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SUN-CHASER: BMW’s revealed the latest incarnation of its premium four-seater soft-top, the 6 Series convertible. <a href="http://www.wheels24.co.za/Galleries/Image/BMW/6%20Series%20convertible" target="_blank"> Open the picture gallery.</a>
Despite its absence on the company’s display stand at the curent Los Angeles auto show, BMW’s released images and details of its new 6 Series convertible.
The largest canvas roof car Munich builds, this third-generation 6 Series features 50% greater torsional rigidity than its predecessor.
BMW’s structural engineers have ensured the roof retracts in only 19 seconds, returning back to full coverage again in 24 seconds.
Most of the chassis structure is carried over from the current F10 5 Series. This means double-wishbone front suspension, adaptive dampers and outstanding individual wheel oscillation control.
BIGGER, SLICKER-LOOKING
Dimensionally the new 6 Series convertible is 74mm more substantial bumper-to-bumper, 39mm wider, and 9mm lower than the outgoing E63/64 range. BMW says it plans to market two models, carrying the 640i and 650i badges.
The 640i is powered by BMW’s venerable three-litre, in-line six, boosted by a single turbocharger to produce 240kW and 450Nm.
A 4.4 forced-induction V8 is worth 302kW and 600Nm and provides the urge for the headline 650i.
Performance figures are swift (5.7 and five sec 0-100km/h times for the 640i and 650i respectively) and efficiency even more impressive with the in-line six returning 8l/100km and the V8 10l/100km.
Both the six-cylinder and V8 models drive their rear wheels via ZF's superb eight-speed automatic transmission.
CLEVER DIGITISATION
The new 6 Series convertible’s cabin features all the modern infotainment and safety systems you could wish for including a head-up display, 12GB hard drive for audio files and pedestrian-sensing night vision.
BMW claims it will be the first manufacturer to provide in-car email management with the new 6 Series thanks to its Bluetooth package’s upgraded Blackberry smart phone integration capability.
For those who have always viewed the 6 Series convertible as a proper four-seater fun-in-the-sun sports car, boot capacity remains quite generous – 300 litresl with the roof retracted and 350 with the canvas top deployed.
The 6 Series convertible is expected to debut shortly after its fixed-roof sibling towards the second-half of 2011.
The largest canvas roof car Munich builds, this third-generation 6 Series features 50% greater torsional rigidity than its predecessor.
BMW’s structural engineers have ensured the roof retracts in only 19 seconds, returning back to full coverage again in 24 seconds.
Most of the chassis structure is carried over from the current F10 5 Series. This means double-wishbone front suspension, adaptive dampers and outstanding individual wheel oscillation control.
BIGGER, SLICKER-LOOKING
Dimensionally the new 6 Series convertible is 74mm more substantial bumper-to-bumper, 39mm wider, and 9mm lower than the outgoing E63/64 range. BMW says it plans to market two models, carrying the 640i and 650i badges.
The 640i is powered by BMW’s venerable three-litre, in-line six, boosted by a single turbocharger to produce 240kW and 450Nm.
A 4.4 forced-induction V8 is worth 302kW and 600Nm and provides the urge for the headline 650i.
Performance figures are swift (5.7 and five sec 0-100km/h times for the 640i and 650i respectively) and efficiency even more impressive with the in-line six returning 8l/100km and the V8 10l/100km.
Both the six-cylinder and V8 models drive their rear wheels via ZF's superb eight-speed automatic transmission.
CLEVER DIGITISATION
The new 6 Series convertible’s cabin features all the modern infotainment and safety systems you could wish for including a head-up display, 12GB hard drive for audio files and pedestrian-sensing night vision.
BMW claims it will be the first manufacturer to provide in-car email management with the new 6 Series thanks to its Bluetooth package’s upgraded Blackberry smart phone integration capability.
For those who have always viewed the 6 Series convertible as a proper four-seater fun-in-the-sun sports car, boot capacity remains quite generous – 300 litresl with the roof retracted and 350 with the canvas top deployed.
The 6 Series convertible is expected to debut shortly after its fixed-roof sibling towards the second-half of 2011.
