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Fascinating design, thrilling technical features, athletic top-of-the-range performance – precisely these are the ingredients offering four passengers unlimited driving pleasure with only the sky above: Introducing the new 6 Series Convertible, BMW has created a dream car in both its looks and technical highlights. Thanks to its new side fin roof, the 6 Series Convertible, like the 6 Series Coupé, stands out through its sheer presence and elegant lines – the fins offer the same visual effect as wide C-pillars, with a coupé-like, exclusive look. And with the roof down, the Convertible clearly reveals its unique character, skillfully combining the athletic attributes of the sporting Coupé with styling elements of a luxurious 2+2-seater Convertible. At very first sight, therefore, the new Convertible offers a glimpse of the exceptional driving agility so typical of the BMW 6 Series. |
A car for the demanding customer. V8 power unit for dynamic open-air driving pleasure at all times. The big advantages for the customer are supreme power and performance, fuel consumption of only 12.8 litres premium plus/100 kilometres or 18.2 mpg US on the manual gearbox model and only 11.5 litres (20.3 mpg US) on the automatic transmission version certainly economical for an 8-cylinder engine of this calibre, as well as superior environmental compatibility (EU4/LEV). So this is definitely an outstanding engine in an outstanding car, with qualities confirmed not least by the International Engine of the Year 2002 Award. Ideally combined with one of three six-speed transmissions available on the new model – among them BMW’s well-known SMG Sequential Manual Gearbox carried over from Formula 1 and controlled by buttons on the steering wheel – the 645Ci Convertible offers a standard of driving performance only very few sports cars are able to match: Acceleration from 0-100 km/h comes in 6.1 seconds (manual gearbox version; automatic transmission model in 6.2 seconds) and top speed is limited electronically to 250 km/h or 155 mph. Lightweight construction and drive assistance systems for dynamic performance of the highest standard. Driving the 6 Series Convertible is a genuine pleasure in every respect – particularly thanks to the extra-stiff body which, benefitting from the special carrier structure, reduces vibrations to a level otherwise only matched by an excellent two-seater roadster and quite unique in the 2+2 convertible segment. At the same time consistent lightweight engineering limits the weight of the 645Ci Convertible to just 1815 kilos or 4002 lbs (manual gearbox model; automatic transmission version 1820 kg or 4013 lb), allowing axle load distribution of almost 50:50 again so typical of BMW. Together with rear-wheel drive ideal on a car with this kind of weight distribution and keeping the steering free of any adverse influence from the drivetrain, the all-aluminium chassis and suspension has everything required for driving characteristics far above the usual standard even in this class, serving in particular to ensure extremely precise response and behaviour. Among the wide range of BMW chassis and suspension control systems improving the very good regular suspension of the 6 Series Convertible to an even higher standard, particular emphasis should be given to DSC Dynamic Stability Control with its wide range of features and “intelligent” Dynamic Drive available as an option. Dynamic drive compensates body sway in bends almost completely and, by carefully distributing sway motion front to rear, reduces the steering angles required on the road. This, in turn, keeps the Convertible very stable and calm under all driving conditions, allowing the driver to choose a particularly agile, direct and sporting style of motoring. Active Steering for even better handling. Active Steering also features yaw rate control and is networked directly with the DSC system. It is thus able to intervene at an early point in time via the steering angle on the front wheels, stabilising the car and allowing small corrections, which in turn reduces intervention of DSC Dynamic Stability Control in the lower response range. In a nutshell, therefore, Active Steering and DSC form an ideal team. Adaptive Headlights for even greater safety on the road. To provide this superior function, the control unit for the high and low beams receives the latest information from the car’s on-board network on the steering angle, yaw rate, and road speed, swivelling the bi-xenon headlight modules in both directions as required while on the road by means of an electric motor. The result is a significant improvement of safety when driving on winding roads at night. Roof with perfect noise and heat insulation. The vertical rear window between the fins on the roof is made of glass and is electrically heated. As a further feature, the rear window can be retracted completely into the luggage compartment bulkhead by means of an electric motor with the roof both open and closed. This creates a draught-free ventilation effect similar to that offered by a sliding roof in a saloon. It almost goes without saying that all side windows can also be retracted fully into the body of the car. The all-electric process in opening the roof starts with automatic release of the front roof bracket on the upper windscreen frame, comfort opening enabling the driver to open or close the roof completely from his cockpit simply by pressing a button or turning the key on the door. Indeed, this you can even do when setting off or in stop-and-go traffic up to a speed of 30 km/h or 20 mph, all windows closing in the process and the softtop locking and unlocking. The wind deflector, finally, turns the Convertible into a two-seater almost free of draughts. And whenever you need all four seats, the deflector folds up conveniently into the luggage compartment. As a fully-fledged 2+2 convertible, the 645Ci Convertible offers all passengers supreme seating comfort, luxurious features, and an ambience full of style and elegance. Electrical adjustment of the driver’s and front passenger’s seats featured as standard, with a triple memory function on the driver’s seat, adds the final touch of convenience to the seats finished in sophisticated Dakota leather and with an ergonomic body contour. Sports seats available as an option and also adjustable electrically come with even firmer upholstery and offer even better body support particularly under dynamic driving conditions. A further feature in this case is the adjustable thigh supports. Both rear seats are convenient to reach thanks to Easy Access on the driver’s and front passenger’s seat. A big advantage in this context is that the seat belts are integrated in the front seats themselves, meaning that the passengers need not fear tripping up when getting on to the rear seats or when getting out again. Last but certainly not least, luggage compartment capacity of 300 litres with the roof open and 350 litres with the roof closed enhances the practical benefits of the new Convertible. This is sufficient space for one large and one small hard-shell suitcase or, respectively, two 