BMW Zagato Coupé

The venerable Milanese coachbuilder Zagato and BMW have unveiled a unique driving experience in the luxury class: The BMW Zagato Coupé.

2013 BMW 640i Gran Coupé Test Drive

On-Sale Date: Late June

Price: $76,895

Competitors: Mercedes-Benz CLS, Audi A7, First Class Mediterranean Cruises

Powertrain: 320-hp, twin-turbo, 3.0-liter inline-6, eight-speed automated manual, RWD

EPA Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 20/30

What’s New: From the windshield forward, this new 6-Series is almost identical to its two-door 640i brother, the only difference being the shape of the plastic front bumper cover. But from the windshield back, the Gran Coupé is its own four-door thing and rides on a 4.4-inch longer wheelbase. The Gran Coupé comes with BMW’s EfficientDynamics package of regenerative braking, start–stop engine controls, and a supplemental battery pack, though not its own electric motor; that tech combines to save gas in stop-and-go crawls.

The first Gran Coupés to land in America will be 640i models powered by the twin-turbo direct injection 3.0-liter straight six BMW uses in other vehicles. BMW claims a swift 5.4-second 0–100 kph (62 mph) time for the 640i version. The V-8-powered 650i Gran Coupé should show up before 2013.
Tech Tidbit: Steel, aluminum, and plastic are all used in the 640i Gran Coupé’s structure. The high-strength steel is found in areas such as the rear fenders and the stampings around the doors. Aluminum is used on door skins to shave weight. And the front fenders are plastic, to take hits with minimal damage.

Driving Character: Dial up the Comfort mode on the steering, suspension, and transmission and this beast is silken over pavement but not too interesting to drive. Shut down the nanny tech, however, by choosing the Sport or Sport Plus settings wherever you can and it becomes an engaging, athletic, and entertaining dance partner.

Using the shiftable eight-speed automatic to effect, the 640i Gran Coupé always feels lithe, able, and ready to rollick. Along California’s legendary Highway 33 it swept through long corners with a nice, flat bearing. In tight corners, if the driver uses the flappy paddles to put the car in the right gear, the car would push its nose a bit under braking and then rocket out when given some spur.

Inside, the Gran Coupé’s driver faces the same dash and instrumentation as other 6-Series. That’s good in that everything is beautifully made. It’s bad in that there’s a steep learning curve to understanding BMW’s blizzard of wands, buttons, knobs, and i-Drive controls. To BMW’s credit, the driver has positive control over most of it, including the suspension settings and steering feel. But all those controls aren’t for the easily intimidated.

The Gran Coupé uses the same front seats used in the 6-Series convertible, though “seats” seems too diminutive a word for describing these high-performance driving thrones. Throw in BMW’s great steering wheel that electrically adjusts for reach and height, and there simply aren’t much better driving environments.

Favorite Detail: There’s only one detail that matters with this car and that is its utterly gorgeous proportions. With a long hood and graceful near-fastback roof, this may be the best-looking four-door ever devised by Germans.

Driver’s Grievance: The traction-control system is annoyingly intrusive. If you forget to turn it off and try to accelerate hard out of a tight corner, it effectively shuts down the car. It’s almost dangerously disconcerting. Bottom Line: In 1976, the then-new BMW 6-Series coupe faced a stiff challenge in following the, low-slung 3.0CS as the brand’s flagship two-door. It succeeded with a mix of superb styling and a chassis that combined excellent reflexes with long-range touring comfort. Thirty-six years later, the first four-door version of the 6 – the 640i Gran Coupé – uses essentially the same formula to earn its spot in the line.

In today’s context, the 640i Gran Coupé’s 320 hp seems modest, but the engine is tuned to deliver its maximum torque consistently from 1300 to 4500 rpm, which results in effective and flexible thrust despite the fact that this engine is powering a more than 2-ton vehicle. Yeah, it’s another great driving BMW. The electric power steering is too numb to qualify as BMW’s best, but there’s still plenty of entertainment at the driver’s fingertips.

