BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé hits town

KUALA LUMPUR: Mercedes-Benz has its four-door CLS, so why not BMW?

BMW Group Malaysia agreed as much when it launched the 6 Series Gran Coupé, its first four-door car on such a bodystyle.

Touting the car as the most attractive yet practical coupé, it's a five seater though BMW qualifies it by saying that the middle person would find the journey comfortable only on short trips, owing to the presence of a raised centre console that stretches from the front all the way to the back.


The two outer rear seats are sporty individual seats that are angled to let each person sit deep into the seat.

This is the third variant of the 6 Series to be launched locally following the convertible and two-door coupé variants.

Incoming BMW Group Malaysia president Dr Gerhard Pils said the car combined "supreme driving dynamics, premium aesthetics and revolutionary design" to provide owners comfort and excitement.

Featuring an in-line six-cylinder engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, the 3.0-litre power unit produces 320bhp and a maximum torque of 450Nm, enabling it to complete the 0–100kph dash in 5.4 seconds and hit a top speed of 250kph.

Power is put down to the wheels via an 8-speed sport automatic transmission that comes with a Auto Start / Stop function and Driving Experience Control – that afford comfort, sports or ECO PRO mode to choose between relaxed, sporting agility or a more efficient style of driving.

Fuel consumption is rated at 7.8 litres per 100 kilometres and CO2 emissions of 181 grams per kilometre.

The luxury details, low vehicle height and flat coupé roofline flows into the rear, making the 6 Series Gran Coupé arguably the best-looking car from BMW.

Galvanised trim elements between the air inlets and foglight as well as a third brake light, integrated into the rear roof edge which spans the entire width of the rear window, gives this variant its uniqueness and sets it apart from the other 6 Series.

The cockpit is driver-focused on the driver and the interior, which is available in Black, Cinnamon Brown and Ivory White, is undeniably classy, with a large, free-standing iDrive monitor taking centrestage on the dashboard.

The car comes with a premium package option that comprises leather Nappa upholstery with contrast stitching, instrument panels with leather finish and 19” light-alloy wheels with W-spoke design.

Bonnet and doors are made of lightweight aluminium while front wings and bootlid come in plastic.

Technical highlights of the car are Integral Active Steering, Adaptive Drive anti-roll stabilisation, Dynamic Damper Control, brake energy regeneration and electromechanical power steering.

ConnectedDrive functions include full colour BMW Head-up Display, rear-view camera, Speed Limit Device, office functions and Internet access, along with Facebook and Twitter apps.

The third brake light stretches across the width of the car, unlike those of the other 6 Series.

“No other premium vehicle combines so many innovations in its drivetrain, chassis and electronic networking such as the 6 Series Gran Coupé," said Dr Pils.

On whether a diesel 6 Series would come later, he said it may be introduced locally subject to demand.

Available in Black Sapphire, Vermillon Red, Havanna, Space Grey, Orion Silver, Deep Sea Blue and Mineral White, the retail price (on the road, without insurance) for the latest 6 Series variant is RM788,800.

The premium package option is a RM35,000 extra.