46-inch golf bags plus a medium-sized hard-shell suitcase. And thanks to optional through-loading as well as the ski-bag, the driver and passengers are able to take along two pairs of skis or a snowboard without limiting space available inside the passenger compartment. Dynamic harmony within the interior. Perfectly finished materials such as high-quality leather, wood or metal, as well as careful choice of matched and contrasting colours in discreet style, create a luxurious ambience without neglecting the need for superior function. Accordingly, all functions significant to the driver are located ergonomically on or around the steering wheel. And nearly all functions relevant to both the driver and front passenger alike are to be found in the area of the centre console. Head-Up Display presenting the most important features to the driver. Innovative voice entry system. The key feature of voice entry is the option to select all essential iDrive comfort functions by voice entry while driving, without taking one’s eyes off the road even for a split-second. This allows the driver to activate nearly all display functions through his voice alone. Since the system operates independently of the individual speaker or voice, there is no need to train your voice in a time-consuming process of trial and error. An intelligent text-to-speech function serves in addition to read out e-mails, SMS messages, the names of radio stations, as well as lists of other selected items. Entering defined short commands, the driver is also able to activate an extended range of iDrive functions, and last but not least the Control Center enables the user to access BMW Online services providing selected internet-based options. A HiFi system with 8 loudspeakers fitted as standard offers optimum audio quality for the driver and passengers enjoying the new BMW Convertible. And the optional TOP HiFi system with a total of 11 loudspeakers, finally, turns the new BMW Convertible into a genuine open-air concert arena. In this case the central loudspeaker integrated in the instrument panel, subwoofers in the rear side panels, as well as the five-channel LOGIC7 equaliser concept ensure a particularly authentic all-round sound effect in studio quality, regardless of the audio format the driver may prefer. Supreme passive safety also when driving with the roof down. Interacting with the ultra-stiff body and, in particular, the specially reinforced A-pillars, these safety features in the 6 Series Convertible offer excellent crash safety of the same supreme standard as in the 6 Series Coupé. 1.2 The Fin-Structure Roof: Fascinating Looks and Outstanding Benefits. Design: fin look with the roof open and closed. Further attention to detail is borne out in this context by the shaft strip on the rear side window split into two pieces to precisely continue the colour of the roof at the end of the “Hofmeister kick” into part of the shaft trim. Roof dimensions: folding into a compact package for an extra-large luggage compartment. This benefit is also attributable to the plastic trim on the roof cover serving not only to ensure good looks, but also superior functions: Surrounded by PUR foam plastic, the LFI (long-fibre injection) moulded element is hollow inside and therefore forms the upper edge on the roof compartment. A conventional window at the rear would have taken up a great deal of space and capacity, since such a glass window integrated in the softtop would have been very large due to the shallow rake of the roof, with a corresponding reduction of luggage compartment capacity when driving with the roof down. And at the same time visibility to the rear would have been significantly impaired, since the tightening bracket on a conventional roof extending from one side to the other would have seriously obstructed the open line of vision available. Now the fin structure makes such a tightening bracket superfluous. And instead of a huge flat window at the rear, the 6 Series Convertible comes with a vertical window hardly taking up any space in the luggage compartment while at the same time, despite its far more compact dimensions, offering the driver much better visibility to the rear. Yet a further advantage is that this vertical rear window is fully independent of the roof structure and bars, and may be moved up and down by itself, regardless of whether the roof is open or closed. Unique air extraction ensuring a perfect climate inside the car. Contrary to common opinion, driving with the roof down on a very hot day is not necessarily advisable, since sunglare is simply excessive and the car’s occupants may easily suffer sunburn or even a heat stroke. Lowering the side and rear windows, however, the driver and occupants enjoying the new 6 Series Convertible can still take in all the fresh air they want – almost like driving with the roof down, but at the same time well protected from the sun. When driving with the roof down and with passengers at the rear, a further option is to leave the rear window standing upright to protect at least somewhat shorter rear-seat passengers from draughts and air swirls. And another advantage of this very special rear window is that in winter the heated window de-ices much more quickly, since ice or snow are hardly able to rest and cling tight to the window due to its vertical position. Low weight of the softtop benefits the car’s driving dynamics. Ultra-modern technology for superior comfort. The fully automatic power roof opens both by remote control and by means of a button in the instrument console, a total of six hydraulic cylinders performing the actual opening and closing movement on both the roof and the roof compartment lid. With the roof open, the roof compartment lid made of special SMC plastic protects the softtop within the compartment with maximum efficiency, keeping out water and dirt. The complete process of opening or closing the roof takes less than 25 seconds. Within this short period the rear window and all side windows are also retracted or moved up as required, and the softtop is fastened electrically on to the windscreen frame and, respectively, the roof lid. Opening and closing the roof even while driving. The 6 Series Convertible comes with a specially developed wind deflector as special equipment when driving with up to two occupants with the roof down. Designed and optimised in the wind tunnel, this special equipment offers the driver and front passenger utmost comfort in terms of draught-free motoring and open-air driving pleasure. Fitted above the rear seats, the wind deflector is obviously conceived for use by the driver alone or with only one passenger at the front. Then, collapsing at two points, the deflector goes into a special bag taking up only very little space inside the luggage compartment. The wind deflector itself is made of a fine-mesh net within a powder-coated aluminium profile frame fastened on to the body of the car by means of glass-fibre-reinforced plastic cornerpieces and hinges. When driving with the roof down and with four passengers in the car, the vertical rear window offers the passengers at the rear a certain degree of protection from wind and draughts, although admittedly this cannot be compared with the superior protection provided by a full-size wind deflector. 