BMW is gearing up to roll out the latest member of its 6 Series family, a four-door hatchback model dubbed the 6 Series Gran Turismo that becomes the brand's latest competitor to the shapely Audi A7.
As a kind of spiritual successor to the 5 Series GT that disappeared with the introduction of the 2017 BMW 5 Series sedan, the new car "combines the long-distance comfort of a luxury sedan with the aesthetic appeal of a coupe." In common parlance, it's a really nice hatchback, just like its predecessors sold under the 3 and 5 Series banners.
A coupe typically prioritizes front-seat space and comfort, but BMW says the 6 Series GT boasts an ample 978 mm of rear-seat headroom and a long trunk, suggesting this should make an excellent road trip car for four people. Adding to the car's practicality is a trunk sill lowered by 5 cm compared to the 5 Series GT.
When the 6 Series GT launches this fall, it will come a 3.0L turbocharged six-cylinder engine and the 640i xDrive designation (meaning standard AWD), as well as an eight-speed automatic transmission with shift paddles.
Helping that engine do its work as efficiently as possible are a raft of aerodynamic tricks, including active grille shutters, along with air curtains in the front lower air intake and air breathers behind the front wheels to reduce turbulence around the wheel arches. In addition, BMW says the underbody is almost fully enclosed, and an automatic rear spoiler deploys at speeds above about 120 km/h and retracts again at 80 km/h in an effort to reduce lift and drag at highway speeds. Aluminum and high strength steel in the car's body and structure helped engineers reduce weight.
Standard features include a panoramic sunroof, automatic climate control, ambient interior lighting and rear air suspension. The 640i xDrive Gran Turismo goes on sale across Canada this fall, with pricing and full features list to be announced closer to that time.
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