I hate the name. Gran Coupé sounds like one of those names Oldsmobile considered in the mid-1970s and rejected. But as dorky as the name is, the car itself is devastatingly beautiful, aggressive, and better-looking than even than the two-door. From its pointed prow to the curvaceous doors and on to the best roof line outside of Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, the 640i Gran Coupé is delicious. It’s so handsome from the front that it ought to shame Mercedes into giving the CLS emergency rhinoplasty. It’s so sweet from the rear that Audi should immediately start redesigning the A7’s full-diaper rear bumper cover.

And looks matter with cars like this, since the 6-Series has virtually no dynamic advantages over BMW’s more conventional 5-Series sedan. In fact, the Gran Coupé shares its suspension design and powertrain components with the 5-Series. But the 5-Series sedans offer more rear leg room and head room with taller rear door openings that make getting in and out easier. So if style matters (and price doesn’t), the Gran Coupé is an easy choice. For practicality, it’s difficult to see choosing the 640i Gran Coupé over the 535i sedan.

BMW has been slicing its market niches ever thinner. It’s unlikely it will sell more than a few thousand Gran Coupés every year. But this car seems more like a “real” BMW than machines like the tall X6 or X5 or awkward 5-Series GT. And, dopey name or not, it’s the best-looking car BMW makes.

Read more: 2013 BMW 640i Gran Coupé Test Drive - Popular Mechanics

The new BMW 7 Series. Part 1: Design.

The new BMW 7 Series is the new benchmark in the luxury segment. Besides the revised design, the product substance has been improved dramatically. This clip gives you detailed informations about the new BMW 7 Series design.

BMW named most valuable car brand

In the latest release of its BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands study, market researchers Milward Brown have given BMW the highest ranking of any carmaker, according to Automotive News. Toyota – last year's winner – finished second, followed by Mercedes-Benz, Honda and Nissan, according to the report.

BMW had last finished atop the rankings in 2010, according to the report, with Toyota taking the crown from 2006-2009. The highest-ranked American brand was Ford at seventh, trailing sixth-place Volkswagen. The top ten was filled out by Audi, Hyundai and Lexus. Toyota's drop was attributed to its production interruptions due to the natural disasters that affected all of the Japanese automakers last year, according to AN.

BMW's win among auto manufacturers was only enough to place it 23rd in the overall brand ranking, with an estimated brand value of $24.6 billion. Apple, the overall winner, according to the report, had a $182.9 billion valuation, ahead of IBM ($116 billion) and Google ($107.9 billion). Toyota's valuation was $21.8 billion, with Mercedes-Benz and Honda far behind at $16.1 billion and $12.7 billion respectively. No other carmaker had a valuation over $10 billion.

MINI United 2012: Epic Stunts and Breathtaking Racing

Racing is at the very heart of MINI United, and with the world's finest MINI motorsport teams hitting the tracks, you know it's going to be a wild ride.

40 Years of BMW M, And Eight Of Our Favorite M Cars

If 30 is the new 20 and 40 is the new 30, BMW’s M division is hitting the prime of its life. The high-performance car builder turns 40 this year, and we’ve rounded up our eight favorite cars, one for every five years of the performance subsidiary’s existence.

1972-1975 BMW 3.0 CSL: The Leader

BMW’s first M-division-fettled car was the 3.0 CSL, a racing version of the BMW 2800CS coupe that raced in European Touring Car Championship events. The car was powered by an inline-six-cylinder engine (3.0 liters in early models, 3.2 liters in later ones), which made around 200 horsepower. In 1973 BMW sold the 3.0 CSL to customers as a homologation special, which used thinner steel and less soundproofing than the 2800CS on which it was based. The result was a 204-horsepower race car for the street, one that often wore an aero kit so aggressive the car was nicknamed the Batmobile. The years of BMW M making hopped-up road cars heavily based upon race-spec vehicles had begun.

1978-1981 BMW M1: The Superhero

It had to be one of the stranger automaker tie-ups in history: in the late 1970s BMW looked to make a supercar and contracted with Lamborghini to build and develop it.

