THE first ever 6 Series Gran Turismo models to come from German car maker BMW are on their way to Australia, with the 630i GT and 640i xDrive GT both confirmed to be in showrooms from November 2017.
The new for 2018 models bring with them a host of firsts, in particular the 640i xDrive GT, the flagship model, which is the first non-M performance passenger BMW to be fitted with an XDrive all-wheel drive system.
A high level of standard specifications means both models feature sophisticated 2-axle adaptive air suspension, driving assistant plus, 16-speaker harman/kardon sound system, M Sport brakes and a panorama glass sunroof, while a generous luggage compartment offers 610 litres storage capacity.
The semi-autonomous driving aids include steering and lane control assistant, active cruise control with stop and go, lane keeping assistant with active side collision protection, front and rear cross-traffic warnings, evasion aids, rear collision protection, lane departure warning and parking assistant.
Under the hood, the 630i GT is powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine. It generates an impressive 190kW and some 400Nm for an effortless combination of low-rev response and strong acceleration. Fuel economy is tested at 7.0L/100km on the combined cycle.
Underneath the 640i xDrive bonnet sits a thoroughly modern take on a BMW classic configuration: an inline six-cylinder petrol engine. Utilising a twin-scroll turbocharger, the 3.0- litre ‘six’ generates 250kW and 450Nm of torque while using only 8.5L/100km on the combined cycle.
Three modes are featured – ECO PRO, COMFORT and SPORT, the latter allowing the vehicle to lower itself by 10mm. In addition, the vehicle can be manually raised 20mm for slow-speed manoeuvres (up to 35km/h).
The 2018 BMW 630i GT will be priced from $123,500 (plus on-roads), while the premium 640i xDrive GT will hit the tarmac at $148,900 (plus on-roads). A range of add-on options packages are also available, priced from $1,600 to $8,000 (with some only available on the prestigious 640i xDrive GT model).
