BMW 640i GT - the only one in its niche

BMW loves to create niches. While the X6 proved to be very successful, and other manufacturers took up the idea, the Gran Turismo versions remain the domain of BMW for the time being. Should the lack of response from competitors cause BMW to abandon the idea?

Naming BMW models is not the easiest. BMW is trying to somehow systematize it and has already introduced numbering. Odd-numbered models are "traditional" cars. With even - "sporty", the silhouette is more reminiscent of a coupe.

Until recently we had the Series 3 GT and 5 GT. While the "five" became the "six" - for the record - the Series 3 GT is still the Series 3 GT. And at the same time he has an SUV-coupe body! Maybe if you gave it an even number, it would become an X4, and the X4 is another car, and things would get even more complicated.

We tested the 6 Series GT. What is this car? One of the versions of the 6 Series, that is, a large two-door coupe or convertible. The six, however, also have a GranCoupe version, an analogue of the Mercedes CLS is a four-door coupe. Four-door and therefore more practical.

So what is the Series 6 Gran Turismo but a four-door big car with sporty lines?

We'll try to find out.

The more you watch, the more you like it

The BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo was not a very pretty car. Of course, he had fans, but it looked ... specific. Perhaps that is why, unlike the X6, it never became very popular.

The 6 Series GT has a chance to change that. It still doesn't look like any other car, but now its shape is much nicer. The rear is less squat, the front is correspondingly more dangerous. In addition, it is still a very massive and large car that somehow tries to combine the features of a luxury limousine, coupe and SUV.

I was very critical of the previous version. Not only did I not like it, but I did not know what the point of creating such a machine was. So I approached this with caution until I got the keys from him ...

First impression - looks nice, quite. Every time I get into the 6 GT series, I like it more and more. Maybe it's because it's so unusual?

Take me wherever you want

The BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo is, as the name suggests, a car that should be a great long-distance companion.

I can't find any differences in the dashboard design of the GT 6 Series from the BMW 5 Series G30. Probably also because the 6 GT should be considered a body version of the "five" - ​​the manufacturer's code is G32. However, it is difficult to call this a disadvantage - the interior is made soundly, the location of the buttons is thought out. In this car you feel what you paid for. It looks expensive on the outside and enhances the impression on the inside.

However, the quality of the decorative panel could be treated with reservations. Looks great but creaks. In a warm cabin, something in the dashboard also sounds while driving. It's a pity, because if not for this, the interior could be assessed on a higher scale.

As in the 5 Series, here we have the latest generation iDrive with internet connectivity. There is no CarPlay here, but BMW uses its own smartphone connection protocol - so we have, for example, full access to Spotify or Audible from the car's system. It also works via Bluetooth.

The interior spoils when it comes to furnishing. The air conditioner can spray the smell - after installing two in the glove compartment, we select the one that we like today from the iDrive level. The seats are ventilated and heated, and have an extended massage function. We can choose from three levels of intensity and type: mobilization, massage or even… training. In addition, we will determine which part of the body we would like to focus on.

The soundproofing of the cabin and the comfort of the seats make it possible to overcome very long distances without the slightest sign of fatigue. Our test car even had two screens and electrically adjustable rear seatback angle. There is plenty of room here - he is a thoroughbred long-distance runner.

BMW has approached the word "gran touring" with the right mindset. As a rule, this is how we define a luxury coupe that is good for traveling, but for two. Therefore, they do not have too large trunks.

There are as many as 610 liters. That's almost 100 liters more than the 5 Series GT and... 40 liters more than the current 5 Series Touring! Our GT, however, is 15cm longer than the 10 and has a XNUMXcm longer wheelbase. It's just a big car.

You can't feel the speed, you can't feel the acceleration

The same week we tested the 6 GT series, we also tested the Seat Leon Cupra R. It's a fast, very sporty car. It accelerates to 100 km/h in 5,7 seconds. It was much lighter than the GT, at almost 600 kg, and had the same power as the BMW. This is 310 hp. against 340 hp at GT.

But BMW is faster. Its 40i six-cylinder engine and xDrive drive enable it to accelerate from 100 to 5,3 km/h in just 100 seconds. In a sports car - even at a slower pace - acceleration is felt much more intense. In a luxury cruiser, it's smooth, pleasant, and doesn't evoke much emotion. Oh, suddenly we are going XNUMX km / h, it's okay.

Moreover, we do not even realize that we are driving these 100 km / h or more. The dimensions of the car, a very comfortable suspension and excellent sound insulation of the cabin perfectly isolate us from the outside world and interfere with the feeling of speed.

The BMW 6 GT makes you think differently than you expect. It's a really big car, over 5 meters long, with a wheelbase of over 3 meters. And yet, behind the wheel, just like not feeling the speed, just like not feeling its greatness. It turns very well, but this is also due to the torsion rear axle. Thus, he deftly deceives physics and does not create problems in the city. Well, except perhaps with parking - it almost completely fills the marked parking spaces. Some don't even fit.

While there's a Sport mode that stiffens the suspension and makes the engine more likely to shift into lower gears, Comfort mode works best. There is even Comfort Plus, which softens the suspension as much as possible and gives the impression of hovering over the asphalt. He is not even afraid of pits, patches on the pavement or hatches.

The steering, like in the BMW, has a sporty touch. The gear ratio is straight and the steering wheel is thick. That's where much of the fun of driving the 6 Series GT comes from, not just traveling as a passenger.

The maximum torque of the 3-liter engine is 450 Nm - from 1380 rpm. up to 5200 rpm This characteristic of the torque curve can translate into low fuel consumption, as this is the area where the vehicle uses fuel most efficiently.

BMW says an average fuel consumption of 8,2 l/100 km. In the city it will be 11,1 l / 100 km, and on the highway even 6,5 l / 100 km. I drove mostly around the city, but - since this car does not provoke too fast driving - despite 340 hp. power, fuel consumption was mainly 12-12,5 l / 100 km. Average fuel consumption per 850 km is 11,2 l/100 km - at an average speed of 50 km/h. With a 68-litre tank, you won't have to go to the workshop too often.

There's something in it

I do not like cars that do not meet a certain need, do not have a reasonable justification. SUVs for those who drive on roads in poor condition and want more space inside. Limousines should be comfortable and presentable. Practical combo. Beautiful and fast coupe.

And the 6 Series GT satisfies a very rare need. “I would like the car to stand out, be something like a limousine and a bit of an SUV, it would be nice if it looked like a coupe as well. And in general, it should also have a large trunk, because I travel far. Oh, and it has to be fast and comfortable." It's a bit of a stretch, don't you think?

But there is a method to this madness. You'll have to convince yourself of the 6 Series GT, but if you take the first step, you might really like it. The price will not scare away potential customers. It is quite large because it starts from only 270 PLN, and for the tested version you need to pay at least 340 thousand. zloty However, there is nothing to refer to it - no other manufacturer sells a similar machine. And maybe that's why you'd want to choose the GT. Just to stand out and feel luxury and comfort at the same time.