BMW 6 2004 Review

But thankfully it's never brash or brutal, though some people find price tags of $203,000 and $220,000, coupe and convertible, about as brutal as it gets in new-car showrooms.

The Six is a great drive with plenty of appeal and a welcome comeback car in a BMW line-up that seems to be expanding all the time.

This one has been revived, after a strong run through the '80s, to take a top-end charge at everything from Jaguar's XKR to the Porsche 911 and the latest Bentley Continental GT. Oh, and Benz's CLK and CL coupes.

It's a big job for a big car that looks a lot like a two-door 7-Series limo, but it's also a sign BMW is serious about filling every slot in the prestige world.

It believes it should have a car for every prestige and luxury buyer, from its latest baby car -- the 1-Series compact that comes to Australia next month -- to the 7-Series limousine and the Six.

The 645Ci coupe is a four-person coupe based on the mechanical package of the mid-sized 5-Series sedan, but it picks up the fulsome 4.4-litre V8 from the Seven.

The engine has Bi-Vans valvetronic control to liberate 245kW of power, the chassis has run-flat tyres with pressure warning, there is dynamic stability and traction control as well as dynamic brake control and cornering brake control, and the cabin is padded with airbags.

BMW has gone all-out with active steering, aluminium for the bonnet and rear suspension, thermoplastic front guards and adaptive xenon headlamps that can see around corners.

It is all built up as a Grand Touring package for people who are likely to use their Six for weekends away or holiday trips, though it will also bumble along in traffic with the same sort of cosseting cabin as the Seven.

BMW Australia isn't predicting big sales for the car, about 20 a month, but knows it can bang a big drum with a car that turns heads and gets people thinking about the brand.

ON THE ROAD

BMW Australia says you will have to be quick, and wealthy, to get one of the 120 Sixes allocated Down Under this year.

It is trying to get more, but believes the 645 will be a sellout for 2004 with strong demand already for 2005. What makes the car special is its bold look and performance that matches the promise in the two-door body and long list of technology and equipment.

We drove it as a six-speed manual coupe, even if most will be delivered as a convertible with six-speed auto and touch-change sports shift.

We also had one in the test fleet for back-to-back running with a Porsche. The 911 was the superseded model, but the difference between the cars was obvious.

The BMW is a more everyday car, happy to run to the shops or carry four adults on medium-range trips, and the Porsche is the fun machine.

The Six is more practical and surprisingly enjoyable, and the 911 is a car that takes driving.

Lined up against its other rivals, the BMW is well ahead of the Jaguar on cabin space and quality and has a much newer design.

The Six is more involving to drive than a Benz CL, though the German rival is one of our all-time favourites, and roomier and better equipped than a CLK.

The Bentley? It's $379,995, which puts it into another class.

These cars are all just dream machines for nearly all Australians, but the 645 is a car that delivers on most of the promises.

It will blast to 100km/h in just on six seconds, doing it with a proud V8 soundtrack.

It can do 200km/h for hours on German autobahns and makes no fuss about long-distance running in Australia.

The ride is plush and well controlled and it is enjoyable to push along a twisty road.

The luxury gear is great, though we cannot resist another swipe at the complicated iDrive computer control after driving the latest Audi A8L this week, with its much simpler and more logical MMI for control of functions such as the sound system and satnav.

The Six is not as sharp as a Porsche, but more taut than a Jaguar, with the effortless poise that will appeal to people with a $200,000-plus shopping trolley.

It is tough to park with little visibility, which is why the car comes with parking radar, but that was about the only complaint.

Some people will find it frivolous, costly or too aggressive, but that's all personal stuff.

We rate it just about equal with Benz's CL, thanks to its price advantage, and just behind the 911 because a Porsche is more exciting. This is about as good as it gets from BMW.

THE BOTTOM LINE

THE bold new Six is a car for people who enjoy, and can afford, the finer things in life.