BMW 6 SERIES CONVERTIBLE
Although The Styling Of The 6 Series Coupe Has Divided Opinion, Its Surely Impossible To Grouse About The Stunning Convertible Model. Andy Enright Reports
In theory its easy to dislike big convertibles. Theyre brash, showy, fuel guzzling tributes to propping up an overinflated ego, yet at the same time its impossible not to warm to their sheer brass neck. The
BMW 6 Series Convertible is a case in point. Youll need to be very comfortable with the notion of being stared at and although you may well achieve this end a good deal cheaper by leaving home in the morning bereft of clothes, you wouldnt relish the prospect of 155mph with your bits blowing in the breeze.
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The Six Series Convertible makes exhibitionism seem wholly acceptable.
The hood mechanism isnt of the currently fashionable folding hard top variety, instead being a more conventional fabric affair capable of disappearing from view in less than 20 seconds. The best part about the hood is that its operable with the car moving at speeds of up to 20mph. Much quicker than that and aerodynamics would plant your hood onto the windscreen of the car behind but its nevertheless very impressive to be able to drop the hood while on the move. Six hydraulic cylinders guide the ragtop into place without significantly compromising luggage space a major issue with folding hard topped cars.
The Convertible retains the coupe models near 50:50 weight distribution and the cars contours are preserved with C-pillar style fins. Many soft-top cars look a million dollars with the roof down but around a hundred with the soft top in place. The 6 Series also features a retractable glass windows and noise insulating polyurethane foam sandwiched between the rubberised outer membrane and the inner hood fabric. The designers have done their best to minimise wind noise and a quick trip through a car wash will show that water ingress just isnt worth worrying about.
The shape of the car directs airflow away from the passenger compartment and at speeds of over 100mph, front passengers will encounter very little in the way of turbulence. With the roof in place, the boot offers a generous 350 litres of space and 300 when its folded. Manufacturers love to measure capacity in terms of golf bags (target market) and this boot is capable of carrying two.
"Its hugely impressive to be able to drop the hood while on the move"
Priced from £50,660, the 6 Series Convertible is currently available with two engines and both are mighty pieces of work. The 630i packs a 258bhp six-cylinder unit capable of 0-60mph in 6.3s and yet this is the affordable face of 6-Series convertible ownership. No fewer than three transmissions are available to hitch up to the 645Cis glorious 333bhp V8 powerplant.
Aside from a conventional six-speed manual box, theres also a six-speed automatic Steptronic gearbox. Or for those who want the convenience of a sequential manual gearbox but really want to take control when charging hard, theres the F1-style SMG system with steering wheel mounted paddles. The 630i misses out on SMG. Although the 6-Series Convertible can lift its skirt and hustle when needs be, as evidenced by a sprint to 60mph in just 5.
8 seconds in the 645i, its by no means an out and out sports car. The ride is firmer than you may expect, the big tyres occasionally crashing through potholes. Dynamic Driving Control is a function very similar to the Sport mode on M3 and M5 models. Press a button on the centre console and this sharpens up throttle reaction as well as generating a little more feel from the steering system.
When allied to the SMG or Steptronic gearboxes, DDC also shifts gears at higher revs, switching ratios in just 150 milliseconds. Whichever system you choose, youll be amazed at the sheer grip generated by the roadroller Bridgestone Potenza tyres. An option many customers will choose is BMWs Dynamic Drive. This automatically builds up counter forces on the cars anti-roll bars and as such, virtually eliminates any body roll when cornering.
After trying a car with Dynamic Drive and another without it, its an option worth pursuing if you plan to enjoy serious lateral g-forces. Another interesting option
BMW offer is Active Steering, a system that debuted to mixed reaction on the latest 5 Series. This dramatically varies the steering ratio according to speed. At low speeds, youll often need little more than a quarter of a turn on the wheel to effect a 90-degree turn.
Its easy to be caught out when decelerating from a motorway into the tight car park of a service area by Active Steering but its probably something to which youll grow accustomed. Customer take-up of the option on 5 Series models has outstripped BMWs most optimistic estimates. Theres also Adaptive Headlights which turn through corners, a Head-up Display which projects vital information onto a section of the windscreen and Active Cruise Control that uses radar to maintain a safe distance to the vehicle in front. Even with none of these options selected, the 6 Series is still a very nice place to do business.
Core driving functions are located in or around the steering wheel and a simplified version of the iDrive system offers a still enormous amount of driver control with just a few nudges, taps and twists of the serrated metal mouse. The dashboard design is otherwise rather low key, the analogue dials being rather disappointingly small. If the exterior is jam-packed with design details clamouring to catch your eye, the opposite is true of the cabin layout. Yes, it all hangs together very well and seems well built but nowhere does your eye alight approvingly on a signature feature.
Automatic air conditioning and a very respectable stereo are fitted but some small omissions grate. Fold the front
seat forward to climb into the rear and despite there being electric movement for the seat, it stubbornly stays in place. BMW plan to import just 1,000 Convertibles a year, so unless you live in Alderley Edge or Guildford, its unlikely theyll become common currency. For those of us unable to stretch to one that is a shame.
Its a car that will brighten even the greyest of days.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: BMW 6-Series Convertible Range
PRICE: £50,660 - £55,905 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 18-20
CO2 EMISSIONS: 279g/km
PERFORMANCE: [645i] 0-60mph 5.8secs/ 155mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [645i] (urban) 16.4 / (extra urban) 32.8 / (combined) 24.1mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: twin front and side airbags, DTC traction control, DSC stability control
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/height mm 4820/1855/1373 [est]
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