2011 BMW 6-series Cabrio Convertible review and pictures

BMW has a rich heritage when it comes to producing dynamic and engaging cars that are also capable of a grand tour – with the roof up or down. The BMW 327 Coupe and Sports Convertible of the late Thirties and the BMW 503 Coupe and Convertible from the Fifties were ideal in this regard. In more recent years, the first BMW 6 Series Coupe of the Seventies and Eighties and the BMW 8 Series Coupe in the Nineties exemplified the genre.

For 2011, the new BMW 6 Series Convertible is a car that offers its drivers a unique blend of distinctive styling, luxury and sporting performance. Already an iconic statement in style, the BMW 6 Series Convertible features an even more powerfully contoured roof while the sweeping bonnet, set-back passenger compartment with Hofmeister kink, long wheelbase and flat waistline embody more than any other BMW the key design DNA of the marque.

Two exceptional BMW turbocharged petrol engines, a newly developed chassis and a host of class-leading driver assistance technology ensure the new BMW 6 Series Convertible isn’t all show and no go, while interior space and comfort has been enhanced.

BMW 650i Convertible

BMW 640i Convertible

A distinctive and exclusive exterior design

The BMW 6 Series Convertible is instantly recognisable thanks to its long sweeping bonnet, set-back passenger compartment and the unique fins of the soft-top. Complementing the fins is the “shark nose”, with a large, forward-slanted BMW kidney grille, broad air intakes, wide, contoured bonnet and muscular wheel arches. The feeling of surging forward through water continues throughout the fluid lines of the car: the designers took their inspiration for the harmoniously curved surfaces of the body from the movement of waves sent out by the bow of a powerful motor boat.

This look creates a low, wide, wedged V shape, which accentuates the car’s power and exemplary road holding. Continuing the theme, the waistline surface, which leads the body into the interior, mimics the character of a boat deck. High-quality chrome elements, such as the fog lamps consisting of a string of three LED units, on the outer edges of the front apron further accentuate the width of the car while the standard xenon headlights have BMW’s familiar double corona look.

At the rear, two-part rear light clusters give the typical BMW L-shape lights a particularly sporty, dynamic edge. Inside the units, two LED-powered light strips create a striking night-time look. The rear indicators and brake lights are also LED units.

One of the major talking points of the BMW 6 Series Convertible is its roof which is marvel of structural engineering that gives it the distinctive “fin” architecture.

The multi-layer roof – which has been optimised once again in terms of its acoustic properties, thermal insulation and structural rigidity – has fins projecting out along the flanks of into the rear section, accentuating the car’s gracefully sweeping silhouette even more elegantly than on its predecessor. This means the transition from roofline into the boot is achieved as smoothly as on a coupe. It also means that the upright, heated, glass rear window positioned behind the rear seats can be lowered separately from the roof.

The automatic opening and closing operation for the roof is activated as standard using a button on the centre console. The Comfort Access option allows the roof to be opened or closed using the remote control button on the car key. Opening the roof takes 19 seconds, with closing taking 24 seconds. Both operations can be activated while on the move at speeds of up to 25mph.

The fin roof of the new BMW 6 Series Convertible is available in three colours, including a new Anthracite Silver effect, which adds a stylish lustre.

The interior: made to measure luxury for four

Despite its lower height, the new 2+2 BMW 6 Series Convertible offers greater headroom in both the front and the rear, and height adjustment of the driver and front passenger seats now cover a greater range too.

The cabin of the new BMW 6 Series Convertible is both driver-focused yet comforting and enveloping for passengers. High-quality materials, carefully co-ordinated colours and meticulously formed surfaces combine to produce an ambience defined by luxury, sweeping dynamism and stylish functionality.

As always in BMWs, all functions including central section of the instrument panel, containing the iDrive system’s Control Display, the central air vents and the controls for the audio system and air conditioning, are all angled slightly towards the driver.

The front passenger area is bordered by a surface curving elegantly from the armrest over the side edge of the centre console, upwards and outwards into the instrument panel and then horizontally into the door trim, surrounding the front passenger area with a feeling of exclusive security.

The contour of the rear waistline surface, which extends slightly into the interior between the head restraints, highlights the individual seat layout of the rear.

In tune with the rest of the car’s optimised performance and greater comfort, the new BMW 6 Series Convertible is fitted with newly developed lightweight seats with an integrated seatbelt system, and Easy Entry function to the rear passenger compartment: a brief tap of a switch automatically moves the seat as far forward as possible. Sports seats and, for the first time, Comfort seats can be fitted as an option too.

Both the standard Dakota leather and optional Exclusive Nappa leather come with BMW’s exclusive SunReflective Technology: a special treatment of the leather integrates colour pigments which reflect the infrared rays of sunlight, significantly reducing the build-up of heat on the surfaces when the car is parked with the top down.

Drivetrain

The new BMW 6 Series Convertible is available from launch with two petrol engines: the 650i and 640i. Both offer unique character from their respective V8 and inline six-cylinder engines through the use of twin and single turbocharger technology to produce even more responsiveness and flexibility, exceptional smoothness and efficiency and, of course, high power levels.

The 4.4-litre eight-cylinder engine in the new BMW 650i Convertible is unique in that the brace of turbochargers are positioned in the V-shaped area between the cylinder banks. This design results in more efficient packaging and greater engine efficiency. A maximum 407hp is developed between 5,500 and 6,400rpm, with peak torque of 600Nm available between 1,750 and 4,500rpm.