Lamborghini eventually left the project thanks to some financial insecurity, but the project went on and the M1 was launched to the public in 1978. It was no Miura–it was powered by a 3.5-liter inline-six–but it made 273 horsepower and propelled the car to a top speed of 160 mph. It didn’t hurt that the M1 was one of the most distinctive BMW designs ever built, thanks in part to the M1′s mid-engine layout. If you ever see one, count yourself lucky: only 456 were ever built.

1985-1988 BMW M5: The Sleeper

The idea of a sleeper car had already been around for years before BMW M previewed the M5 at the Amsterdam Motor Show in 1984, but the M5 may be one of the better iterations of that idea. The M5 might look like a simple luxury sedan, but beneath the hood lay the 3.5-liter inline-six-cylinder engine making 282 horsepower (260 in U.S. specification, thanks to a catalytic converter) from the M1. Those numbers might be matched by many mass-market mid-size sedans today, but it was enough in 1986 it was enough to make the M5 the fastest production sedan in the world. In later years, iterations of the M5 were powered by V-8s (with and without turbochargers), and even a V-10. Morning commutes for mid-level executives, it would seem, would never be the same.

It’s nearly impossible to speak to an automotive journalist about BMW M cars and not end up listening to some long soliloquy about the E30 M3, and during that soliloquy, it’s nearly impossible not to hear the word “benchmark” used at least once. As you’ve no doubt heard before, the E30 M3 is said to have a legendary blend of performance, handling, and usability.

The stock M3 was already quite different from the 3 Series–the M division grafted in new body panels, upgraded the brakes, suspension, wheels, and tires, and fitted a better four-cylinder engine underhood–but we reserve a special respect for the Sport Evolution version, a 600-unit special edition that used a bored-out, 2.5-liter version of the stock M3′s 2.3-liter motor and made 235 horsepower. Considering the Porsche 911s of the time had almost identical power outputs, the M3 Sport Evolution was a true everyday sports car.

2004 BMW M3 CSL: The Loud One

By 2004 a few things were known: the BMW M3′s S54 inline-six-cylinder engine’s days were probably numbered, and a new BMW 3 Series was on its way to replace the E46-generation car. In the face of all this adversity, the BMW M division must have decided that the car should go out with a bang, because it introduced the M3 CSL. And bang it did.

The CSL (which was never sold in the U.S.) had 17 more horsepower than the stock M3, but engineers went crazy with weight-saving modifications. The aerodynamic kit was lighter, and the car used thinner glass. Sound insulation was at a minimum, and base-model cars had no air conditioning, radio, navigation, or electric seats. The trunk liner, infamously, was made out of cardboard. The M division finished the package by giving the car a tweaked sequential manual transmission, a lightweight exhaust, and a less-intrusive traction control system.

The result was a car that was louder, rougher, and faster than the M3 upon which it was based. If the M3 was something that was home both on the track and on the street, the CSL was a brash, hard-riding version that could care less about creature comforts.

2007-2010 BMW M5 Touring: The Family Hauler

Between 2007 and 2010, BMW made what could be one of the strangest M cars ever. It was called the M5 Touring, which means that it had a V-10 engine, five seats, and a hatchback.

The M5 Touring was motivated by exactly the same 5.0-liter V-10 engine making 500 horsepower as the M5 sedan, and it sent that power through the same seven-speed sequential manual gearbox as the sedan. But the addition of a station wagon body style made the car that much more bonkers: it could get from 0-60 miles per hour in about 4.5 seconds, but it could ostensibly do that with a load of groceries or luggage in the back. There will undoubtedly be a few strange, high-performance station wagons to come, but there will probably never be another V-10-powered station wagon again. We’ll remember the M5 Touring’s strangeness for years to come.

2010-Present BMW X5 M: The Controversial Pioneer

Quick: name the first car to have both an M badge and a turbocharger. Now name the first one to have an M badge and all-wheel drive. The first M badged car available exclusively with an automatic transmission. You should have named the same car three times: the BMW X5 M.

