The once-maligned BMW 6 Series seems to have been around for ages, but it has matured rather nicely. What’s more, the newly-facelifted 650i is a V8-powered, German-built coupé with a manual transmission (a rarity these days) – and much better for it.
It seemed that apart from BMW’s 550i and M3 and Audi’s RS4 and R8, the Teutons have abandoned the idea of equipping their large-engined performance models with stick shifts, opting instead for Sportronic automatic or DSG dual-clutch transmissions. But this 650i is different – It has a 4,8-litre V8 that pushes out 270 kW and 490 N.m at 3 400 r/min – it’s arguably the biggest-engined manual transmission German car in the new vehicle market.
Unfortunately, my first acquaintance with the 650i wasn’t very pleasant. It’s tricky to find a comfortable driving position in the stick-shift 6, because if you don’t like stretching your arm to reach the gear selector, you have to sit close to the steering wheel. As a result, the confines of the cabin constantly remind you of your bent knees and elbows. Furthermore, the inside of one’s left arm is prone to rub against the leather-trimmed centre console when shifting gears… A tall driver has to elevate his or her seat to its highest position to minimize the problem, but that costs precious headroom.
Apart from those reservations, however, the 650i Coupé turned out to be a stunner on the road. I particularly like the wider, more aggressive front air intake and the LED running lights in the dual headlight binnacles, and the choice of exterior paint finish – Space Grey – gives the car a dignified presence. Although some have cast the 6 Series into automotive perdition – the cold and murky chasm between the worlds of sports cars and grand tourers – there’s something particularly convincing, and ultimately satisfying, about the way the newcomer caresses the asphalt.
As a former owner of an older-generation M Car, I fully expected the 650i’s clutch feel to be meaty and to experience a slightly notchy action through the gear selection gate. I hate being right sometimes… The plain truth is that most well-heeled owners would probably opt for the automatic transmission on the 650i, because the six-speed manual version is but a guilty indulgence and might prove tiresome to drive in congested city traffic. Then again, there’s something so right about the manual-shift 650i – it’s not as powerful as its M6 sibling, but not so darn peaky either. Instead of a screaming V10 under the bonnet, the 650i has a burbling V8 that will break into a resonating basso profundo when pushing on.
If you’d like to know more about the performance and handling characteristics of the 650i Coupé, there will be a road test in an upcoming issue of CAR. I’ll leave you with the following thoughts… Forget about the 650i’s nominal rear legroom, compromised driving position and the Stair Master component otherwise known as the Beemer’s clutch pedal; Just picture the following…
A winding stretch of blacktop, with the 650i Coupé in third gear and spinning at about 2 500 r/min. Let me tell you today that the experience is better than… Well, many things out there.