The BMW 640i GT xDrive – The BMW that got the better of me

By Chad Lückhoff

The BMW 6 Series GT offers a combination of space, comfort and convenience in a performance package that is perfect for long distance journeys across the country, but isn't out of place in and around town.

 

The BMW 6 Series GT

It took me longer, longer than I'm proud to admit, for me to get the point of the new BMW 6 Series GT. While I'm known to be a little biased, I did my best to approach the 640i GT xDrive with an objective view, reasoning that if it has been made available locally that there must be a demand of sorts for this type of vehicle.

You see, South Africans have rather strange tastes when it comes to cars. We fawn over SUVs and high-performance versions but won't touch an estate/wagon with a long pointed stick. So then, with the 640i GT offering what appeared to me to be a sedan with estate-like qualities, I was rather perplexed. I had no doubt that BMW had done their research and identified a market for the model, I just had to find out what that demographic was.

The Concept

The BMW 6 Series GT replaces the 5 Series GT in the smorgasbord of offerings that BMW presently has. As such, it's underpinnings are based on the Cluster Architecture (CLAR) that BMW uses for the 5 Series and the same modular platform that can be found in the 7 Series, X3, X5 and even the forthcoming Toyota Supra (believe it or not).

It's longer than the 5 Series Gran Turismo that it replaces, by a full 87mm, and while it's as wide as the previous model, it's a touch lower, coming in at 1539mm, 21mm lower than before.

To me, it seemed like an X6 without the ground clearance – which was strange considering how many South Africans would prefer to spring for the X6 rather.

The Reasoning

If I abandoned my local viewpoint, then the 6 Series GT started to make sense. A cavernous interior with a hatch opening, rather than a boot lid, and more storage space; 610 litres, 110 litres more than the previous version. A competent xDrive AWD system and a meaty 3.0 litre, turbocharged, inline six-cylinder engine that produces 250 kW and 450 Nm. A potential spec list that includes night vision, active cruise control, Driving Assist Plus and a host of others that make driving near effortless.

Then I remembered what GT stands for; Grand Turismo. A grand tourer, implying that this car was created to eat up mile after mile of open highway as you blast across the country. It then started to make sense.

There's a ton of legroom in the rear and if the kids are asleep, you can raise the sunshades and help keep them cool. There's self-levelling air suspension at the rear to ensure that they don't wake from their slumber as the road gets rough.

The iDrive 6.0 system with optional gesture control and Harman/Kardon sound system keeps the adults up front entertained while heated and ventilated seats ensure that they sit in complete comfort.

Dad thoroughly enjoys the drive thanks to the seamless 8-speed ZF Steptronic automatic gearbox and the power underfoot while mom certainly doesn't mind being seen in the swooping, coupe-like lines of the 640i GT, comforted by the knowledge that there's more than enough safety systems in play to keep the loved ones safe.

Acceptance.

Having identified the market for which this vehicle was intended, I resigned myself to the fact that some South Africans don't want an SUV, but they want some of its qualities. It's for the buyer that enjoys a bit of performance driving but also requires something that is practical, well-appointed, stylish and versatile.

The 640i GT is not an outright performance car, despite the M Sport appearances and the additional size and weight can be felt. Thanks to BMW's studious engineering of the chassis, the 640i GT is sure-footed, sprightly and stops on a dime. It can be a canyon carver or a limousine.

The additional size has a few small drawbacks though and if you opt not to go for the Parking Assist Plus that gives you a 360-degree camera, parking can be a little more difficult than it needs to be. The fuel consumption in daily traffic use also feels the pinch thanks to the xDrive and additional weight. I was getting 12l/100km in Comfort mode (as opposed to Sport or Eco Pro) with a mixture of urban and extra-urban travel, but I don't doubt that on the long open stretches that the 640i would return a more favourable number.

Personally, I'm not too fond of the styling either. I'm traditional in the sense that if something is going to be called a coupé, then it should only have two doors and when BMW made all their even numbered series models coupés, I accepted that as being fact – thus the 4-door 6 Series sits skewed in my opinion and I won't even discuss the 4 Series Gran Coupe.

But that is something that my therapist and I are working through.

The BMW 640i GT retails for a base price of R1 158 700 while our model cost closer to R1 400 000 with the options list as tested.