2012 BMW 640i Gran Coupe Launch Review
2012 BMW 640i GRAN COUPE REVIEW
It's the third model to join the 6 Series line-up, but, strangely enough, the 6 Series Gran Coupe, which launched in Australia this week, is older than its two-door siblings.
Conceived as BMW's first four-door coupe, the Gran Coupe started life as a clean-sheet design. It debuted as a concept before the Coupe and Convertible had ever appeared.
As a result, the Gran Coupe's sleek bodywork is an elegantly cohesive design with breathtaking style.
There's more to it than mere good looks though. Beneath the Gran Coupe's skin lies a highly capable chassis and a luxurious interior. And there's plenty of cutting-edge gadgetry to sweeten the deal.
At its core the Gran Coupe is a magnificent fusion of style, grace and athleticism, but it's a pricey beast.
With the six-cylinder 640i Gran Coupe starting at $184,800 it's a vastly more expensive proposition than its obvious competitors, the Audi A7 3.0 TFSI and Mercedes-Benz CLS 350.
So what do you get for your money?
INTERIOR
The dashboard, front seats and much of the centre console are identical to those of the two-door 6 Series models, and this is both good and bad.
Good because the level of quality is exceptional – there's vast swathes of leather on the dashboard, soft plastics everywhere and typically robust BMW switchgear – but bad because it's cosier than it should be for such a big, wide car.
The driving position is excellent, however the sweeping dash intrudes on front passenger knee-room and you feel quite hemmed-in from the left-side seat.
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