|
By Samuel Ee
With one extra word in its name, the 6 Series gets another two doors.
The 6 Series Gran Coupe is the four-door coupe version of the 6 Series Coupe and as BMW's first offering in this segment, the model receives some lovingly rendered design details.
The Gran Coupe is created by extending the 6 Series Coupe and adding two rear doors. Both cars share the same basic platform but the Gran Coupe's wheelbase is extended by 113 mm to 2,968 mm. At 1,894 mm across, the Gran Coupe is also very wide. To emphasise its width, the car's third brake light forms the entire top edge of the rear windscreen.
On paper, the Gran Coupe is merely a stretched version of a 6 Series Coupe with a couple more doors. In reality, it is an extremely elegant four-door model.
With its low roofline and wide body, the Gran Coupe retains the coupe silhouette of the 6 Series Coupe.
Its side profile is accentuated by a swage line - the crease line in the body - that is slightly wedged to portray a vehicle in motion, say BMW designers.
Farther down, the lower line connects the engine in front to the driven wheels at the back to denote BMW's classic front engine, rear-wheel-drive layout.
Both these lines also serve to visually enhance the Gran Coupe's low centre of gravity, thus grounding the car and giving it a sporty stance.
When the 6 Series Gran Coupe is launched here in a few months' time, there will be two variants - 640i and 640d. The 640i is a three-litre inline six-cylinder petrol engine featuring twin-scroll turbos, while the 640d is a three-litre straight-six turbodiesel.
 
| 
