Seductive BMW 650i convertible commands attention

By IRA SIEGEL For Sun-Times Media June 4, 2012 4:29PM

Story Image

2012 BMW 650i Convertible

ENGNE: 400-horsepower 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V-8

TRANSMISSION: eight-speed automatic

DRIVETRAIN: rear-wheel drive

FUEL ECONOMY: 16 city/24 highway

BASE PRICE: $90,500

AS TESTED: $106,975 (includes $875 for destination)

WEBSITE: bmwusa.com

Article Extras
Story Image

Related Stories

Those seeking an exclusive, luxurious, technology-laden grand touring convertible will likely find the 2012 BMW 6 Series to be irresistible.

Redesigned for 2012, the third-generation 6 Series looks classier while retaining classic BMW styling. The 6 Series’ sharklike nose looks aggressive. The traditional BMW kidney grilles look more modern and have a slight forward slant to them.

The long sweeping hood, long wheelbase, exquisite wheels shod with run-flat tires and nicely carved lines of the new 6 Series further add to the dramatic and seductive styling that commands attention.

The 6 Series power soft-top (available in black or beige) features a flying buttress architecture and the rear glass window is retracted independently from the soft-top.

Because of that, when desired, you can lower the rear window without lowering the top. Another benefit is that there’s ample luggage space even when the top is down.

The luggage compartment measures 12.3 cubic feet with the top up and 10.6 with the top down. Opening the roof takes about 19 seconds and closing it takes about 24 seconds.

The 2012 BMW 6 Series convertible looks appealing top up or top down. Two trim levels are offered. The 640i convertible ($81,100) is powered by a 3.0-liter 315-horsepower twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine.

The 650i convertible ($90,500) is powered by a 4.4-liter 400-horsepower twin-turbocharged V-8 engine. All-wheel drive is offered with the larger engine and is designated at the 650i xDrive ($93,500).

The BMW 6 Series convertible offers two-plus-two seating. There’s plenty of room up front for taller drivers but there really isn’t much rear legroom. The rear seats likely will be only suitable for passengers when making short jaunts as opposed to longer excursions.

The cabin is elegant and features finely made materials and excellent craftsmanship. I like the cockpit-like feeling that’s provided.

The 640i convertible features 10-way power front seats while the 650i and 650i xDrive convertibles feature 20-way power front seats. Once I got the seat adjusted to my liking in my 650i convertible tester, it fit like a glove.

Dakota leather upholstery with sun-reflective technology adorns the 640i convertible while you’ll find Nappa leather upholstery with sun-reflective technology in the 650i and 650i xDrive convertibles.

The base audio system is a 205-watt unit. You can opt for an upgraded 500-watt system or the Bang & Olufsen 1,200-watt high-end system.

My 650i convertible tester was powered by the twin-turbocharged V-8 mated to an equally impressive eight-speed automatic transmission. Jab the pedal from a dead stop and 0-60 mph happens in just 4.9 seconds. Top speed is limited to 155 mph. There’s plenty of power.

The transmission delivers seamless shifts, and you can shift manually via the steering wheel paddle shifters to provide a more spirited experience.

The ride is well-mannered. Dynamic damping control is standard, and my tester came equipped with active roll stabilization ($2,000). For a 4,500-pound car, my 650i convertible tester was quick and agile.

The cabin is well insulated and remains fairly quiet with the top up when cruising at highway speeds. But as one would imagine, the 6 Series convertible is much more entertaining with the top down.

There are too many standard amenities and safety features to list but as you would expect, convertible models include a rollover protection system.

Some of the options worth noting are the driver assistance package ($3,900) and night vision with pedestrian detection ($2,600). The driver assistance package includes automatic high beams, lane departure warning, active blind spot detection, side and top view cameras, parking assistant and head-up display.

The 2012 BMW 6 Series convertible is a remarkable car that is sure to put a huge smile on your face when you take the wheel. The only problem is that once you experience it, you may not want to get out of the driver’s seat.

© 2011 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.

You Might Like

From ToDrive.com