BMW has long offered fine driving cars for every luxury budget, though most have been high on door count. The BMW 6 Series coupe and convertible are for those seeking Bimmer performance with two-door style in a high-end package that's a bit more extravagant than the company's other offerings.
When reborn in the mid 2000s, the 6 Series featured a controversial, avant garde design, along with agile handling, a composed ride, strong engines and a well-crafted cabin. The current car now boasts more traditional styling and slightly beefed-up proportions, but its many dynamic virtues have largely been maintained or enhanced.
Be it new or used, the BMW 6 Series coupe and convertible are among the more interesting luxury two-doors on the market. They have faults, to be sure, and several very compelling competitors are definitely worth consideration, but then having to decide between high-end luxury coupes and convertibles is hardly a situation where you can really go wrong.
Current BMW 6 Series
The current BMW 6 Series was completely redesigned for 2012. An all-new, aluminum-intensive structure based on that of BMW's 5 and 7 Series sedans lends greater structural rigidity and keeps weight down. It keeps it light, but not svelte, as this new 6 Series also grew in size. The biggest changes are to the styling (which is toned down to be less adventurous) and to the engines. The new twin-turbo V8 is now almost as quick as the old V10-powered M6.
As before, the 6 Series is available as a coupe and soft-top convertible in a single trim level known as the 650i. The convertible is significant for its clever soft-top roof design, which features a separately controlled rear window. Lower it with the roof up for added ventilation, or raise it with the roof down for use a wind deflector.
Under the hood is a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 that produces 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. Every 6 Series is rear-wheel drive and comes standard with an eight-speed automatic, though a six-speed manual is still available.
