BMW is testing its 6-series Coupe ahead of a planned debut in spring 2011. Munich has gone with the 6-series convertible first this time around, to take advantage of summer sales for its executive rag-top.
The new BMW 6-series Coupe will be shown in the next few months, but won’t appear at the 2011 Geneva motor show, CAR understands.
BMW 6-series Coupe: the new spyshots
Our sequence of six spy photographs was taken in Scandinavia as the engineers put the finishing touches to BMW’s biggest coupe.
We already know the technical story: it’s a rear-wheel drive architecture related closely to that in the 5-series and, of course, the 6-series Convertible.
So basically it’s the Concept 6-series Coupe made real?
You got it. They’re not terribly imaginative, are they? The show car from Paris 2010 was a barely disguised look at the new 2011 Six coupe. It’s a less radical, gently poilshed-off take on the outgoing, distinctive 6-series with its floating Bangle bootlid.
That suggests it’s 4894mm long, longer and higher than before. The nose is longer, too, letting the engine sit in a more front/mid position to boost handling. But this remains a grand tourer rather than an out-and-out sports car.
At launch, we expect three engines:
640i 3.0-litre turbo six, 302bhp
650i 4.4-litre V8, 402bhp
640d 3.0-litre turbodiesel six, 309bhp
And the new BMW M6?
It’s coming in 2012, CAR understands. Fireworks provided by a 4.4-litre V8 muscled up with twin turbos to ramp up power to 547bhp. Farewell cackling V10, hello slightly less hedonistic V8.