1.3 Design: Dream Looks of a Dream Car. More than any other type of body design, therefore, the convertible offers all the ideals of freedom, joy of life, and thrilling technical features. This applies particularly to the new BMW 6 Series Convertible blending all the virtues and the heritage of other open-air two- and four-seater BMWs with the attributes of BMW’s highly advanced luxury performance models in the market today: dynamic performance, superior comfort, aesthetic design, and sheer exclusivity. An individual car for the individual customer. A closer look at such a compromise clearly reveals its drawbacks: A collapsing hard roof takes up a lot of space in the luggage compartment and adds extra weight detracting from the car’s dynamic driving pleasure. Precisely this is why BMW has opted in favour of a more sophisticated solution for the 6 Series Convertible, even though the concept chosen was more expensive in development and is more demanding in production. The result, however, is that every customers receives “his” exclusive car reflecting all his automotive dreams. At the same time the high standard of BMW innovation and exemplary quality so typical of the brand ensure that both the Coupé and the Convertible give the customer unrestricted driving pleasure, supreme comfort, beautiful design, maximum safety, and all-round everyday driving qualities. Exterior design: emotional from every angle. Like only a few other convertibles, the 6 Series Convertible is a perfect blend of all shapes and dimensions. The car’s design language is consistent, taking up and reflecting the principles of sculptural design re-interpreted in a very special, unique manner. With the roof open or closed, the design of the 6 Series Convertible reflects the look of a timeless, three-dimensional sculpture which, regardless of light, location and line of vision, powerfully attracts the attention and emotion of the beholder. From the front: sharp eagle eyes with a truly fascinating look. Parking light rings on the high and low beams present the clear message that this car is a luxury performance BMW, the headlights themselves almost being reminiscent of pupils. The direction indicators extending across the headlights like a narrow horizontal strip merge down almost like an “eyeliner” to the muscular, curved wheel arches, enhancing the impression of a powerful automotive “face”. Two flowing lines serve to stretch out the look of the body, extending to the rear from the extra-wide double kidney grille and, respectively, from the headlights themselves. The upper line swings back along a dynamic curve as a wide “V” from the double kidney down the long engine compartment lid and into the almost delicate A-pillars. Moving down almost dramatically at the sides, this line clearly contours the powerdome on the engine compartment lid to create a particularly muscular impression. The lower line, in turn, starts from the inner “eye corners” of the headlights and first runs parallel to the upper line along the engine compartment lid, then continuing along the sides as the shoulder line. Reaching the rear of the car, this distinctive line once again takes on its V-shape, ending in a gentle slope around the diffuser lip. The visual impression is a beautiful blend of the front lid and side panels, giving the Convertible a very powerful and determined look from the front. The athletic qualities of the 645Ci Convertible are symbolised by the front spoiler with its wide air intake between the foglamps at the left and right. And the sporting qualities of the car are borne out last but not least by a drag coefficient of 0.31 – a truly unique figure in the 2+2-seater convertible market. From the side: unique and beautiful all in one. Benefitting from the wide “C-pillar” formed by the fin roof, the Convertible is both sporting and elegant to behold with the softtop closed. Extending as a transparent opening from front to rear, the fully retractable side windows without any frame sections or visible edges create a feeling of lightness almost hovering in the air. And at the same time this design feature gives the 6 Series Convertible a unique touch beyond comparison. The side-line flows gently from the roof to the rear section, ending in a short and “sluggy” spoiler integrated in the rear lid. This design feature accentuates the sculptural form of the rear end and enhances the special look of the tail lights extending far round into the side of the car and merging at the top into the V-shaped shoulder line extending down in a gentle curve. The convex character line stretches out beneath the door handle from the muscular curvature of the front all the way to the rear wheel arch, harmoniously defining the side view of the car as two horizontal surfaces creating the impression of a very low side panel and giving the Convertible an even “lighter” and more dynamic appearance. Light falling on to the body above and below this line creates that perfect interaction of light and shade so characteristic of BMW’s new design philosophy. And marking the beginning of this line, the side trim complete with its integrated direction indicator in the side intakes reminds the aficionado of classic BMW sports cars such as the BMW 3.0 CSi Coupé or the legendary BMW 507 Roadster. Symbols of power: 18-inch wheels and 245 tyres featured as standard. From behind: unmistakable with a unique vertical rear window. Fin look also on the roof compartment lid. Beneath the rear lid, the driver and his passengers will enjoy a luggage compartment unusually large for a convertible, offering capacity of 300 litres with the roof open and even 350 litres with the roof closed. This extra space is made possible by special plastic trim in fin look on the roof compartment and the variable configuration of the compartment itself housing the softtop when lowered. Then, once you close the roof, the roof compartment folds up within a matter of seconds to provide extra space for luggage and other items. The two-piece rear lights are an outstanding example of attractive design and functional technology. Rising up above the bumper, the upper section of the rear lights is integrated in the side panels, ensuring good visibility of the car also from the side in the dark. And with the front direction indicators extending into the side panels as a kind of “eyeliner” above the headlights, the rear direction indicators form a clear border beneath the rear lights. Like at the front, finally, the direction indicators when active emit a yellow light, but otherwise come in a white look when switched off. The rear lights are formed by six LED-fed light conductor rods, integrating the particular design and style of the parking light rings now so characteristic of BMW in the headlights at the front. The lower section of the tail lights forms a delicate light window in the bumper comprising the rear fog warning light, reversing lights, and the reflecting beams. Together with the upper light element and the high-rise brake light integrated in the airflow lip, this