The New BMW 6 Series Coupé

The New BMW 6 Series Coupé Contents 1. World Debut of the New BMW 6 Series (Short Story) 2. Most Important Innovations and Features 3. The New 645Ci (Long Story) 4. Design: Emotions in Thrilling Shape 5. Drivetrain: Converting Supreme Muscle into Agile Roadholding 6. Chassis and Suspension: Even Greater Agility thanks to Active Steering 7. Bodyshell: Intelligent Lightweight Construction for a New Dimension of Dynamic Motoring 8. Equipment: Assistance Systems for Driving Dynamics, Motoring Comfort, and Superior Safety 9. Passive Safety of the Highest Standard 10. Telecommunications: Innovations in Information, Communication and Entertainment 11. BMW Coupé Tradition: The 6 Series and its Prominent Predecessors 12. Market Position of the New BMW 6 Series 13. Production of the New 6 Series 14. Specifications 15. Output and Torque Diagram 16. Exterior and Interior Dimensions

1. World Debut of the New BMW 6 Series
Heralding the Large 645Ci Coupé.
(Short Story)

Passion, elegance, power and performance - the 645Ci is the synthesis of all
these attributes. For this new BMW marks the very top of the large coupé
segment.

With its sophisticated and sleek proportions, the new 6 Series makes a clear
pledge to the world of the classic, sporting and elegant coupé. The dynamic
looks of the car bear a clear testimony to exceptional driving agility at very
first sight. And indeed, the 8-cylinder power unit interacting with the
outstanding chassis and suspension, innovative active steering and the most
advanced driver assistance systems such as Dynamic Drive stability control or
the DSC driving stability program ensures a truly impressive, powerful and
refined driving experience.

Despite its sporting performance and dynamic character, this thoroughbred coupé
ensures driving comfort of the highest calibre: A fully-fledged 2+2-coupé, the
645Ci offers all four passengers maximum seating comfort for a coupé, luxury
features all round, and an ambience of sheer elegance. All this is combined
with exceptional practical qualities including the proverbial safety of the new
BMW 6 Series.

Combining progressive technology, fascinating design and all the amenities
desired by the customer, the new 6 Series offers its passengers dynamic driving
pleasure of the highest standard setting a new benchmark in the luxury sports
coupé segment.

Exterior design: powerful - exciting - emotional:
The 645Ci is a car full of style and presence. Its character lines flow
smoothly around the car without a definite beginning or end, joining the front,
side and rear to form one complete, harmonious sculpture. The curved surfaces
emanate a feeling of power and breed pure emotion, creating an aura of visual
tension not allowing even the slightest touch of boredom. This is not just the
design of an outstanding coupé, but also an expression of unique, aesthetic
character giving the new 6 Series its unmistakable style.

Following the design language of a classic coupé, the engine compartment lid
stretches out in a long, sleek line merging into the shorter, low-slung roof
line of the passenger cell positioned further back towards the rear end of the
car. The tail of the 6 Series coupé with its integrated spoiler, finally, is
truly sporting in every respect, reminiscent of a typical Gran Turismo sports
car.

Dynamic harmony throughout the interior:
"Dynamic harmony" is the philosophy underlying the interior of the new 6 Series
coupé. Dynamism lies in the tense interaction of the surfaces and lines,
harmony is borne out by the mutual support and inter-relationship of the
various body segments and contours mingling with one another.

The interior design powerfully enhances that unique feeling of BMW driving
pleasure. Beginning beneath the windscreen, the side contours extend upwards
and backwards in a dynamic, curved line into the doors on either side,
surrounding and accentuating the armrests. The driver and front passenger are
cocooned right in the middle of this field of tension, enjoying a unique
feeling of comfort, class and style. A similarly exciting line in the centre
console emanates the same feeling of forward-surging dynamism, originating in
the instrument panel and extending diagonally over the centre console, round
the padded top section and on to the rear seats.

Benefiting from features of this calibre, the interior design forms a perfect
blend with the attractive exterior design of the new 6 Series. Outside and
inside, from every perspective, the new car is a work of art clearly
highlighting the exclusive and sporting statement made by the BMW 6 Series with
its heritage so full of class and style.

