BMW 6 Series: Head turner a lithe beast

BMW 6 Series convertible is an elegant cruiser with a hooligan heart. Photo / Jacqui Madelin

BMW'S $250,000 6 Series convertible is designed to turn heads towards a brand that's pared staff and boosted sales in a year it predicts will be its best.

What's new
Like this car's predecessor, the electronics, chassis and suspension are based on the 550i, although every panel is different and the unusual fabric "fin" roof is now built by Karmann.

This is a longer, lower, wider car with lithe lines, whether the roof is up or down. BMW kept the weight pinned with careful use of materials - aluminium for the doors, front guards built from thermoplast, and the boot lid of sheet moulding compound that's easier to form than metal.

Want a rear view camera? The BMW roundel tilts to reveal its little eye, then tucks it away after use.

The engine is the 4.4-litre 300kW/600Nm twin-turbo V8, shared with several upmarket BMWs and matched to an eight-speed ZF transmission. We won't get the six-cylinder available elsewhere, or the stop-start fitted to it.

This cabin is quite different, with only small items such as switches shared with the 5 Series. Initially, it seems dominated by the 10.8in screen through which most functions are accessed, from suspension tune to the infotainment system that will soon allow advanced functions such as access to Twitter and Facebook.

The company line
Last year was BMW's most successful, with the post-recession sales turnaround so great that suppliers couldn't keep up, says BMW managing director Mark Gilbert.

But that means New Zealand is under pressure to sell whatever it orders to justify its numbers allowance when burgeoning markets like China are clamouring for cars.

What we say
This Six delivers dramatic looks, although the big footprint doesn't translate to decent rear legroom. However, it certainly feels special from the front seats even before you explore the extensive techno-goodies.

Night vision, surround view cameras, full colour head-up display, heated and vented seats - all come standard. So it seems somewhat odd that the wind deflector is a cost option, the $1000 almost a necessity for those wishing to maintain a neat coiffure, despite cabin air that remains relatively undisturbed even at speed.

On the road
This car feels refined and serene while cruising, with very little scuttle shake even over our rural drive leg. But select sport and it's also taut and agile, the rear wheels powering it around corners. It's at its most agile with the $4850 rear-steer option, but I preferred the more lively feel of the standard cars.

Not surprisingly, in max attack mode with the mighty V8 on song you won't achieve BMW's 10.7l/100km claim.

Our car swallowed a wallet-battering 20.7l/100km average because of our choice of sport mode and a keen approach to match - it had been higher before our cruisy return trip on the motorway. Anyone with $248,500 to drop on a car probably won't mind.

Why you'll buy one?
You want an elegant cruiser with a hooligan heart and BMW 5 Series levels of technology and refinement.

Why you won't?
You'd prefer the coupe arriving later this year, or the 6 isn't exciting enough.