light window ensures very sophisticated and striking light geometry giving the 6 Series Convertible a very high recall factor. Another special feature also helps to make the 6 Series Convertible absolutely unmistakable whenever the driver applies the brakes, LEDs in the high-rise brake light forming a banner of indiviudal light dots and thus taking up the optical impression of the LEDs in the brake lights themselves. Form and function to the last detail: lights with dynamic airflow contours. {mospagebreak} The extra-large and smooth underfloor of the 645Ci Convertible makes a significant contribution to the car’s drag coefficient of just 0.31 quite exceptional for an open-air model. And the innovative “superlite” material used on the floor cover reduces weight by approximately 35 per cent versus the conventional materials otherwise used for this purpose. The interior: dynamic harmony. The innovative design of the interior creates a unique touch of “Dynamic Harmony”. “Dynamic”, in this case, relates to the interaction, tension and flow of surfaces and lines. “Harmony” stands for the way in which these surfaces and lines support and accentuate each other, the interior and exterior of the 6 Series Coupé thus interacting with unique perfection. An equally tense and exciting line in the centre console generates a dynamic feeling of forward motion. Starting in the instrument panel, this line extends back diagonally along the centre console, around the armrest and into the rear seats. And finally the organic impression of the interior is rounded off by the fin trim on the roof compartment harmoniously taking up and reflecting the design and colours of the interior. Top-quality materials and harmonious colours. Apart from the seats, the armrests, door closing handles, door inserts and side panels as well as the covers and lids on the centre console are all finished in leather. Elaborate interior trim coming as standard in Pearl Gloss Ruthenium galvanic finish and as an option in Light or Dark Birch give the Convertible outstanding style and class in every respect. At the same time the wide range of features and colours gives the customer highly individual choice in creating an interior ranging from discreet understatement all the way to extravagant luxury. Leather seats featured as standard in the 6 Series Convertible. Optional, exclusive High Performance leather upholstery features Pearl leather together with interesting trim highlights, in this case with the centre console, sun visors and front seat backrests at the rear also finished in leather to give the interior an even higher standard of formal harmony. The colours available in this case are Black, Cream Beige, and Reed. Interior in typical BMW design with a double binnacle. Driver-oriented cockpit. 1.4 The Drivetrain: Supreme Power and Perfect Refinement. The top performance of a thoroughbred sports car. Clearly, this kind of power means dynamic performance on the road, the 645Ci Convertible accelerating dynamically to a top speed limited electronically to 250 km/h or 155 mph. Acceleration from 0-100 km/h takes just 6.1 seconds in the manual gearbox model (versus 6.2 seonds with automatic transmission), and in fourth gear the manual gearbox version covers the sprint from 80 –120 km/h (50 – 75 mph) in 5.5 seconds – clear proof of the engine’s irresistible muscle and clear confirmation of that extra power and safety so important when overtaking another vehicle. Perhaps the most important point, however, is that the V8 offers an almost sensual driving experience, making it an outstanding pleasure to savour the pure agility and dynamism developed so spontaneously even when pressing down the gas pedal ever so gently. Leadership in engine technology for efficient dynamics. A further feature is the currently most advanced and sophisticated engine management masterminding not only the engine functions as such, but also the Dynamic Drive Control (DDC) for even more sporting and dynamic drive characteristics at the touch of a button. Monitoring the car’s on-board power management, DDC switches off power-consuming items currently not required in order to provide sufficient energy to other units and power consumers taking priority at any given point in time. Finally, DDC also controls the innovative air flow and supply system behind the BMW kidney grille ensuring exactly the right flow of air for cooling the engine and ancillary systems by opening the air vents as required. Otherwise, when not needed, the air vents remain closed in the interest of superior aerodynamics and to warm up the engine more quickly to its normal operating temperature. The V8 power unit is a genuine trendsetter also in terms of emission control: Complying with the currently strictest EU4 emission standard in Europe, the BMW 645Ci Convertible already fulfills the requirements today not coming into force within the European Union until 2005 – which in Germany and Sweden qualifies the lucky owner of this car for a reduced rate of road tax. In the USA, in turn, the 645Ci Convertible is rated as an LEV (Low Emission Vehicle), again with all the usual advantages. This superiority is ensured by the two-chamber exhaust system featuring catalytic converters close to the engine itself, completely welded and made of stainless steel in the interest of a long service life. Exemplary fuel economy and environmental compatibility thus prove that the BMW V8 is exactly the right engine for the driver’s emotions and common sense all in one. A deep, throaty rumble as a clear sign of 8-cylinder supremacy. Six gears for the right ratio at all times. Top speed comes in both fifth and sixth gear, in the latter case with an even lower interior noise level thanks to the reduction in engine speed. Gearbox noise, finally, is additionally reduced by the high-rise gear flanks running with a large side angle and with optimum overlap. With sixth gear serving primarily to ensure smooth and fuel-efficient motoring at high speeds, the gear increments in the lower gears give the 645Ci extremely powerful acceleration at all times and at all speeds, enabling the driver to capitalise on engine power much more efficiently than with a five-speed gearbox. Offering a crisp, smooth and light gearshift again typical of BMW, the manual gearbox is even more comfortable and precise than before. This is furthermore the first gearbox connecting the gearshift via the central shaft with a gearshift gate within the gearbox housing itself, gear travel transmission featuring swinging arms in order to reduce gearshift forces on the central gearshift shaft. SMG technology: shifting gears like in Formula 1. In each case the gearbox control unit is informed by an electric cable (shift by wire) of the gear selected, the control unit reducing engine power and torque for split-seconds during gear transition, disengaging the clutch, shifting the gear as such, engaging the clutch again, and finally building up engine power. The clutch pedal, therefore, becomes a thing of the past and the driver is not even required to take his foot off the accelerator when changing gears. {mosimage} A further important advantage of SMG is that the driver is able to leave his hands on the steering wheel when shifting gears, since he only needs his fingers to operate the paddles – and this, clearly, means extra safety, for example on a winding mountain road. The main point, of course, is that the a sequential gearshift is faster than any other manual shift process, SMG shifting gears in just 150 milliseconds and significantly enhancing the dynamic performance and sporting character of the 6 Series in the process. Six-speed automatic transmission combining dynamic performance and motoring comfort. Making the 6 Series even more dynamic at the touch of a button. 