Sophisticated materials and harmonious colours creating
an ambience of sheer luxury:
Sophisticated, perfectly finished materials such as leather, wood and metal, as
well as a sensitive combination of carefully matched colours, create an
ambience of sheer luxury inside the passenger compartment, without in any way
neglecting the need for superior function. Again in typical BMW style, the
cockpit is oriented towards the driver: All functions important to the driver
are arranged ergonomically on or around the steering wheel. Nearly all other
functions relevant to both the driver and front passenger are grouped together
in the area of the centre console. With only a handful of visible switches and
controls, the interior appears very calm and well-arranged mainly thanks to the
Controller serving as a central control system to activate and mastermind
nearly all comfort functions within the 6 Series via the Control Display
extending out of the height-adjustable armrest giving the user steady support
at all times in the interest of greater comfort and control ease.

Driver and front passenger seat coming as standard
with memory function:
Electrically adjustable and with a triple memory function featured as standard,
the driver and front passenger seats also serve to optimise the car's
ergonomics. To provide equally supreme surface quality, the seats are finished
in the finest and most supreme Dakota leather. Sports seats available as an
option also with electrical control have firmer padding and offer even better
body support as well as adjustable thigh support particularly for dynamic
motoring.

A fully-fledged 2+2-coupé:
For a coupé even the passengers at the rear enjoy supreme luxury: Although
coupés generally have a lower and sleeker roof line than a saloon, even adults
sitting on the rear seats of the 6 Series will enjoy ample space and motoring
conditions giving them the most wonderful experience in the BMW coupé. And
they will also benefit from good side support in the two body-contoured leather
seats separated from one another by an elevated cushion in the middle.

Thanks to the extra-comfortable vehicle access system on the driver's and front
passenger's seats, both rear seats are easy to reach without having to unduly
bend your body. This again makes the new 6 Series a fully-fledged 2+2-coupé
for all purposes.

Yet another practical feature of the 645Ci is remarkable luggage capacity of
450 litres taking up a complete set of one large, one medium-sized and one
small hard-shell suitcase or one large suitcase and two 46-inch golf bags all
accommodated with absolute ease.

Large panorama roof made of glass:
The unusually large panorama vent roof made of glass is a particular highlight
in every sense of the word, giving the interior a truly generous and bright
ambience. Apart from its extra-large 806 x 578-millimetre (31.7 x 22.8'')
opening, the glass roof also comes with an electrically retracting roof liner
guaranteeing the highest standard of climate control and soundproofing through
its aluminium sandwich structure, without unduly reducing the occupants'
headroom.

V8 power unit for dynamic driving pleasure beyond all doubts:
The new BMW 6 Series spells out pure emotion not only through its design. For
the sensational 4.4-litre eight-cylinder makes the aficionado of refined power
units wax lyrical in every respect, maximum output of 245 kW/333 bhp and
maximum torque of 450 Newton-metres/332 lb-ft raising the 645Ci beyond any
discussion on performance and motoring refinement. Indeed, this is clearly
confirmed by the International Engine of the Year 2002 Award presented to BMW
for this unique V8.

Infinite adjustment of virtually all relevant parameters such as valve timing
(bi-VANOS), valve lift (VALVETRONIC) and even intake manifold length enables
the eight-cylinder to adjust perfectly to every situation. The customer
benefits from this technical masterpiece from Munich through supreme output and
fuel consumption of only 11.7 litres premium plus/100 km (24.2 mpg Imp) very
low indeed for an eight-cylinder of this calibre (with manual gearbox). And it
is almost superfluous to add that BMW's new coupé complies in full with the
currently most demanding EU4 emission standard not required by law on new cars
until the year 2005. In Germany and Sweden this means that the 645Ci qualifies
for a reduced level of taxes, and in the USA the new coupé meets the LEV
emission standard.

Featuring a six-speed manual gearbox as standard equipment or optional
six-speed SMG transmission allowing the driver, like in Formula 1, to shift
gears by means of paddles on the steering wheel or by the gearshift lever
without using a clutch pedal, the BMW 645Ci offers a level of performance on
the road only a few thoroughbred sports cars are able to match: Top speed is
250 km/h or 155 mph (limited electronically), acceleration from 0?100 km/h is
in 5.6 seconds.

