The BMW 640i 3.0-litre petrol convertible - beautifully built, refined and great to drive (From Hereford Times)

The BMW 640i 3.0-litre petrol convertible - beautifully built, refined and great to drive

7:00am Saturday 3rd September 2011 in Road Tests

THOSE motorists with a taste for the finer things in life expect the best. They want refinement, plenty of engine power and sheer class wrapped in an eyecatching exterior.

Fulfilling that brief is the new BMW 6 series which looks as if it has just completed a term at finishing school. The styling is more elegant than before with the curved surfaces apparently having been inspired by the movement of waves sent out from a boat. The water movement led to BMW designers to give the car a more sweeping and muscular appearance.

For drop-top fans the convertible looks something special and benefits from many features, including , new engines, a 50 per cent gain in structural stiffness, lower emissions and fuelsaving features such as brake energy recuperation and a stop-start system. The car is roomier, too, being longer and wider than its predecessor.

The two-door convertible gets a 3.0-litre turbocharged straight six-cylinder housed in the 640i model and priced at £65,690 and a 4.4-litre eight-cylinder in the 650i at £73,470.

The 640i is proving a popular choice, not only because it is cheaper to buy but cheaper to run with a splendid all-round figure of 35.7mpg.

And It delivers a useful 315bhp and 332lb ft of torque or pulling power to whisk you away at high speeds and provide sheer driving pleasure – just what the 6-Series is all about.

Refinement is first-class with the four-seat convertible’s top up or down. The electric fabric roof works a treat, folding in 19 seconds and rising in place in just 21 seconds. And if a heavy storm suddenly arrives you can operate the hood on the move at speeds up to 25mph.

The straight 6 provides deep reserves of power for overtaking and the whole driving experience is smooth and refined, helped by the excellent eight-speed autobox.

There are four driving modes ranging from comfort to sport-plus which transform the car from a relaxed cruiser to a real sporty number. The settings alter the responses of the throttle, gearbox and stability control system while adaptive drive alters the dampers and anti-roll bar settings.

However, there remains a suppleness about the suspension which manages to soak up all manner of road imperfections to maintain a comfortable ride.

With the roof up the cabin is quiet and with it down you can continue your conversation as there is surprisingly little wind buffeting going on.

There is plenty of grip and gentlemanly handling with the car feeling more nimble than you might expect for a vehicle of this size. This is the hallmark of a good car.

The interior has a modern approach, is beautifully built with top-quality materials and it houses much high-tech equipment. The seats are also very supportive and comfortable and the dash is conveniently angled towards the driver.

While the cabin is spacious, there is only room in the rear for two small adults as legroom is rather tight while headroom is generous. However, the boot is a decent size for a convertible and is well shaped so that there is room for a couple of golf bags and other items.

The car’s equipment is what you would expect from BMW, including leather upholstery, electric seat adjustment, sat-nav, cruise control and front and rear parking sensors. A feature the driver will really appreciate is the head-up display.

BMW 640i 3.0-litre petrol convertible.

Price: £65,680.

Top speed: 155mph (restricted).

0-60mph: 5.7 seconds.

Fuel: 35.7mpg (combined figure).

C02 emissions (g/km): 185.

Verdict: Fine all-round package, fast, economical, practical for a convertible, beautifully built, refined and great to drive.