1.5 Chassis and Suspension: Active Steering for Even Greater Agility. Within its segment the new 6 Series certainly holds pole position, no other 2+2-seater convertible offering the same level of agility and dynamic performance, plus the excellent comfort features boasted by the 645i Convertible. This superiority rests on a sound foundation: BMW’s all-aluminium chassis and suspension with its well-known benefits such as front-to-rear axle load distribution of almost 50:50, rear-wheel drive and, as a result, smooth and responsive steering not affected in any way by drive forces. Other equally essential factors are the wide track, wheelbase measuring 2780 millimetres or 109.5″, and – in conjunction with a low centre of gravity – relatively low overall weight of 1815 kg or 4002 lb (manual gearbox model). It is fair to say, therefore, that the 6 Series Convertible comes with unlimited driving pleasure quite literally “from the ground up”. Precise steering with Servotronic featured as standard. Active Steering enhancing both driving pleasure and handling. In town Active Steering facilitates above all the process of parking, less than two revolutions of the steering wheel serving to turn the front wheels completely from left to right lock. By comparison, the rack-and-pinion steering featured as standard and already optimised on this point requires almost three turns of the steering wheel from lock to lock. Active Steering therefore reduces the driver’s steering effort most significantly. Superimposed steering angle. BMW Active Steering combines steer-by-wire steering with mechanical transmission of power and an authentic feedback, thus setting the standard in agility, comfort, and safety. And with the steering wheel and steering box still being connected to one another mechanically, the steering still maintains its full response and control functions should the electronic assistance system ever fail to operate properly. A further important feature is that Active Steering communicates consistently with the DSC control unit, intervening via the steering angle on the front wheels to provide extra stability and modify the yaw angle wherever required. Indeed, this intervention in the steering is faster and is less noticeable to the driver in the lower DSC response range than when the DSC control system itself applies the brakes on the wheels. Outstanding chassis plus DSC: the perfect team. The main components making up the DSC control system are ABS anti-lock brakes incorporating CBC Cornering Brake Control applying the brakes slightly on the inner rear wheel in a bend at medium to high speeds in order to enhance driving stability, as well as ASC Automatic Stability Control intervening in the brakes and electronically controlling engine torque, which enables the vehicle to set off smoothly on slippery gradients without the drive wheels spinning. In practice, therefore, ASC acts in basically the same way as a limited-slip differential. A further feature is DTC Dynamic Traction Control which the driver is able to activate manually in order to increase traction on the drive wheels especially when driving in winter. DTC slightly raises the response threshold of the stabilising DSC brake intervention effect in the interest of enhanced traction and drive forces, promoting a more sporting and dynamic style of motoring in the process. But it does not in any way detract from the fundamental safety functions maintained by DSC in all cases. Last but not least, Dynamic Brake Control helps to build up optimum stopping power in a potentially dangerous situation even if the driver fails to press down the brake pedal all-out. Dynamic Drive to prevent body sway. In city traffic, for example, Dynamic Drive eliminates body sway and roll, and even reduces the roll effect to a significant extent on winding country roads at high speeds. In such dynamic driving situations including lane change or evasion manouevres, Dynamic Drive exerts precisely the influence and forces required on the car’s steering characteristics, in the process improving both steering precision and load change response which, in practice, is tantamount to an even higher standard of active safety on the road. Dynamic Drive largely eliminates the conflict of interest between handling and vibration comfort, since it allows the springs and dampers to be set primarily to a high standard of comfort in providing exactly the right vibration behaviour. The key elements of Dynamic Drive are two active anti-roll bars integrated in the front and rear axles in lieu of conventional mechanical anti-roll bars. These active anti-roll bars are made up of a hydraulically operated swivel motor with the swivel motor shaft and swivel motor housing each linked to one half of the anti-roll bar assembly. Their job is to convert hydraulic pressure into a torsional and, via their connection to the body, a stabilisation force. When driving in a straight line, the two halves of the anti-roll bars are released in order to avoid unpleasant sway movements on asymmetric road bumps. Aluminium – the foundation for incomparable driving dynamics. The integral IV rear axle is the ideal configuration for primary chassis and suspension functions such as maintaining wheel camber and ensuring superior comfort. The four control arms holding the wheels on the integral rear axle are not fastened directly to the body, but rather rest elastically in an axle subframe also supporting the final drive mounted on rubber bearings. The subframe, in turn, is connected elastically to the body of the car via four extra-large rubber elements. Fine bumps and vibrations transmitted from the road on to the tyres therefore first have to pass through these elastic bearing points before being able to reach the passenger compartment of the new Convertible in the first place. Another reason for the excellent roll comfort of the 6 Series Convertible is the front swinging arm bearing on the rear axle subframe providing an important longitudinal suspension effect in guiding the wheels. The bearings on the rear axle subframe allow additional longitudinal suspension on the entire rear subframe, making a significant contribution to the car’s roll and noise control. Lightweight brakes with aluminium swing callipers at the front. {mospagebreak} Tyre defect indicator providing a puncture warning. 