F12 BMW 6-Series Convertible

The BMW 6-Series Convertible is now officially in its third generation with the revealing  of the production 6-Series Convertible at the 2010 Los Angeles auto show. 

The Convertible’s hard-top sibling was also there on display as a “concept car" that’s as faithful to production as a concept can get.

Two engine variants were unveiled at launch – a BMW 650i and a 640i running an 8-cylinder engine and a 6-cylinder engine respectively both turbocharged and immediate injected. Nothing new in this department – 407hp and 600Nm for the V8 which goes from 0 to 100km/h in 5 seconds and 320hp and 450Nm for the single-turbo inline-6 which takes the cable car up to 100km/h in 5.seven seconds. Both are mated  to 8-speed Sports automatic transmissions. The 6-potter also has an additional auto start-stop relation.

The steering is an EPS system which seems to be making its way into all the unexampled BMWs now. Drive mechanics Control allows NORMAL SPORT and SPORT+ suspension settings and if you specify the Adaptive Drive option you also get an extra COMFORT setting.
Wheelbase is now 2855mm and the elevator car itself has a length of 4894mm a width of 1894mm and a height of 1365mm. The vehicle is a 2+2 seater – four people in a nice search in the cold air up to a highland resort is entirely possible but the front two will be the most comfortable of course. Like the 5-Series the new 6-Series is able to use rear wheel steerage of up to 2.5 degrees to improve cornering as well as unrefined speed maneuvers by improving turning radius.

With a car of this dead body type you’d naturally not expect much storage space. The baggage compartment stores 300 liters with the roof down and this goes up to 350 liters with the roof back up. BMW claims two 46 inch golf bags and a business sector case can fit in the 300 liters.
The roof can go down in 19 seconds and follow up in 24 seconds and because its a soft top it can be operated at speeds of up to 40km/h. The cover can also be remotely opened at distances of 1.5 meters off if you specify the Comfort Access option. 

You can actually opt to keep the rear framework up while the roof is down to minimize air turbulence to the rear passenger area. You can also equip the car with an optional wind device to further increase comfort with the top down.

The iDrive screen is 7 inches standard and upgradable to 10.2 inches with a galvanized chrome skirt. BMW says the way the blind is mounted is unique to the 6-Series which supposedly gives it a flatblind look which is funny considering all iDrive blinds are flat.

With the new  BMW 6-Series Convertible is besides introducing the latest version of its heads-up display system which features 3D graphics and a full spectrum of colours. Curiously the press pack did not have any photos of this in action so perhaps we’ll have to test to catch it in real life!