BMW’s 6 Series Gran Turismo has always been known to be the more practical option over a 5 Series. This year, BMW has given the 6 Series GT more equipment and an all-important cosmetic makeover. The new 6-Series GT is sold with three engines: a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine, putting out 254bhp and on the 630i variant, a 3.0-litre 6-cylinder diesel producing 261bhp on the 630d and a 2.0-litre diesel engine developing 187bhp.
Those GT looks
The new BMW 6 Series GT is sure to get your attention with its new, sleek-looking headlights with twin L-shaped DRLs and the bigger front grille. BMW Cars have brought out a top-of-the-line M Sport variant, equipped with a petrol engine, featuring sportier changes on the outside. The front bumper looks sporty, while the bumper at the back on the BMW 6 Series GT features twin trapezoidal exhaust tips. That typical lift-back silhouette with the roof sloping to the rear into the short tail is the first detail that tells you this is a BMW 6 Series GT. What we absolutely love are the frameless doors, giving it a premium look. The soft-close feature for the doors in available only on the M Sport diesel model. BMW Cars have equipped the 6 Series GT M Sport variant with laser light technology, which can be spotted as those blue highlights in the cluster. The laser lights get both, high beam and low beam; you also get the adaptive function. These lights illuminate the road ahead by up to 650m in high beam.
More Space, More Comfort
The cabin is nice and airy; the levels of quality are impressive; so is fit and finish. You will find lacquered wood, an ambient lighting strip and matte silver accents around. The car features bigger twin 12.3-inch screens, one for the infotainment and the other being for the instrument cluster; it looks quite contemporary, to say the least. The instrument cluster is now fully digital and the infotainment screen is bigger and gets more features such as wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and an advanced voice command system. The remaining features include gesture control and an iDrive controller for the infotainment system, drive modes and wireless charging, a panoramic sunroof, a new 16-speaker Harman Kardon system, driver’s seat memory, paddle shifters and ambient lights. Coming to the rear seat, stepping in and out is a cinch, thanks to the wide door cavities. The car can also be raised by 20mm with its air suspension. Once you’re seated inside, you will be impressed with the amount of headroom and legroom on offer. Under-thigh support is great and the headrests get soft cushions on them. Rear occupants also have functional window blinds and there is climate control on both sides. There are even a pair of 10.25 infotainment screens that feature screen mirroring, USB, HDMI and a Blue-ray DVD/CD player. However, the rear armrest is positioned a bit high up while there are many charging provisions at the back. The electric notchback opens to unveil 600-litres of boot space. The sad thing is, the spare wheel sits on the floor, which means room is restricted.
Smooth Sailing
The G Series GT we’ve got our hands on is powered by a 3.0-litre, 4-cylinder, turbo petrol engine developing 254bhp and 400Nm of torque with power being sent to the rear wheels through an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The engine is refined and smooth and performance is delivered effortlessly. Thank fully, it’s a free-revving engine and loves to be redlined all the way to 6800rpm. The car features three driving modes: Eco Pro, Comfort and Sport, so it can go from being a cruiser to a very quick car. It also comes with the option of leaving itself in Adaptive mode, wherein steering weight, damping and responsiveness are altered. The torque-converter ‘box is rapid and shifts seamlessly; we’re guessing most aren’t going to be using the paddles in this case. What’s also nice is that the 6 Series GT features air suspension as standard across all variants. It sports 19-inch wheels alright but the ride is on the soft side and you don’t feel much inside. In case of big speed breakers, the ride height can always be adjusted. In Sport mode though, the ride gets stiffer and this is when it feels like a driver’s car, especially when you up the pace. Around corners, it does roll a bit, but turn-in is sharp and it doesn’t fall short on confidence when driven hard.
Hitting a Six
The M Sport variant of the BMW 6 Series GT comes with more kit but a higher price tag too. In fact, it is pricier than the BMW 530i. What you’ll love about the 6 Series GT is its powerful engine, sporty driving characteristics and roomy and comfortable cabin. Ride quality is great too, and with its sporty new look, we’re sure it’s going to have a lot of fresh buyers.