1.6 Body Configuration and Passive Safety: Innovative Ideas for Maximum Dynamics and Optimum Protection. To overcome this dilemma, the new 6 Series Convertible opens up a new chapter in lightweight engineering under the heading of “Intelligent Lightweight Technology”. And indeed, “intelligent” is the right word, since this design and structural principle provides several positive effects all in one: First, the philosophy to save material reduces weight wherever feasible. Second, components and modules are reinforced by modifications in their design to ensure at least the same high standard of functionality despite the use of less material. Third, conventional materials are replaced by lighter materials to the greatest possible extent, BMW being the first manufacturer, for example, to opt for a “hybrid” body structure in large-volume production. And the new 6 Series is the first model to benefit from this know-how. Innovative front end ensuring ideal axle load distribution. WRAFE is much lighter than a conventional steel-built front section and thus makes a decisive contribution to the ideal axle load distribution of almost 50:50 and, accordingly, to the excellent driving dynamics of the new Convertible. Modern plastics – light and easier to mould. A further advantage of this special material is the greater flexibility and freedom it gives the designer, the rear lid outer skin, for example, being made of one single piece comprising the airflow contour lip. SMC also allows “invisible” integration of the aerials for the audio, communication and navigation system into the rear lid, a feature which would be impossible for technical reasons on a conventional rear lid made of steel. And last but certainly not least, plastic materials are not harmed by minor bumps and cannot corrode. Tailored rolled blanks – dynamic all the way to the sheet metal. Intelligent blend of materials saving weight and maximising safety in a collision. As a result, vibration control is not only best in class, but also ranks equal to that of an extremely stiff two-seater roadster. On the road this means precise dynamic reactions and behaviour, the highest standard of vibration comfort in this class, and an equally supreme standard of crash safety. Premium class also in passive safety. The stiff passenger cell maintains the survival area so essential for passenger safety even in a severe accident. Some of the features ensuring this stiffness and safety on the new BMW Convertible are IHU profiles in the windscreen frame and high-strength steel used additionally in the A-pillars. Indeed, together with the rollbars behind the rear seat headrests, the A-pillars interacting with the windscreen frame form the “passenger cell” featured by this Convertible. Tailor-rolled blanks are used on the rear heel supports, the seat supports and the SGS longitudinal supports, increasing panel thickness wherever high loads and forces are fed into the body. High-strength steel, in turn, reinforces the side frames inside the car, in the middle, and in the front side-sill extensions. One of the objectives in developing the new 6 Series Convertible was to raise the high standard of rollover safety already featured in the 3 Series Convertible to an even higher level. Precisely this is why the rollover safety system made of an ultra-strong aluminium alloy extends throughout almost the entire width of the car, comprising a massive transverse reinforcement bar, taking up the rollbars, and, interacting with the bulkhead on the body-in-white, in the process increasing vehicle stiffness throughout the entire body. At the same time the system forms the partition to the luggage compartment, reducing the usual double bulkhead to just one single bulkhead layer. Interacting with the restraint systems, the A-pillars and the wind cowl, the reversible rollover safety system secures the passengers’ survival area should the car ever roll over: In such a case the rollbars move up from the module behind the rear headrests within fractions of a second, resting firmly in positive engagement points. The rollbars themselves are triggered by a separate function in the ASE Advanced Safety Electronics control system transmitting a signal activating the rollbars and the belt latch tensioners as a function of the car’s position on the road and any significant change in its dynamic behaviour. And should in such a case the car not roll over, the rollbars move back to their starting point and the belts are slackened once again. Efficient belt systems to keep the occupants in their seats. Both the driver and front passenger have the benefit of a two-stage frontal airbag inflating as a function of accident severity in order to minimise the possible risk of injury. The front passenger airbag is housed behind a rupture line in the dashboard invisible to the car’s occupants and therefore not in any way impairing or spoiling the interior design. The ASE control system ensures optimum safety at the right time: This innovative system of Advanced Safety Electronics (ASE) supports the individual safety components by networked airbag control incorporating lightwave conductors and decentralised satellites pinpointing the exact location of a crash and thus activating the restraint systems extremely quickly and at exactly the right point.
Clearly, only the very best equipment is good enough for a truly exceptional convertible. And this applies both to features hidden within the body and to visible and invisible assistants within the passenger compartment. Adaptive Headlights revolutionising headlight technology.
Interior illumination – important also in a convertible. This superior effect is provided by free-space reflectors creating a homogeneous, dazzle-free surround light effect of the highest standard throughout the interior. All light elements come with ergonomic control, standard features including reading lights with two LEDs above the centre console as well as two lights in the footwells and doors. Offering an even higher standard, the lights package available as special equipment also comprises LEDs in the door grab handles and the door storage compartments. Interacting with the interior reading lights and the footwell illumination, these additional light units enhance the feeling of space and, accordingly, the driver’s and passenger’s comfort to an even higher, virtually unprecedented level. Illuminated door cutout trim included in the lights package presents the exclusive calibre of the new 6 Series Convertible quite literally in a perfect light. A further feature included in the optional lights package is the outside area illumination with light-emitting diodes at the bottom of the exterior mirrors. As soon as the driver unlocks the doors by remote control, these LEDs illuminate the entry area outside the doors for approximately 20 seconds. And the outside lights provide the same useful effect when exiting the car. iDrive: perfect control without distraction. Control Display with transflective technology providing a brilliant picture. The Controller: one hand, many functions. {mosimage} The 6 Series Convertible comes as an option with a special High Controller featuring a variable touch effect for even more refined control and moving in 8 different directions, the diagonals allowing the user to scroll down lists and navigate in the navigation system Professional map. This