Teresa’s View

Sat., July 30, 2005

Teresa McCallion Marketing Department Correspondent

If Hollywood can bring back the “Dukes of Hazard,” BMW can certainly bring back the 6 Series. Bonus: Unlike the General Lee, the BMW 645Ci is available as a coupe or convertible.

Powered by a throaty 4.4-liter V-8 that produces 325 horsies, the 645Ci coupe can motivate from 0-to-60 in a mere 5.5 seconds, according to BMW. It’s enough to snap a neck if you want, but it’s power that imparts control. There’s no “hang-on-for-dear-life” feeling, which is good or bad depending on your perceived age bracket.

To revive the 6 Series, BMW didn’t just create a coupe version of the 5-series sedan. Sure, they share some similarities, but the 645Ci was designed from the get-go as a two-door. Offering it as a convertible is just plain sweet.

For your driving pleasure, a six-speed, no-cost optional SMG (sequential manual gearbox) transmission offers clutchless manual shifting, although a regular automatic and a manual transmission also are available.

And what’s a Bimmer without the innovative technological advancements? I’m partial to the active roll stabilization system. It keeps the car level even in the curviest curves. Active front steering automatically adapts the inner workings to the driving situation — whether you’re maneuvering in a parking lot or on the Autobahn.

The exterior design has sparked much debate. True, it doesn’t have the “Wow Factor” of the original 6 Series, but it’s not homely either. The best view is from the driver’s seat. There’s a certain heft to the 645Ci that belies its agility and the handling is so silky smooth and precise that it feels as if the driver and the car become one. The firm, yet graceful suspension absorbs all but the harshest road imperfections. Plus, you don’t have to climb in through the windows unless you and your hillbilly friends are into that sort of thing.

What Is It?: The rear-wheel drive 645Ci is a midsize luxury coupe ($70K) and convertible ($77K) offered in a single trim from BMW.

Gadget Rating: 9 out of 10. From comfort to safety features, the 645Ci is crazy luxury. For 2005, park distance control now appears on the standard list of features. Active cruise control is new to the options side. Speaking of options, try the Logic7 audio system. Unlike traditional stereos, it routes two-channel sound through a seven-channel playback matrix for jaw-dropping 360-degree Surround Sound. Then there’s the iDrive, BMW’s bewildering Gadget Central controller. Yes, it’s less confusing than it used to be. Yes, all but the fine-tuning settings for climate, navigation and audio have been removed to more traditional and accessible buttons. Even so, all that tapping and turning of the central controller knob is maddening.

Trivia: The 6 Series was originally introduced in 1977 only to be discontinued in 1989.

So, Where Are Ya From?: Final assembly point is Dingolfing, Germany. Yes, Dingolfing.

Recommended Fuel: Are you kidding? Premium.

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