BMW 6 Series Edition Sport : SIX SHARP

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If a standard BMW 6-Series is a little too soft and an M6 a shade too expensive, try the 6-Series Edition Sport. Steve Walker reports.

The BMW M6 is powered by a 5.0-litre V10 engine with 507bhp. It develops 520Nm of torque and can hurl itself from a standstill to 62mph in 4.6 seconds. Sounds good doesn't it? Well, the M6 coupe also costs around £85,000. That kind of capability doesn't come cheap but customers looking for a taster of the M6 feel in a less extreme package are catered for by BMW's 6-Series Edition Sport models.

We don't all have the budget to install a BMW M car on our driveways, least of all the M6 range-topper. BMW is, however, offering 6-Series customers, who aren't usually short of a bob or two themselves, the opportunity to get a more focused version of its formidable GT car at a slightly more manageable price. These individuals are still looking at well over £50,000 but when you look at the package on offer, that isn't unreasonable. The Edition Sport 6-Series models are available with every one of the 6-Series engine options except the thunderous V10 in the M6. That means the entry-point is the 3.0-litre high precision injection double-VANOS unit in the 630i. With 272bhp, it packs a hefty wallop but it can't match the low-end punch of the 3.0-litre twin-turbo diesel in the 635d. Diesel engines don't traditionally sit well in luxury coupes but this isn't a traditional diesel. It's slightly slower on the 0-60mph measure than the 630i but the engine's crushing peak torque of 580Nm is served up from just 1,750rpm, making it devastatingly fast in real world conditions. The top spot in the Edition Sport range is occupied by the 650i and its 4.8-litre unit with 367bhp on tap. Ring its neck and a supercar-esque 5.1-second 0-60mph sprint can be extracted. It would bludgeon through the 155mph barrier too, if the artificial limiter were not on guard. All the units are impressive in their own way and the Edition Sport models aim to help owners get the most out of them through the M anti-roll stabilisation system with its stiffer anti-roll bars.

"â€¦these special derivatives should supply a sharper and more engaging driving experience."

In general, the 6-Series manages to tread the fine line between proper focused sportscars and luxury grand tourers. Benign in traffic and silky on the motorway, it's comfortable during everyday driving but will devour immense distances at the drop of a hat. When you feel like using its formidable performance, the weighted-up steering and vast reserves of grip egg you on to push harder while the substantial size of the 6 melts away, leaving you with the impression of a vehicle far lighter and nimbler. The petrol models get a six-speed manual as standard but the 635d receives an advanced 6-speed auto with a beefed-up torque converter to manage its hulking biceps. The Edition Sport versions of the M6 can be spotted by their special contoured bonnets and 19" alloy wheels. The interior is also upgraded with brushed aluminium detailing. Otherwise, it's the same recipe as the standard models which received a number of alterations in the last facelift. The headlamps have the LED technology that is so popular amongst the premium marques at the moment. It takes the form of a thin row of lights above the main projectors. More obvious is the redesigned front valance that accommodates differently shaped air intakes and at the back the bumper has been tweaked it increase the impression of width. Other than that, the grille is fractionally larger and the rear light clusters have been tweaked. The 6-Series remains an acquired taste and many will find it lacking in the classical beauty that's important in a £50,000 coupe but the lines are strong and purposeful in a manner that demands respect. The interior lays on generous space for two with lots of adjustment in both the wheel and pedals, so all shapes and sizes will fit. The rear seats are just for bags or kids. Build quality is superb, the design clinical and efficient, if missing something in character. The minimalist feel is embodied by the iDrive control wheel the operation of which, to the uninitiated, remains like doing the Rubiks cube with a knife and fork. On the latest models, programmable `Favourite' buttons appear on the centre console so that key functions can be accessed at a push rather than a four twirls, three jerks and a prod. Coupe and convertible versions of the Edition Sport are offered priced at around £1,500 over and above the Sport derivatives in the standard range. The convertible commands a £5,700 premium over the coupe. The latest 6-Series features BMW's EfficentDynamics technology across its engine range. While other manufacturers have focused their green efforts on headline-grabbing Hybrids and alternative fuelling technologies, BMW developed a collection of small measures that together have a major impact on efficiency in its conventional engines. In the 6-Series, this EfficentDynamics package includes Brake Energy Regeneration, which uses energy recovered under braking to recharge the car's battery, an air-conditioning compressor that can be decoupled from the drivetrain to reduce engine drag and active flaps behind the grille that actually close off to improve aerodynamics. The 6 is a high performance sportscar but the 635d manages to return over 40mpg with 183g/km CO2 emissions. The petrol contingent also performs strongly from an environmental and running costs perspective. You'll get 35.8mpg from the 630i and this is improved slightly if you specify the automatic gearbox. The 650i does just over 24mpg on the combined cycle so it's no eco-warrior but that's still admirable for a car with this much engine. Emissions for the 630i and 650i coupes are just 188g/km and 279g/km respectively. Those seeking a slightly sharper focus from their BMW 6-Series will appreciate the stiffened suspension of the Edition Sport models. Benefiting from BMW's M anti-roll stabilisation system, these special derivatives should supply a sharper and more engaging driving experience. A number of styling modifications mark the Edition Sport derivatives out from lesser 6-Series models but otherwise the winning formula remains intact.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: BMW 6 Series Edition Sport
PRICES: £53,445-£65,820 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 18-20
CO2 EMISSIONS: 183-279g/km
PERFORMANCE: [650i] 0-60mph 5.1secs/ 155mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [635d] (combined) 40.9mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: twin front and side airbags, Active headrests, DTC traction control, DSC stability control.
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/height mm 4820/1855/1373