High Controller comes in conjunction with an 8.8-inch display featuring 16-bit colour resolution and 640 x 240 pixels. The two-piece button behind the Controller, finally, serves to activate the voice entry model. Voice entry perfecting the control concept. The new text-to-speech engine reads out texts such as e-mails, SMS messages, or the names of radio stations. Another new feature is graphic presentation of the function chosen by voice entry in the Display – and vice versa everything presented in the Display can be activated by voice entry: The big advantage of this “You-can-say-what-you-see” function is that the user is able, by means of additional short-cut terms, to go even “deeper” into the menu. Operation of the telephone has also been simplified: Now all you have to do is mention the name of the person you wish to call and the system will dial the right number by itself. Other functions controlled and masterminded by iDrive are BMW Assist and BMW Online, the address database, the notebook, all radio, CD, DVD and MP3 functions, navigation, as well as climate control. Head-Up Display presenting important information right in the driver’s line of vision. Important information whenever it is needed. Leather sports steering wheel with multifunction buttons. ACC Active Cruise Control. Operating in a range between 30 and 180 km/h (20 and 112 mph), ACC adjusts conveniently in individual 10 km/h increments, the speed required by the driver being presented by a mark in the speedometer and maintained consistently as long as a vehicle ahead does not require a reduction of speed. The obvious advantage is that this relieves the driver of the monotonous process of adjusting his distance and road speed all the time – a practical benefit above all in dense traffic on the motorway and express routes with constant changes in the speed of traffic. Now ACC allows the driver to cruise along smoothly with the flow of traffic, relaxing at the wheel and without the usual hassle. Parking with ultrasound. Automatic air conditioning setting new standards. A climate control program developed specifically for the 6 Series Convertible switches on automatically once you open the roof, controlling the flow of warm or cold air as a function of road speed. The result, clearly, is consistent maintenance of pleasant driving conditions for all passengers when driving with the roof down. The basic settings of the automatic air conditioning are controlled straight from the instrument panel, fine adjustments are made on the Control Display. Operating separately for the left and right-hand side of the car, automatic air conditioning controls the temperature, air volume and distribution according to current requirements. Temperature stratification, a feature very important for individual adjustment of the occupants’ upper body temperature, as well as the temperature and volume of air coming out of the central vent, can be adjusted with infinite precision. A bi-directional solar sensor measures solar radiation and controls the flow of cooling air accordingly. An anti-mist sensor, in turn, monitors the temperature of the windows and air – so whenever there is any risk of the windows misting over, the anti-mist sensor operates in various stages without in any way impairing the interior climate. Evaporator temperature control is particularly pleasant and convenient: Conventional systems cool the air to a temperature of approximately 1 – 3°C, in the process extracting a lot of humidity. Only then, after this has happened, is the extremely dry air warmed up again to the temperature required. By contrast, the BMW Convertible features an air temperature sensor and cools incoming air only to the degree really necessary. This extension of the cooling range to 1 – 10°C maintains a higher level of air humidity and prevents the passengers’ mucous membranes from becoming unpleasantly dry. Once the driver has parked the car and switched off the engine, the residual heat function pumps coolant through the heat exchanger to warm up the interior. Auxilliary ventilation, in turn, supplies ambient air to the Convertible via the automatic air conditioning, incoming air naturally being cleaned by an activated carbon filter retaining nearly all the dust and harmful substances in the air. And should the gas sensors register an excessive concentration of pollutants in the outside air, Automatic Air Recirculation (AAR) switches on automatically. Climate comfort glass “cooling” the interior without consuming any energy. Front seats with memory function featured as standard. The standard seats come in high-quality Dakota leather which, through its natural grain, provides a perfect match for the sophisticated and stylish 6 Series. The colours available are Black, Cream Beige, and Chateau. The sports seats available as an option and also featuring electrical adjustment come with sporting and firm upholstery offering even better body support under dynamic driving conditions. The electrically operated lumbar support available as an option on the standard seats is a regular feature on the sports seats, the infinitely adjustable air chamber system allowing the occupant to choose exactly the right orthopaedic posture supporting his back muscles and taking the burden off his spine. The thigh support, finally, is manually adjustable on the sports seats. Three-stage seat heating is standard on both types of seat, warming up the entire body contact surface very quickly all the way along the seat and backrest and including the side supports. A fully-fledged 2+2-seater Convertible. As much luggage space as in a compact family saloon. Ideal for sports activities and long tours. Access to the luggage compartment is either by remote control or via the BMW logo integrated in the rear lid and serving as a handle and opener in one, making a visible lock in the rear lid a relict of the past: All you do is press your finger on the upper half of the logo to swing the BMW “propeller” up and unlock the lid. This also provides direct access to the lock cylinder for locking or unlocking the rear lid should the remote control ever fail to do the job. A convertible not for everybody – but for every kind of weather. {mospagebreak} The cupholder – full of attention to detail. Storage compartments in the doors, nets on the seats, a net in the front passenger’s footwell, as well as additional storage options and trays round off the wide range of practical storage features. So the bottom line is that the 6 Series Convertible offers ample space for an entire family, as well as luggage and storage space for several occupants travelling in style. Car & Key Memory providing your personal settings. By contrast, Key Memory allows up to four different users to individually configure specific functions for their own personal requirements – for example the seats and mirrors, the alarm system and central locking, voice entry and vehicle illumination. As soon as the system “recognises” a specific user through the car key with remote transmission, it automatically sets the various features to the user’s personal requirements. This, in practice, enables the 6 Series Convertible to