The BMW X5 M (and its X6 M sibling, which shares its running gear and went on sale around the same time) is a controversial figure around BMW fan circles, because it’s just about the polar opposite of the CSLs and M3s that helped M gain notoriety. It’s heavy, has two turbos, and only two pedals. But in M’s quest to broaden its appeal, the X5 M was the first of a few pioneers. In the years since, M has released its first diesel-powered car (the M Performance-labeled M550d xDrive), and the new mission is clear: take cars that people buy, and make them faster, no matter the powertrain or body style.

2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe (1M): The Return of the Benchmark?

BMW M purists were probably busy wiping the tears out of their eyes (after watching M unveil two hi-po SUVs) in 2010 when M boss Dr. Kay Segler announced late that same year that a hopped-up 1 Series coupe would make its way to dealers. The 1 Series M Coupe was born, and quickly nicknamed the 1M.

At first glance, the car wasn’t a whole lot more than a tweaked 135i coupe, with a 335-horsepower version of BMW’s twin-turbo inline-six-cylinder engine, but it also got upgraded body kit items and better suspension, brakes, wheels, and tires (courtesy of its big brother, the M3), and the result is a slightly insane, somewhat unforgivinghoonmobile that will send serotonin to your nervous system as quickly as it will send your body down the road. The E30 M3′s image may have been tarnished by a parade of slushbox’dluxo-trucks, but the 1M brought the lunacy of a high-powered coupe back to the BMW M brand.

2013 BMW 3-Series Sports Wagon Debuts, Confirmed For U.S.

BMW has revealed the wagon variant of its latest-generation 3-Series and at the same time confirmed that this new model, just like the previous two, will be sold in the U.S.

The vehicle goes on sale in Europe later this year but won’t hit U.S. showrooms until spring 2013.

Powertrains and pricing will be announced closer to launch but expect to see a similar specifications to what is already offered with the sedan.

 

This means the base model in the U.S. is likely to be a 328i powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and rated at 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. A 335i powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine and rated at 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque should also be offered for power hungry buyers.

Customers will also be able to choose from three different trim levels including the Sport Line, Luxury Line and Modern Line. For the enthusiast who wants an even sportier Sports Wagon, the M Sport Line will also be offered. No word yet if BMW plans to launch a true M version of the new 3-Series Sports Wagon or an ActiveHybrid model like with the sedan.

Also like the sedan, the latest 3-Series Sports Wagon is slightly larger than its predecessor, most notably its wider track which is 1.46  inches wider up front and 1.85 inches wider in the rear. The vehicle’s length has also been increased by some 3.66 inches. This has increased room for rear-seat passengers as well as boosting cargo capacity by 10 percent.

A net as well as an additional strap along the right side panel can be used to help secure cargo. On top of this, four tie-downs are integrated into the cargo floor. A net along the left-hand panel will also be available. A pair of coat hooks and an addition 12-volt outlet add an extra measure of flexibility.

The rear seats can be folded down in three sections in a 40:20:40 split. The large, through-loading facility allows the new 3-Series Sports Wagon to carry four adults and longer items, such as skis or snowboards, at the same time. Also available are roof-rails as well as a full glass panoramic sunroof.

320-horsepower BMW M135i headlines new three-door 1 Series range

We can now take an official, in-depth look at the new BMW M135i and the accompanying three-door 1 Series range – and there's much to see. Starting from the beginning, the Bimmer's styling has inclined some people to grab their hatchets. Yes, there's a whole lot of intensity and a slumgullion of deeply incised polygons mixed together in that little upright face, but we have no doubt there'll be a whole lot more people grabbing their wallets when they see it.

Along with the 320-horsepower M135i, fresh engines and features are among the new treats, as well as Sport Line, Urban Line and M Sport Package trims. The new 102-hp 114i model establishes the base, followed by the 136-hp 116i, 170-hp 118i and 218-hp 125i on the gasoline side, the 116-hp 116d, 143-hp 118d, 184-hp 120d and 218-hp 125d on the diesel side. Six-speed manuals are the go-to, with two eight-speed automatic transmissions in the options column. The M135i and 120d can be had with xDrive all-wheel drive, a first-time application on the 1 Series.

