BMW 6 Series 640i coupe Review
Wafting it out

The 6 Series has always been one of BMW’s most iconic models. First introduced in 1976 as the E24, the 6 Series was actually a replacement for another of BMW’s icons, the 3.0CS. The first generation 6 Series was the epitome of late 70s style. Its long nose, short boot and shark-like nose cut a fine shape among cars from that era.

When the 6 was reintroduced back in 2003 after a 14-year hiatus as the E63, opinions were divided about its controversial Chris Bangle penned lines. The E63 looked bulky and slab sided from most angles and was hardly to everyone’s tastes. The same though, can’t be said of the latest, recently launched, third generation 6 Series coupe – like the recent F10 5 Series, the new 6’s lines are somewhat more conventional than its predecessor’s but no less evocative looking and pretty.

Manufacturers typically introduce fix-roofed version of a model first before putting a topless convertible body variant on sale but BMW had done the opposite with the F12/F13 6 Series– the F12 6 Series Convertible went on sale a few months back and it’s now finally the F13 Coupe’s turn to be put on the market.  

At almost five metres in length, the new 6 is more generously proportioned than the outgoing model. Overall, the new car’s looks are a combination of the 5 Series’ as well as styling cues from the last generation model, albeit toned down substantially to make it look less controversial, less of an acquired taste and hence widen the 6’s appeal. The front end seems to be a modern interpretation of the E24’s shark-like nose thanks to the forward thrusting double-kidney grille in the middle while relatively small headlamps flank the grille on either sides, the svelte rear features new L-shaped tail lamps, a design feature that is set to appear in more upcoming BMWs. The flanks feature less complex and less fussy surfaces when compared to the previous E63 while the curvaceous roof line and gentry sloping front and rear windscreens give the fixed roof 6 elegance and a somewhat slightly different visual character to the canvas roof Convertible model. The old E63 had the ability to initially wow everyone with its somewhat shocking styling but not so the new well-proportioned F13 – the latter just oozes class and elegance right from the word go.