Dynamic performance of the highest standard - this naturally also applies,
without restriction, to the optional six-speed automatic transmission combining
sports motoring and a smooth, comfortable gearshift with a standard of
perfection never seen before in this category: running in automatic
transmission, the 645Ci accelerates from 0-100 km/h in just 5.8 seconds and
returns superior fuel economy of 10.9 litres/100 km (25.9 mpg Imp) in the
European combined cycle.

Performance of an even higher standard at the touch of a button:
Pressing the DDC (Dynamic Drive Control) button featured on all transmissions,
the driver is able to give the entire car an even more sporting and dynamic
character. Motoring comfort is intentionally reduced at the same time, the
engines responding with even faster acceleration while the gas pedal remains in
the same position. Pressing down the gas pedal, in turn, the driver will
trigger an even more dynamic, progressive response.

On models fitted with automatic transmission, DDC waits for higher engine
speeds before shifting to the next gear, whilst on models with SMG transmission
gearshift times become even shorter. A further effect of DDC is the
modification of steering forces (not with Active Steering), DDC thus giving the
sporting and ambitious driver an even better response and feel for the road.

Sporting, safe, comfortable:
Performance beyond any doubt is one thing, the way this supreme power is
conveyed to the road is another. And to ensure perfect transmission of power
to the road beneath, the new 6 Series comes with an all-aluminium chassis and
suspension tailored perfectly to the sporting character of the car. Hydraulic
rack-and-pinion steering with Servotronic ensures the high standard of
directional accuracy and precise feedback from the steering so essential on a
coupé of this calibre, Servotronic varying the degree of steering assistance by
means of a control curve geared to road speed.

Active Steering for even better handling:
Only active control systems are able to further enhance the safe and
comfortable driving pleasure the BMW 6 Series offers from the start as a
regular feature. Fitted with Active Steering available as an option, the 645Ci
responds even more directly and, as a result, with a far higher standard of
agility and precision to the driver's steering commands at low speeds, steering
response then becoming increasingly indirect at higher speeds in the interest
of even better and smoother directional stability. The big advantage for the
driver is that the 645Ci is far more agile and offers much better handling than
one would expect of a car of this size. Indeed, it is quite appropriate to
describe this as a kind of go-kart feeling, with Active Steering enhancing the
agility of BMW's large coupé to a standard never seen before.

In town Active Steering is particularly convenient in parking manoeuvres, the
wheels turning from one lock to the other with less than two turns of the
steering wheel. At high speeds, on the other hand, the more indirect
transmission ratio ensures superior, smooth and relaxed motoring of the highest
standard.

Active Steering also incorporates yaw rate control and is networked with the
DSC system, thus allowing the driver to intervene quickly and efficiently for
extra stability on the road by slightly correcting the steering angle of the
front wheels. This, in turn, reduces any noticeable intervention of DSC in the
low response range, Active Steering and DSC forming a prefect team in the
process.

Most advanced control systems assisting the excellent chassis
and suspension:
Equipped with BMW's most advanced and sophisticated chassis control systems,
the new BMW coupé offers the driver all of BMW's major chassis assistance
functions, improving the truly outstanding chassis and suspension of the 645Ci
to an even higher standard. The first example is DSC Dynamic Stability Control
interacting with ABS anti-lock brakes and CBC Cornering Brake Control slowing
down individual wheels as required on slippery surfaces in order to prevent the
car from swerving out of control. Then there is the 'intelligent' Dynamic
Drive chassis control system almost completely eliminating any sway or roll of
the body even in fast bends.

