2017 BMW 6-Series GT new car review
Claus-Otto Griebel is project leader for BMW’s new 6-Series GT and at 196cm tall is a serious test for any back seat. Yet he is proud to show-off the car’s ability to accommodate him in the rear, leaping in to demonstrate that yes, there is ample leg and head room to fit his lanky frame.
“My boss is even taller,” he says, “and one of the goals with the 6-Series was that guys like us can adjust the front seat to be comfortable, then sit in the rear without our knees touching the back of the seat. I think we’ve achieved that.”
So yes, the new 6-Series GT that goes on sale in Australia this November priced from $123,500 is big. Based on the platform of the 7-Series, it matches the length of that full-sized sedan at more than five metres and has the same 3070mm wheelbase as the standard-length Seven.
Essentially a replacement for the outgoing 5-Series Gran Turismo, the 6-Series GT furthers its roominess credentials with a long liftback tailgate that conceals a very useful 610 litres of luggage space or 110 litres more than its predecessor. Pull the levers to drop the back seat, and it expands to 1800 litres.
That’s been achieved in part by BMW using the more compact rear suspension from its 5-Series wagon to liberate more room for golf clubs. Four sets, in fact, each measuring 1.15 metres according to BMW.
Add to those figures the fact that the driver’s seat sits higher than normal and the range-topping (that’s $148,900) 640i GT xDrive comes with all-wheel-drive and it seems if you’re looking to pigeonhole this car then “added versatility luxury crossover” isn’t a bad place to start.
The 640i was the variant BMW had available to drive at the GT’s international launch, although there will also be a cheaper, four-cylinder turbo 630i when the 6-Series lands in Oz later this year.
The more expensive version is powered by a 3.0-litre, turbocharged six cylinder engine and if that seems a tad small for 1910kg of luxury car, the output figures suggest otherwise.
The turbo six produces a maximum 250kW of power from a relatively low 5500rpm but the torque figure of 450Nm that is on-tap from as low as 1400rpm all the way to 5200rpm points to an engine tuned for ease of driving rather than outright performance.
Not that there isn’t decent acceleration available with BMW claiming 0-100km/h in 5.3 seconds and, from the driver’s seat, pressing the throttle gives a steady surge of power via the syrupy, eight-speed automatic.
The all-wheel-drive system adds about 65kg to the 640i’s weight but it’s actually slightly faster than the rear-drive version available in Europe thanks to extra grip. Fuel consumption suffers however, with the xDrive using a good 0.8 L/100km to average 8.2 L/100km on the combined cycle.
There is simply oodles of refinement in the 640i GT whether it be the smooth and almost silent drivetrain, the lack of wind noise from the aerodynamic bodyshell or the ultra-plush ride afforded by the active air suspension that is standard equipment on both Australian models.
A number of driving modes are available and in ‘comfort’ the 640i feels a little floaty on the road with a definitely non-sporty pitching motion to the body; hit the ‘sport’ setting and the ride and steering tighten nicely, plus the gearshifts and throttle response become a little more aggressive.
Amazingly, the menu also offers a ‘comfort plus’ option that softens the ride even further but at the expense of body control so it’s definitely not recommended for twisty roads.
Speaking of which, the 640i GT handles capably enough to suit most drivers – and there’s any amount of grip from the AWD system and big, 20-inch low-profile tyres – but push it hard into tight corners in the default ‘comfort’ mode and it leans on its front end and understeers a little too much to be called sporty.
At the other end of the scale, for freeway driving there’s a semi-autonomous mode that allows hands-free driving for short periods of time which is fun to play with, but difficult to imagine being particularly useful.
The dashboard and instrument panel have been lifted pretty much as-is from the latest 5-Series so there are projected main dials in front of the driver, a head-up display on the windscreen and a massive 10-inch central display with a pantheon of GPS, systems and connectivity functions.
The amount of technology afforded this large, liftback BMW is enormous and so are comfort levels, refinement and available interior space. It is also swift but performance has been toned down for ease of driving in lieu of outright pace; all this means the 6-series GT is far from conventional (one look can tell you that) but presumably there’s an audience willing to take it on.
2017 BMW 640i xDrive GT pricing and specifications
On sale: November 2017
Price: $148,900 plus on-road costs.
Engine: 3.0-litre 6-cylinder turbo petrol
Power: 250kW at 5500rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 1380rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto, all-wheel drive
Fuel use: 8.5 L/100km