BMW 6-series Gran Coupe

Mercedes-Benz was the first with the CLS. Audi followed with the equally stylish A7. Now it is BMW that, after sitting back and carefully sizing up what has developed into a particularly important market niche for Germany’s luxury-car elite, has delivered a stylish sedan and, at the prompting of its marketing department, proceeded to call it a coupe. Meet the 6-series Gran Coupe, the third and final member of its latest 6-series lineup. First previewed in lightly veiled concept car form at the 2010 Beijing motor show, the new sedan slots into the German carmaker’s lineup between the 5-series and 7-series, aiming to offer the inherent practicality of a traditional four-door together with the style of the existing two-door 6-series coupe and convertible.

Design boss Adrian von Hooydonk’s team has, to these eyes at least, delivered one of BMW’s best-looking models in years. The proportions, for one, are spot-on, giving the 6-series Gran Coupe a truly elegant appearance that is sure to find wide appeal. The long hood and swept-back cabin profile is pure BMW. Based on a uniquely dimensioned rear-wheel-drive platform, the Gran Coupe gets a 4.5-inch longer wheelbase than the 6-series coupe and convertible, freeing up space for two additional doors and a proper rear seat. Like the CLS, it also receives a proper notchback-style trunk for added structural rigidity, eschewing the liftback arrangement of the A7. Dimensionally, the new car is 4.2 inches longer, 1.3 inches wider and 2.9 inches lower than the familiar 5-series sedan.

Inside, there is the sweeping dashboard from the 6-series coupe and cabriolet along with an altered center console. As you’d expect, it’s all high on perceived quality, but the positioning of the gear lever and other switchgear, including the iDrive controller, has been compromised by the inclusion of two large cupholders at the front of the center console. Up front, you sit low--exceptionally so if you so choose--on broad and supportive seats equipped with integral seatbelts. Entry to the rear is impeded by small door openings and the trailing edge of the frameless window, which extends well out from the door itself. With the front seats set to their lowest position there is little foot room, but in other aspects the rear bench is quite roomy. Despite the inclusion of a center rear seatbelt, the extension of the center console all the way back to the rear bench means that the 6-series Gran Coupe can only be considered as an occasional five-seater. Despite offering a generous amount of luggage space, the trunk is also compromised by a small opening and a high loading lip.

We tried the diesel engine first and found it perfectly suited to the new BMW’s sporting brief, endowing it with enormous low-end grunt thanks to its generous reserves of torque--all of which can be tapped at just 1,500 rpm. We know it is not planned to be offered in the United States, but given the performance it serves up it darn well should be. The word “mighty” comes to mind.

Doing justice to the 640d Gran Coupe's superb engine is its standard eight-speed automatic gearbox, which is smooth and quick to react, both in automatic and manual modes. Equipped with automatic stop/start and brake-energy-recuperation functions and extra-long gearing (a 0.67:1 eighth-gear ratio is mated to a 2.81:1 final drive), it is integral in providing the new 3,946-pound sedan with exceptional combined cycle consumption of 42.8 mpg (U.S.) on the European cycle.

But with 0-to-62-mph acceleration of 5.4 seconds and a standing-kilometer (1,094 yards) time of 24.7 seconds, the 640d Gran Coupe doesn’t lack for outright straight-line pace. By comparison, the turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 diesel-powered A7 3.0 TDI, with a similar 309 hp and 479 lb-ft, hits 62 mph in 5.3 seconds and returns 36.8 mpg (U.S.).

The gasoline engine destined for North America possesses more immediate throttle response, a smoother nature and more entertaining qualities up high in the rev range but it ultimately lacks the low-end flexibility, muscular nature and relaxed cruising qualities of the diesel. The so-called N55 HP (High Power) unit, already available in the 640i coupe and convertible, is the third variant of BMW’s turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder, developing 14 hp and 37 lb-ft more than the N55 engine used in the 535i sedan. It propels the 640i Gran Coupe to 62 mph from standstill in the same 5.4 seconds as the 640d Gran Coupe, while providing an official 30.5 mpg (U.S.).