Consistent lightweight technology for an even higher standard
of dynamic performance:
Lightweight technology and engineering applied consistently in BMW's large
coupé makes a significant contribution to the car's excellent driving comfort
combined with thrilling dynamism. Particular highlights of this lightweight
technology are the innovative aluminium/steel structure of the car's body, the
Weight-Reduced Aluminium Front (WRAF) much lighter than steel, the rear lid
made of SMC sheet moulding compound composite glass fibre, the side panels made
of thermoplastics at the front, as well as the front lid and doors made of
aluminium, together with a wide range of other detailed improvements serving to
reduce weight, all of which make the new BMW 645Ci a very light car for a
vehicle of this size and calibre, weighing in at just 1,615 kg or 3,560 lb,
with axle load distribution of almost 50:50 typical of BMW. This gives the
all-aluminium suspension of BMW's large coupé an excellent starting point for
driving characteristics and qualities far superior to the general standard even
in this class, particularly when it comes to the car's precise steering
response.

Adaptive Headlights for even greater safety:
Adaptive Headlights available as an option significantly improve the very good
bi-xenon headlights featured as standard on the 645Ci from the start.
Swivelling as required, these headlights follow the course of the road and
therefore illuminate both the road ahead and the surroundings up to 90 per cent
clearer and more brightly than conventional headlights. To provide this
function, the control unit for the high and low beams is fed with an ongoing
stream of data on the car's steering angle, yaw rate and road speed through the
on-board network, an electric motor serving to swivel the bi-xenon headlight
modules in either direction - that is to the left or to the right - as the car
proceeds. In practice, this ensures a far higher standard of safety when
driving down winding country roads at night.

Head-Up Display giving the driver the most important information directly in
his line of vision:
BMW's innovative Head-Up Display projects important information relevant to the
driver directly into his line of vision while on the road. Inter alia, this
includes the current speed of the car, navigation instructions, speed limit
data, and information from the Check/Control. The virtual picture generated in
this way appears in front of the driver on the road ahead, ensuring even safer
motoring free of fatigue, also because the driver is no longer required to take
his eyes off the road at any time.

Innovative voice entry system -
the 6 Series follows all your commands:
Like the Head-Up Display, the innovate voice entry system featured in the 645Ci
upgrades BMW's iDrive control philosophy in the interest of even greater
motoring comfort and safety. Voice entry comes in conjunction with the
Professional navigation system available as an option and the CCC Car
Communication Computer. The key feature of the voice entry system is the
option to activate all essential iDrive comfort functions by voice entry while
driving, which is without taking your eyes off the traffic around you. In
practice, this means you are able to activate nearly all display functions by
way of a simple and straightforward voice command. And since the system does
not depend on a specific voice or tone, there is no need for the driver to
train or adjust his voice for the voice entry mode.

As a further option, an intelligent text-to-speech function reads out e-mails
received, SMS messages, the names of radio stations, or complete selection
lists. Using predetermined short commands, the driver is also able to activate
additional iDrive functions. And last but not least, the Control Center
enables the driver to access the BMW online portal providing selected
internet-based solutions.

Audio system in HiFi quality:
Equipped as standard with a total of 8 loudspeakers, the HiFi system in the new
BMW coupé gives the occupants audio quality of the highest standard. The two
central woofers are housed in and connected directly to the side-sills in order
to provide the necessary volume. This concept patented by BMW uses the sills
as a sound body improving the reproduction of bass sound throughout the entire
car.

The optional TOP HiFi system with no less than 13 loudspeakers turns the new
BMW 6 Series into a genuine concert hall on wheels, the additional centre
loudspeakers in the instrument panel and the LOGIC7 equaliser concept providing
a particularly authentic surround sound effect in studio quality on all seats,
regardless of the audio format chosen.

Luxury class coupés look back at a great tradition with BMW:
Luxurious features of the highest standard, thrilling design and, as the
supreme, overriding function, excellent driving dynamics and motoring comfort -
this certainly is the perfect luxury performance coupé made by BMW. And, at
the same time, it is a pledge to a long tradition of BMW coupés over the
years. Just think of outstanding cars such as the pre-war BMW 327 Coupé or the
BMW 503 dating back to the ?50s. The immediate predecessor of the new 645Ci is
however the BMW CS Series, with sales of the 2800 CS, the 3.0 CS, the 3.0
CSi/CSL and the 2.5 CS accounting for more than 40,000 units between 1968 and
1975. Certainly a wonderful story of success lifted to an even higher level by
the subsequent 6 Series with total production of approximately 86,000 coupés.