Images and info on BMW’s 2012 6-Series Coupe has been revealed ahead of its official debut at the upcoming Auto Shanghai 2011 show.
Looking more purposeful and with tighter lines than previous model the new 6-Series is designed to be the ultimate dream car. The coupe features a “shark nose” front-end with bi-xenon headlights and a large BMW signature grille. Along the flanks, the 
6-Series profile boasts frameless windows, chrome accents, and a low roofline. At the rear, there’s dual exhausts, LED taillights, and a trunk lid with an integrated spoiler.
At 4,894mm long, 1894mm wide and 1,369mm tall, the 2+2 coupe is 75mm longer, 39mm wider and 5mm lower than its predecessor. It also rides on a 75mm longer wheelbase at 2,855mm, which should improve space for the rear passengers. Boot capacity stands at 460 litres.
Inside, the design is the same as on the soft-top model, with a more driver-orientated cockpit and the large display on the center console standing out. Other highlights include Dakota leather seats and a freestanding 7-inch iDrive display. Goodies on the options list include heated/ventilated seats, a panoramic sunroof, a Bang & Olufsen audio system, and GPS navigation with an upgraded 10.2-inch display.
In the safety equipment department the new 6 is advanced with a heads-up display, rear-view camera, night vision assist (with pedestrian recognition), parking assist, and a lane departure warning system all included as standard.
When the new 6-Series coupe arrives in New Zealand it will be sold with BMW’s stonking V8 engine. This twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 engine outputs a healthy 300 kW and produces 600 Nm of torque. It allows the coupe to run from 0-100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds, before hitting a limited top speed of 250 km/h. Fuel economy is impressive as well with the 6-Series achieving 10.4 L/100km combined and emissions are 243 g/km. Read the rest of this entry »
In terms of design it’s a radical machine which uses BMW’s “layering” approach that breaks up large surfaces with lines and detailing to give a more organic appearance. The concept features a wide grille, huge air intakes, frameless windscreen, and a transparent area running down the bonnet that symbolises the “driver’s focus on the road ahead and on the concentration of information that is flowing in the opposite direction, towards him.” The concept also has electro- mechanical retracting doors which give a nod to the Z1.
