Design-wise, the new 6 Series Convertible is more evolutionary than revolutionary. It lifts a number of design elements from the recently-revealed 6 Series Coupé Concept – most notably that long, sloping bonnet and a strong shoulder crease that swoops down into the swage line on the flanks. Perhaps the biggest change is at the rear, where a deep bumper and distinctive horizontally-swept brake lights lend the car a more graceful appearance than its forerunner.
BMW has moved away from the folding hardtop set-up featured on its current Z4 lineup in favour of a weight-saving soft top with a double buttress design. The top takes 19 seconds to concertina into a compartment just ahead of the boot and 24 seconds to raise at speeds of up to 40 km/h.
Much like the exterior, the cabin is not dramatically different to that of the outgoing car, but BMW claims to have paid more attention to the quality of the materials employed therein. The most noteworthy cabin feature is probably a reworked version of iDrive with a 10,2-inch display and an interface that allows emails to be filtered into the system via a Bluetooth feed from the driver’s Blackberry. As with the 1 Series convertible, a number of upholstery choices (including Nappa leather) will be offered with “SunReflective” technology that keeps the seats cooler on summer days to prevent the griddled backside phenomenon that often results from parking a convertible in a sunny spot.
Two engines will initially be offered. First up will be a turbocharged 3,0-litre straight-six earmarked for the 640i. This unit will develop 239 kW and 450 N.m of torque – good enough for a claimed 0-100 km/h time of 5,7 seconds. The 650i will feature BMW’s 4,4-litre twin-turbo V8, which is capable of propelling the Convertible from 0-100 km/h in 5,0 seconds. Both models are electronically restricted to a top speed of 250 km/h. BMW will offer both models with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard, while the company’s 8-speed automatic transmission will be an optional extra.
The international launch of the new BMW 6 Series Convertible will take place in Cape Town in early February 2011.