The new body is 85 mm longer, 17 mm wider, with a 30-mm longer wheelbase and wider track front and rear. The enlarged dimensions mean more cargo and legroom in the back, and buyers will get the option of having either two or three rear seats. And the comfort and safety systems lists read like someting out of the Papa Bear 7 Series, from Internet access to Lane Departure Warning and auto-braking cruise control.

Check out the full official press release below.

The new three-door BMW 1 Series.

(13.05.2012) -- The sporty and elegant design of the new three-door model, along with additional engine choices, are distinguishing features that sharpen the unmistakable profile of the BMW 1 Series as the recognised standard of sheer driving pleasure in the premium compact car segment. Powerful petrol and diesel engines with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, the latest chassis design and rear-wheel drive, which is unique for a vehicle in this class, guarantee a sporty driving experience which is reflected in the dynamic and lean appearance of the new three-door BMW 1 Series.

Summary
- Second body variant added to the new BMW 1 Series; Latest edition of the three-door version impressively underscores the compact model's sporting characteristics; Sporty, elegant design and attractive supplements to the drive portfolio strengthen the BMW Series' unsurpassed position within the segment characterised by the unique rear-wheel drive system and superior handling; Highlight in the model range: the BMW M135i.

- New three-door BMW 1 Series with powerful, brand-typical proportions; Unique appearance thanks to dynamically stretched side line; Wide doors with frameless windows; Side window graphics flowing seamlessly into the B pillar and strongly retracted side window graphics; powerfully contoured side panels with particularly distinctive accentuation of the rear wheel arches; Side sill line extending to the front, underscoring the dynamically stretched character of the vehicle's silhouette.

- Precise individualisation thanks to BMW Sport Line, BMW Urban Line and M Sport Package; Harmoniously matching, exclusive design and equipment features as an alternative to the basic variant; BMW M135i with model-specific exterior and interior design directly attuned to the technical requirements.

- Interior features, sporty appearance and handling profit from increased body length (+85 millimetres), wheelbase (+30 millimetres), track width (front: + 51, rear +72 millimetres) and width (+17 millimetres) in comparison to the predecessor model, with vehicle height remaining the same; Choice of two or three seats respectively at the rear, 21 millimetres more legroom at the rear, luggage compartment increased by 30 litres to 360 litres; Storage capacity of up to 1 200 litres thanks to foldable rear seat back (40 : 20 : 40 split folding optional).

Widened choice of petrol and diesel engines featuring BMW TwinPower Turbo technology; BMW 114i as new entry-level version with 75 kW/102 hp; Also available at market launch:
- BMW 116i (100 kW/136 hp), BMW 125i (160 kW/218 hp),
- BMW 116d (85 kW/116 hp), BMW 118d (105 kW/143 hp) and the
- BMW 125d (160 kW/218 hp) and the BMW 116d EfficientDynamics Edition with 85 kW/116 hp, additional fuel efficiency measures and a CO2 emissions level of 99 g/km in the EU test cycle.
- First ever BMW M Performance automobile to feature a petrol engine: BMW M135i with a 3-litre, straight six-cylinder engine and 235 kW/320 hp as well as M-characteristic suspension components and aerodynamically optimised body features; Highest level of performance and the most outstanding efficiency within the competitive environment; Typical M-style coherence between drive, suspension technology and aerodynamic balance as well as model-specific interior design for unmistakeable driving pleasure in a compact model; BMW M135i also available as a five-door version.

Also available from November 2012:
- BMW 118i (125 kW/170 hp),
- BMW 120d (135 kW/184 hp) as well as intelligent four-wheel drive
- BMW xDrive featured for the first time in the BMW 1 Series on the models BMW M135i xDrive and BMW 120d xDrive; BMW xDrive simultaneously available also for the 5-door version of the
- BMW 1 Series.

