The BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo has been officially
launched in Malaysia. First revealed in June 2017, the all new G32 may be
wearing a “6” badge, but it’s essentially the successor to the 5 Series GT that
was in production from 2009 to 2017.
The 6 Series Gran Turismo is a big car at 5,091 mm
long, 1,902 mm wide and 1,538 mm tall. That makes it 155 mm longer, 34 mm wider
and 59 mm taller than the G30 5 Series, which the 6 GT shares Cluster
Architecture (CLAR) bones together with the G11 7 Series. Compared to the 5
Series, the wheelbase you see here is a significant 99 mm longer at 3,070 mm.
However, the 6 GT sits 21 mm lower than the old 5 GT, which contributes to its
sleeker shape.
The front end is largely similar to the G30, but the
6 GT has a more expressive headlight design with “eyebrows” that arch up
towards the corners for a more assertive gaze. Along the sides, the Air
Breather vents have been integrated neatly into the flanks, while the much more
heavily-raked A-pillars provides a sleeker glasshouse that flows into the lower
rear deck, which by the way is 64 mm lower than before.
At the back, the 6 GT sports three-dimensional tail
lights and an integrated rear spoiler that rises at speeds over 110 km/h. The
latter combines with the Air Curtains, Air Breather vents and lower roofline
for an improved drag coefficient of 0.25 Cd, from 0.29. It’s lighter too, by
around 150 kg.
Munich says that headroom has been increased over
the 5 GT despite the lower roofline, achieved by optimising the seat system.
The single-section tailgate is opened and closed electrically, with a Comfort
Access function that allows for foot operation. Boot volume is up by a massive
100 litres to 610 litres, and this can be expanded to 1,800 litres by folding
down the rear seats electrically. The loading sill has also been lowered by
five cm to the level of the boot floor.
Up front, the Gran Turismo carries over the Five’s
dashboard, and equipment include iDrive with a Touch Controller and 10.25-inch
touchscreen, Navigation system Professional, enhanced voice control and gesture
control, head-up display and M Sport steering wheel. For trim, we get a
Sensatec leather dashboard and Fine Wood ‘Fineline’ Ridge with Pearl Gloss
Chrome pieces.
Passengers get to enjoy a two-part panoramic glass
roof, which has a length of slightly over a metre and a width of 90 cm. Topping
things off is a 600W 16-speaker Harman Kardon Surround Sound System and
four-zone auto air con.As for safety driver assistance systems, the 6 GT makes
use of its stereo camera, radar and ultrasonic sensors to provide Lane
Departure Warning, Lane Change Warning, Collision and Pedestrian Warning with
City Collision Mitigation, Crossing Traffic Warning, and Speed Limit Info.
There’s also Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function.
Exterior kit highlights include Adaptive LED
headlights (with high beam assist) and 20-inch M light-alloys in double-spoke
648 M style. They’re two-tone and are wrapped with mixed run-flat tyres –
245/40 front and 275/35 rear.
Last but certainly not least, we’re getting the 6
Series Gran Turismo in 630i M Sport form. That means a 2.0 litre TwinPower
Turbo engine with 258 hp/400 Nm is mated to an eight-speed Steptronic automatic
transmission (with steering paddles), good for 0-100 km/h in 6.3 seconds and a
top speed of 250 km/h. Claimed combined fuel consumption is 6.6 litres per 100
km, or 15.2 km/l.
The 630i GT rides on adaptive suspension with
Dynamic Damper Control and air suspension for both axles. The electronically
controlled dampers provide good ride comfort and wheel-specific control that
counterbalances uneven loads.
Air suspension also allows the vehicle’s ride height
to be adjusted manually, meaning that ground clearance can be increased by 20
mm at the touch of a button, for bad roads or steep ramps, for example. It can
also be lowered by 10 mm either manually or automatically when Sport mode is
engaged, or when the car’s speed exceeds 120 km/h to reduce drag.
The 630i GT M Sport is CKD locally assembled and is
available in Alpine White, Bluestone, Carbon Black and Sophisto Grey. Inside,
Leather Dakota Black is standard, but Leather Dakota Cognac is an option for
those opting for Carbon Black and Sophisto Grey exteriors. The BMW 6 Series
Gran Turismo is priced at an estimated RM 450,000 (OTR excluding insurance) and
comes with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty with free scheduled service
programme, and a two-year tyre warranty.