The new BMW 650i Convertible sprints from zero to 62mph in 5.0 seconds, with a top speed electronically limited to 155mph. For a model of such blistering performance and refinement, it is also extraordinarily efficient, with average combined fuel consumption of 26.4mpg and CO2 emissions of 249g/km.

The six-cylinder in-line engine in the new BMW 640i Convertible uses single turbocharger technology alongside petrol direct injection with VALVETRONIC fully variable valve control. This enables the 3.0-litre unit to develop a maximum 320hp at 5,800rpm and maximum torque of 450Nm between 1,300 and 4,500rpm. This engine propels the BMW 640i Convertible from zero to 62mph in 5.7 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.

Perhaps even more remarkable are its efficiency figures. The BMW 640i Convertible achieves 35.8mpg on the combined cycle, while CO2 emissions are only 185g/km, proving that at BMW luxurious sporting performance does not come at the expense of economy. Indeed, this model is fitted as standard with an automatic transmission that features Auto Start-Stop technology and an automatic active air flap control behind the car’s kidney grille for optimum engine performance.

As with all BMWs, both derivatives of the new 6 Series Convertible come with a raft of BMW EfficientDynamics measures to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. In addition to the features highlighted on the 640i Convertible, both models have technology such as Brake Energy Regeneration, Electric Power Steering (EPS), the need-based operation of ancillary components and intelligent lightweight construction to ensure maximum efficiency as standard.

An eight-speed Sport automatic gearbox is standard fitment on both models, and its wide range of ratios offer a perfect balance of muscular, sprinting performance, refined high speed cruising and low speed efficiency.

Newly developed chassis offers agility and refinement

Large, luxurious and sporting convertibles need to be able to cosset passengers and also offer a thrilling driving experience. As a result, the newly developed chassis of the new BMW 6 Series Convertible comes as standard with Drive Dynamic Control, which allows drivers to choose how responsive they want the gearbox, steering and throttle to be, while the Adaptive Drive system is available as an option with electrically controlled dampers and anti-roll stabilisation.

Both the double wishbone front axle and the integral rear axle are made predominantly from aluminium. The chassis set-up is geared to the requirements of drivers looking for a sporting character, although the dampers also respond sensitively to bumps in the road surface under high lateral acceleration.

In addition to the standard electromechanical power steering, another unique feature in this segment is the optional Integral Active Steering system. This system combines Active Steering for the front axle with a steering rear axle, allowing the steering angle and power assistance to be controlled at both the front and the rear with the help of electric motors. This precisely harmonised system offers extraordinary agility in dynamic driving situations, while allowing for an impressively deft touch around twisty mountain passes and in city traffic.

In the interests of weight optimisation, the doors, bonnet and front axle spring mounts are all aluminium, while the front side panels, roof lid and boot are made from glass fibre composite. Torsional rigidity is now around 50 per cent greater than that of its predecessor.

Longer, lower and wider, the new car is larger in every dimension than its predecessor except height, where it now stands nearly a centimetre closer to the ground. At 4,894mm in length, the new model is 74mm longer than its predecessor, while the wheelbase has stretched similarly, to 2,855mm. The car has also grown by 39mm in width, and now measures 1,894mm across, while 9mm have been shaved off its height, to 1,365 mm.

Typically, 2+2 convertibles are compromised in the back, but the increase in dimensions means that passengers in the rear seats also benefit from additional legroom. Another area often compromised on soft tops is boot space, but even with the roof down, the 300 litres available in the new BMW 6 Series Convertible allows enough room for two golf bags. With the roof closed, boot capacity reaches an impressive 350 litres.

BMW ConnectedDrive in the new 6 Series Convertible: work and play

In the new 6 Series Convertible, BMW ConnectedDrive provides a range of systems and services which, even in the premium luxury segment, are unique. Features such as Surround-view, BMW Night Vision with pedestrian recognition, Parking Assist, Lane Change Warning System, Lane Departure Warning System, and Speed Limit Display are all offered.

The new BMW 6 Series Convertible is also the only car in its segment to be available with a Head-up Display. The latest generation Head-up Display system uses a broader palette of colours and three-dimensional graphics to create an even sharper image.

A 12 GB hard disk can store numerous forms of music, while BMW Online systems connect the driver and passengers with the wider world through an integrated SIM card.

It isn’t all play and no work though: BMW is the first carmaker in the world to offer in-car email display via Bluetooth. In the new BMW 6 Series Convertible, owners of a BlackBerry smartphone can access their mobile phone’s email folder using the iDrive control system. Using a new Bluetooth interface to integrate the BlackBerry into the vehicle, it is possible to receive emails, show them on the Control Display and have them read to you aloud using a text-to-speech function.

Highest ever level of standard specification on a Six

The new BMW 6 Series Convertible comes with the highest ever level of standard specification on a Six. Standard for the 640i Convertible are 18-inch light alloy wheels, while the 650i Convertible comes as standard with a 19-inch light alloy wheel. Both derivatives feature Dakota leather upholstery, eight-speed Sport automatic transmission, electric seat adjustment, BMW Professional Multimedia Navigation system, Xenon headlights, LED front fog lights and front and rear Park Distance Control to name but a few of the standard specification highlights.

The BMW 6 Series Convertible goes on sale in the UK on 26 March, 2011. Prices will be announced at a later date.