- All engine variants come with optimised six-speed manual transmissions as standard; Unique option in the compact segment: eight-speed automatic transmission or eight-speed automatic sports transmission; Comprehensive use of BMW EfficientDynamics technology including Auto Start Stop function in conjunction with manual and automatic transmissions as well as ECO PRO mode, which can be activated in conjunction with the Driving Experience Control function offered as standard.

- Vehicle concept perfectly attuned to driving pleasure, with longitudinally mounted engines, rear-wheel drive, harmonious weight distribution and sophisticated suspension technology; Best agility in the segment combined with optimised riding comfort; Double-joint spring-strut front axle, five-link rear axle; Exceptionally precise electromechanical power steering free from drive train influences; Variable sports steering as an option; DSC Dynamic Stability Control including DTC and Active Differential Brake (ADB-Sport) on the rear axle as standard; Torsion-resistant body structure; Comprehensive safety features.

- Optimised premium interior ambience thanks to excellent material quality and craftsmanship; Interior with driver-oriented cockpit; Control display of the optional operating system iDrive fitted as a firmly integrated onboard monitor sporting an exclusive BMW flat screen design.

- Wide range of driver assistant systems and mobility services from BMW ConnectedDrive that are unique in the compact segment: High-Beam Assistant, Adaptive Headlights, Rear View Camera, Lane Departure Warning incl. Rear Collision Warning, Parking Assistant, Cruise Control with braking function, Speed Limit Info with No Passing Indicator, Internet access, enhanced integration of smartphones and music players, Real-Time Traffic Information and Apps for personalised web radio reception and for access to Facebook and Twitter.

Thanks for the great review, Carter!

"Everything has gone great with purchasing my X3 and we look forward to taking the tour in SC and picking up the car. Loved watching the video of my car being made. Michael Kulp was great to work with and made the purchase of my new car an easy one. He was very knowledgeable about the car and I highly recommend him to anyone going to this dealership!!" -Carter

BMW Motorsport. 1st at DTM 2012 Lausitzring.

Here it is, the first victory of BMW in the second race after the DTM comeback and the 50th victory of BMW in the DTM overall.
Clap your hands for Bruno Spengler on the first position with Augusto Farfus coming third. With P1 and P2 in the qualifying this was a perfect weekend for BMW Motorsport!

Thanks for great review, Jay!

"I went in to BMW Checkered Flag with what I considered a vast amount of knowledge about the car I wanted to purchase (328i). But when Michael approached me, not being too pushy, and showed me all the features and options BMW had to offer, I was impressed. I wanted to drive away in a new car that day, but I didn't know if that would really happen. Thanks to the sales and finance staff at BMW Checkered Flag, I was able to bring home my brand new car...and I've been pleased every since. On top of that, Michael followed up with me a couple times since the purchase to see how I was enjoying my new car thus far. Small things like this really assures me that I made the right decision to go with Checkered Flag over any other dealer." -Jayfareel

2013 BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe

As the years go by, it's become the Germans who are most closely watching what each other are doing over the backyard fence. So much so, at times, that it can almost seem like they're freely swapping all their trade secrets unapologetically in full view.

Take this nicely executed new luxo-niche player, the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe. It's no scoop, of course, that it was created specifically to not miss out on what both Mercedes-Benz and Audi are discovering for themselves with the CLS and A7. And yes, that "nicely executed" modifier just used to describe the Gran Coupe could indeed ring with more enthusiasm.

The 640i Gran Coupe we sailed around in all over Sicily under a crisp sun is a generally good-looking machine. BMW designers have taken the existing Big Bimmer language and successfully created a new dialect for the company, if you will. But these "four-door coupe" creations are curiosities for which many develop a love (or, occasionally, a distaste) for over the long run. Only the first-generation CLS in 2003-04 absolutely socked it to us at first glance, and since then, everything else in the genre has felt derivative. Well, they essentially are blatant derivatives, right?It would be great if the automakers' marketing departments would please cease and desist when it comes to trying to push these prettier sedans on us as though they were actually coupes. They just aren't. We all love a good sedan, so why the massive effort to co-opt the inherent sexiness of a coupe right down to how the car is used by the buying public? These are lifestyle sedans and they're all pretty fascinating executions. However, we do tip our hats to Audi for owning the Sportback moniker. That sounds about right.

