At the Mahindra Duro DZ unveiling in India, Mr. Popli, Senior VP at M2W, put to the media the question, ‘How many options do you think the Indian consumer has if he wants to buy a car?’. The fact that we were talking about cars, at least for a moment at a scooter launch really shows that the fragmentation in the car market today is something that deserves a 3000 word article on its own. You have hatchbacks, hatchbacks with a slapped on boot, compact sedans, slightly larger sedans, really large sedans, huge SUVs, small SUVs, GTs, crossovers, GT crossovers, MUVs, and variations of the previously mentioned sedans in their coupe, convertible and GT forms. Why? Well, the more the choices you offer the consumer, the higher the probability of him/her picking up a car from you, or so believe manufacturers.
This time though, we aren’t cribbing. The recently unveiled BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe is a thing of beauty, and stands out from its coupe cousin without having to try real hard. A four door coupe is a first for BMW and this baby is bound to come up at pub conversations between enthusiasts debating whether a four door can actually be called a coupe.
Pitted against the likes of the all new Mercedes-Benz CLS and the Audi A7, the 6 Series Gran Coupe definitely needs a lot of ammo to entice the buyer. BMW thinks the high-quality interior with generous levels of space and impressive seating comfort, the third rear seat (4+1-seater) and a split/folding rear seat backrests that allow boot capacity to increase from 460 litres to 1,265 litres is a good start.
The 6 Series Gran Coupe will be powered by engines with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology. The BMW 640i Gran Coupe will have a six-cylinder in-line petrol engine (235 kW/320 hp), twin-scroll turbocharging, direct injection and VALVETRONIC, BMW 640d Gran Coupe (230 kW/313 hp) will have variable sequential turbocharging and common-rail direct injection available from launch, and finally the flagship BMW 650i Gran Coupe will have a new eight-cylinder engine (330 kW/450 hp), two turbochargers, direct injection and VALVETRONIC. All model variants will have as standard an eight-speed sports automatic transmission and Driving Experience Control switch.
The front end design is based on the BMW 6 Series identity with the Gran Coupe’s individual character embodied by model-specific electroplated bars between the air intake and foglamps.
The twin round headlights with three-dimensional light rings, optional adaptive LED headlights and the distinctive silhouette with flowing Coupe-style roof line are other attractive design features. BMW has played with the Hofmeister kink, giving it an elegant look as opposed to the slightly aggressive curve seen on the two door Coupe.
If all these distinctions aren’t clear enough, BMW has also been kind enough to label the car with “Gran Coupe” lettering on the C-pillar. BMW, this year is emphasizing the width of their cars using lots of horizontal elements at the rear. The LED rear lights are in an L-shape – like in the BMW 6 Series Coupe and BMW 6 Series Convertible. A full-length third brake light is also placed above the rear window.
BMW is also offering the xDrive on the menu with the flagship 650i Gran Coupe. State-of-the-art chassis technology including Electric Power Steering and Dynamic Damper Control as standard, Integral Active Steering and Adaptive Drive can be ticked as options.
BMW has stressed on intelligent lightweight design. Aluminium doors with frameless side windows, aluminium bonnet, chassis technology including spring supports made largely from aluminium, thermoplastic front side panels, glass fibre composite boot lid all work towards reducing the weight of the behemoth.
Standard equipment list includes eight-speed sports automatic transmission, Auto Start-Stop function, Dynamic Damper Control, Servotronic, 18-inch light-alloy wheels, xenon headlights with LED daytime running light rings, cruise control with braking function, electrically operated, automatically folding and heated exterior mirrors, BMW Parking Assistant, Speed Limit Info, camera-based Collision Warning with braking function (in conjunction with Active Cruise Control).
