BMW 640i Gran Coupe Overview, Engine Specs and Price

Overview

Based on the 6 Series Coupe, both stylistically and dynamically, the result is surprisingly elegant. Rather than just a lengthened two-door model, the Gran Coupe's cohesive design ensures the extra two doors still allow this long car to retain a coupe-like silhouette, with a swage line and body crease to visually enhance its low centre of gravity.

But more than just to fill the gap between the 6 Series Coupe and the 5 Series Sedan, BMW says that the Gran Coupe embodies the 6 Series' sportiness with the 7 Series limousine's luxury.

 There are four engine variants - 640i, 640d, 650i and 650i xDrive. The 640i, which will be launched here in the third quarter, is a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder petrol engine featuring twin-scroll turbos, while the 640d is a 3.0-litre straight-six turbodiesel.

The 640d we drove last week is expected to make up 80 per cent of BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe sales in the UK, but that doesn’t mean the petrol models should be overlooked.

The BMW 640i Gran Coupe is the third model in the BMW 6 Series line-up, and is the first four-door Coupe in the history of the brand. The company describes the vehicle as having distinct exterior styling, creating a unique aura, and a luxurious interior.

BMW 640i Gran Coupe (Photo: BMW)

Engine Specifications

The rear-wheel drive 640i Gran Coupe is powered by a 315-hp 3.0-liter turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine with direct fuel injection, and mated to an eight-speed Sport automatic transmission with manual mode and shift paddles.

Notable standard equipment includes a sport-tuned suspension, Dynamic Driving Control, 18-inch aluminum wheels, adaptive bi-xenon headlights and Comfort Access keyless entry/start. Inside the well-appointed cabin, which offers 4+1 seating capacity, is high-quality leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control and genuine wood trim. A voice-activated hard drive-based navigation system, including 12 gigabytes of dedicated media storage.

HD radio and Bluetooth wireless connectivity are also standard. Safety features include anti-lock brakes, electronic stability and traction control, front and rear parking sensors with rearview camera, active anti-whiplash front head restraints and up to eight airbags.

A Driver Assistance Package is available, providing more advanced systems such as lane-departure warning, blind spot detection, head-up display and an automated parking assistant. The 640i Gran Coupe can also be outfitted with active cruise control and night vision, full LED lights and Integral Active Steering.

BMW 640i Gran Coupe Price

According to autoblog, BMW has slapped a sticker onto the latest addition to the 6 Series lineup, and the all-new 2013 640i Gran Coupe will carry at sticker of $76,895 (including the $895 destination charge) when it goes on sale this summer.

The 640i is the first variant of the segment-splitting "4+1" sedan, which gets power from the ubiquitous TwinPower turbocharged and direct-injected 3.0-liter inline-six putting out 315 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. A 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8-powered 650i Gran Coupe will be on offer later this year in both rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive guise, although BMW is holding off on pricing those two 445 hp models until closer to launch.

BMW 640i Gran Coupe :

Price: $76,895 (including the $895 destination charge)

Engine: 2,979cc inline-6 turbocharged

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Max Power: 320 hp @ 5,800-6,000 rpm

Max Torque: 450 Nm @ 1,300-4,500 rpm

0-100kmh: 5.4 secs

Top speed: 250 kmh

CO2 emissions: 183 g/km

Distributor: Performance Motors 6319-0100

BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe Review and Price

BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe: BMW's designers have made the most of it by folding the surfaces beautifully and adding tasteful, lush detail. Like a shark, the Gran Coupe looks like it's made to swim fast and far. And that's how it feels too. It'll snake its way down a back-road with effortless authority, and then swallow immense motorway stretches without the slightest burp.

All the while you'll be sitting in an environment that's more lush than the typical BMW, and lower to the road. And while the people in the back seats won't be stretching out like they can in a 7-series, neither will they be contorted in bitterness.

Engine wise, you can have the 640i or 640d, both with turbo straight-sixes. The petrol makes 320bhp, has no apparent turbo lag and sings like a bird. But the diesel, at a similar 313bhp, is still well worth listening to, and drinks less fuel while it's at it. Both make great use of an eight-speed auto 'box.

BMW portrays both of its engines as plenty powerful. The 3-liter 6-cylinder engine can rocket from zero to 60 miles an hour in 5.4 seconds. Its top speed is limited to 155 miles per hour. The car should get a combined fuel economy rating of about 24 miles per gallon. The V-8 is quicker in accleration, covering the zero to 60 mph time in 4.5 seconds.

Like other luxury cars lately, BMW makes not of the extra space in the back seat. Lately, this has been area where automakers have been making strides -- and we suspect it because of their big pushes to sell cars in China, where chauffeur-driven luxury cars are the norm. BMW says the Gran Coupe is 4.4 inches longer than than the two-door version, with most of that extra space for rear passengers.

BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe Price

The family dramas can play out nicely in the Gran Coupe, which has seating for five. It won't come cheap, though: the TwinPower Turbo 6-cylinder BMW 640i Gran Coupe comes next month at a starting price of $76,895 plus $895 in delivery fees. The TwinPower Turbo V-8 BMW 650i Gran Coupe is due later in the summer at $87,395 and the all-wheel drive BMW 650i xDrive Gran Coupe will show up at some point at $90,395.