The 6 Gran Coupe is a true mix between the 5, the 6, and the 7 Series cars. It's better looking in some key ways than either the latest 5 or 6 Series models – front, rear and profile views, for starters. Still, it's the 7 Series that comes off feeling like the most complete package for the segment it is meant to represent. At least, that is, for this current generation of large BMW cars.The 197.1-inch length of the 6 Series Gran Coupe is much closer to that of the standard 7 Series (199.7 inches) than it is to that of the 5 Series (192.9 inches), yet the wheelbase is equal to that of the 5 Series. Front and rear tracks – 63.0 inches and 65.6 inches, respectively – are the same as seen on the 6 Series coupe. Curb weight is quoted at 4,023 pounds, putting the 6GC right between the 200-pound lighter 640i coupe and 245-pound heavier 740i. As for height, the Gran Coupe sits one inch taller than the 6 Series coupe and three inches shorter than the 5 Series sedan.

After spending a full day in the 640i Gran Coupe with the full-on BMW Individual interior treatment, we can say that everything inside the cabin works well, perhaps to a best-in-class degree. Space for four adults is exceptional and is both extremely well-crafted and comfortable. The four-plus-one seating promise in back isn't exactly a revelation, but it's possible. Without the spare tire and with the fully folding rear seat, luggage space is a respectable 44.7 cubic feet. The luxury and level of indulgence are spot-on for this new player in the segment.Keeping in mind those various weights and measures just listed, we were really curious to see what the result would be over the slippy road surfaces of Sicily. The overall weight is not a surprise for this 640i, but the 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo inline-six with 315 horsepower was perfectly fine for our less-than-ambitious requirements of this executive/family/lifestyle car.

It's the 330 pound-feet of torque – available as low as 1,300 RPM – however, that allows this engine to work in this above-average-sized BMW. Acceleration to 62 miles per hour is quoted at 5.4 seconds, but we firmly believe that extreme testing will no doubt result in a 60-mph run in around 5.0 seconds flat. That off-the-line speed is more than sufficient, but the real test is how we felt in the 640i GC while humming between the third, fourth and fifth gears of the standard eight-speed Steptronic automatic, overtaking diesel-smoke-chuffing fuel tankers, and slipping through the hundreds of roundabouts that Italy has so fallen in love with.Under these everyday dynamic circumstances, the 640i Gran Coupe is absolutely at its ease and there is honestly not a negative note regarding the chassis, steering, gearbox, or engine. BMW has so completely honed this ideal setup for all its larger vehicles to such an extent that we practically knew this would be the case before ever pressing the Start button.

Where we did notice a couple of negative discussion points, however, was during our shuffle along the autostrada at about 80 mph – the Italian legal limit on most multi-lane highways. The overall general comfort we found with the Driving Dynamics Control interface was perfectly fine whether in any of the Sport or Comfort setups, but where we found things less than optimal – no matter the setup in DDC – was when driving over expansion strips and the like. The mapping for the rebound traits of the dampers is not quite where it should be for this character of car. There was a sort of 'jiggle' after each strip was slapped by the weighty and hard Michelin Primacy HP run-flat tires, measuring 245/40R19 in the front and 275/35R19 at the rear. (For reference, the standard wheels and tires available in North America are 18-inchers, and the wheels seen on this test car are currently not available Stateside.)If we really wanted to own the 640i Gran Coupe, we'd consult BMW techies about the best 18- or 19-inch all-season radial we could buy since this post-kathump jiggle is really odd on an otherwise very good chassis setup. Under dynamic circumstances, this is not noticeable as much, and we imagine that over pristine German pavement, the dampers would be about perfect. Nonetheless, we can get a 740i to where it is smoother than this in straight cruising, though that's possibly due to the added weight. Still, why not here? We want an expensive BMW cruiser 6 Series four-door that costs more than the 740i to be able to give us a more refined damper rebound while driving along less-than-perfect pavement.

