgrades BMW's iDrive control philosophy in the interest of even greater motoring comfort and safety. Voice entry comes in conjunction with the Professional navigation system available as an option and the CCC Car Communication Computer. The key feature of the voice entry system is the option to activate all essential iDrive comfort functions by voice entry while driving, that is without taking your eyes off the traffic around you. In practice, this means you are able to activate nearly all display functions by way of a simple and straightforward voice command. And since the system does not depend on a specific voice or tone, there is no need for the driver to train or adjust his voice for the voice entry mode. 

*Please note that this system will be functional only from June 2004 - awaiting the 'English' software; at present it is only programmed for the German language.

Audio system in HiFi quality. (Standard)

The standard HiFi system with no less than 13 loudspeakers turns the new BMW 6 Series into a genuine concert hall on wheels, the additional centre loudspeakers in the instrument panel and the LOGIC7 equaliser concept providing a particularly authentic surround sound effect in studio quality on all seats, regardless of the audio format chosen.

Luxury class coupés look back at a great tradition with BMW.

Luxurious features of the highest standard, thrilling design and, as the supreme, overriding function, excellent driving dynamics and motoring comfort - this certainly is the perfect luxury performance coupé made by BMW. 

And, at the same time, it is a pledge to a long tradition of BMW coupés over the years. Just think of outstanding cars such as the pre-war BMW 327 Coupé or the BMW 503 dating back to the '50s. The immediate predecessor of the new 645Ci is however the BMW CS Series, with sales of the 2800 CS, the 3.0 CS, the 3.0 CSi/CSL and the 2.5 CS accounting for more than 40,000 units between 1968 and 1975. Certainly a wonderful story of success lifted to an even higher level by the subsequent 6 Series with total production of approximately 86,000 coupés.