Another negative observation was sort of an easy target when you consider the car's design: the compromised rear window visibility. Getting the rear-view mirror set for optimal viewing through that slender rear glass took an unusual amount of time and you simply have to accept the compromise as a consequence of your sweet lookin' new car. The high sides and low profile greenhouse mean that we needed to adjust the seat higher, bringing the head on your author's six-foot-tall frame just a little too close to the headliner. And with the sliding glass roof – a standard feature in North America – your dear author's head would get even a little closer.But the most important quality of the 6 Series Gran Coupe is indeed its interior – the living space. Even without a BMW Individual makeover, the design is pretty luscious and doesn't seem to be overwrought. The cockpit has never been so driver-oriented in a BMW, while the front passenger side feels practically like a cocoon in how it wraps that person in leathery goodness. A nice detail is that the leathers and touch surfaces on the front passenger side are softer for comfort, while those on the driver side are a bit firmer and hold the pilot better in place. As for the back seats, when we had the front chairs adjusted for this six-foot-tall driver, our knees had a good four inches of clearance from backside of the front seats. What's more, our tootsies slid very nicely under the forward passenger squabs.

The 2013 BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe starts deliveries in North America in June at a base price of $76,895 – that's $5,895 more than a 740i, $24,395 more than a 535i and $3,295 more than a 640i coupe.A 402-horsepower Mercedes CLS550 with its 4.6-liter twin-turbo V8 starts at $71,300 and an Audi A7 with its 310-horsepower supercharged 3.0-liter V6 can start as low as $60,600 when modestly equipped. The 650i Gran Coupe, featuring a 443-horsepower, 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 that arrives a little later this year is set to start at $87,395. Yes, there's plenty of standard kit on these 6 Gran Coupes, but these are some heady prices for the privilege of a svelte lifestyle sedan. Blame it partially, we suppose, on the Germans' total frustration with the ongoing bad exchange rate between the suffering United States dollar and over-valued Euro.

We thought we were in an economic crisis, but apparently, the Germans have created so much value in the brands that they can do this. With pricing-to-trim trends like these, now everyone German and otherwise is bound to scooch the prices up as they catch wind of what the others are able to get away with over the backyard fence.

 

Courtesy of AutoBlog.com

U.S., German automakers will demo fast-charging system at EVS26

BMW, Ford, General Motors and Volkswagen are among the eight U.S. and German automakers that will demonstrate a single-port fast-charging system for electric vehicles at the Electric Vehicle Symposium 26 (EV26) in Los Angeles starting next week.

Audi, Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler and Porsche will also show off the so-called DC-fast system, which will be able to recharge most battery-electric vehicles in as little as 15 minutes.

With a combination AC and DC charging capabilities, the DC-fast system is supposed to start sales by the end of the year and will enable U.S. and German plug-ins to be able to be recharged at most public charging stations while also accommodating high-powered fast-charging stations. The International Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has officially tapped the system as the standard for fast-charging.

Electric-vehicle proponents consider the establishment of a fast-charging standard to be an important key to plug-in vehicle adoption because the availability of publicly accessible fast chargers that can recharge a vehicle in minutes instead of hours makes range anxiety a moot point. Pike Research said last year that annual revenue generated by makers of electric-vehicle charging equipment will increase more than tenfold between 2011 and 2017 to about $4.3 billion.

Still, the fast-charging issue is far from settled because a separate fast-charging standard – CHAdeMO – has been proposed by the Japanese automotive industry. Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi and Subaru parent Fuji Heavy Industries are all partners in the CHAdeMO Association.

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MINI Roadster: Topless Thrills

We gave our new MINI Roadster convertible its very own Hollywood peep show. There's no word yet on whether it will get its own star on the Walk of Fame, but it's safe to say MINI made quite an impression. Check out this exclusive footage, but remember this video may be TTFW (Too Thrilling For Work).