literally “recognise” the driver and “remember” his or her personal preferences. HIFI and TOP HIFI for an open-air concert on wheels. The supreme TOP HIFI systems turns the 6 Series Convertible into a genuine arena for open-air concerts. Optimised to the highest standard in acoustic quality, the 7 x 40 W and 2 x 70 W amplifiers interacting with a total of 11 loudspeakers, some of which even feature aluminium membranes for the very best in all-round sound quality, guarantee harmonious surround sound throughout the entire car. The LOGIC7 equalising concept interacting with the TOP HIFI system generates a sound field virtually identical with the original, a matrix circuit splitting up each signal in an analogue or digital stereo recording into 7 individual signals then processed one-by-one according to specific requirements. To generate a true-to-original ambient sound effect, LOGIC7 uses the spatial information in each stereo signal broken down into the two crucial sound dimensions: the location where the sound was originally generated and the acoustic environment where it is able to disseminate. The effect perceived by the listener is a genuine space sound phenomenon combined with precise sound resolution even compensating for any road and driving noise. Featuring the lastest technologies for information and entertainment. Navigation system with DVD. The driver also has the option to choose dynamic route planning with the system automatically calculating the best route. Yet a further option is to plan one’s route with the navigation DVD and memorise the data as a local memory function. Then the driver can remove the DVD whenever he wishes and insert an audio CD instead. TOP navigation with destination entry by voice and map. Integrating the telephone by means of Bluetooth technology. The third alternative, a dual-band telephone fitted firmly within the car, comes with a cordless handset also communicating via Bluetooth technology with the base station. The operating range is up to 10 metres around the car also in this case, and the comfort features are the same as with the Bluetooth mobile phone. BMW Assist delivers a wide range of services right into your car. Emergency call – to many, the most important feature. BMW Breakdown Service – providing competent assistance quickly and efficiently. V-Info plus – the best way to beat traffic jams. To provide this information, V-Info plus uses official reports updated every 10 minutes. The driver receives appropriate messages as a text, as a graphic display in map format, or as voice information. And should the driver change his route, the navigation system calculates a new route to the driver’s destination and presents this information on the Display. Inquiry plus – because personal advice is always the best answer. BMW Info – and SMS gives you the telephone number you require. BMW Online for internet services tailored to the driver’s requirements. BMW Online offers mobility services such as Parkinfo informing the driver of the current capacity of some 2,500 car parks in 84 German cities and at 20 airports, presents a complete view of BMW’s dealer network, covers telephone directories and yellow pages, shows the driver pharmacies with an emergency service, checks out hotels, restaurants, and lots more. 1.8 The Great Heritage of BMW Convertibles: The New 6 Series Convertible and its Legendary Ancestors. The convertible combines the natural feeling offered by a roadster with the amenities and comfort of a saloon or coupé. Unlike the roadster, the convertible offers more than two seats and comes with a sophisticated, padded soft roof on a stable structure offering almost the same protection when closed as a hard, fixed roof. And the convertible has always been more exclusive than the saloon and coupé, emanating that unique flair of luxury and enjoyment – this is the kind of car for enjoying the southern climate, for cruising on the big boulevards. BMW Convertibles date back all the way to the ’30s. Together with the 335 Convertible, the largest and most powerful pre-war BMW ever built, these models, it is fair to say, were the original ancestors of the new 6 Series Convertible. Moving on to the ’50s, the BMW 501, 502, and 503 saloons with their 8-cylinder power units represented the German economic miracle. And again, really well-heeled customers ordered these V8 models in the guise of two- and four-seater Convertibles. It is however true that BMW did not build these open-air models itself, but rather outsourced the job to Baur in Stuttgart. With engine output of 140 bhp, top speed of 190 km/h or 120 mph, leather upholstery and twin-tone paintwork, these were the most exclusive and sporting models back in the ’50s. Throughout the four decades in between, BMW has consistently pampered the aficionado of open-air motoring, even though, compared with the current 6 Series Convertible in the luxury performance range, things then started at the bottom end of the market: Typical examples of these “small” open-air BMWs are the BMW 700 Convertible and the BMW 1600 Convertible in the legendary 02 Series. And then, of course, there was the 3 Series becoming the epitome of the sophisticated four-seater convertible as of 1977 in the guise of the Hardtop Cabriolet and, starting in 1985, as a “real” Convertible with its roof disappearing completely within the body. Here is a list of the most exceptional BMW Convertibles: BMW 309 Convertible: After BMW had presented a new generation of six-cylinder models in 1933, the Company enhanced the range a year later with the BMW 309 featuring the same modern body, but powered by a more inexpensive four-cylinder. Only 284 of these “Four-Window Convertibles” were built during the model’s two-year lifecycle. BMW 327 Convertible: Production of one of the most exclusive pre-war BMWs, the BMW 327 Convertible, began in winter 1937. Selling at a price of 7,500.- reichsmarks, the 327 Convertible came with two “real” seats and two emergency seats, reaching a top speed on the new Autobahnen with its two-litre 55-bhp power unit of almost 130 km/h or approximately 80 mph. As an option, the BMW 327 was also available with the 80 bhp sports engine of the legendary BMW 328 roadster. BMW 502 Convertible: Affluent customers in the age of the German economic miracle were able as a special option to buy the BMW 502 with its V8 power unit as a two- or four-seater Convertible. The open body of this exquisite car was built by Baur in Stuttgart acting up until the ’90s as BMW’s coachbuilder for special assignments of this kind. Production was only 50 units retailing at a price of approximately DM 20,000.-. BMW 503 Convertible: The BMW 503 Convertible featuring a 140 bhp V8 light-alloy power unit was one of the most exclusive sports convertibles in the world between 1955 and 1959. A top speed of 190 km/h or 118 mph, genuine leather upholstery, and exciting twin-tone paintwork available as an option made this outstanding automobile the star of every show. Only 139 customers were able, ultimately, to afford one of these dream mobiles retailing at a price of more than DM 30,000.-. BMW 700 Convertible: Going back some 40 years, BMW was proud to offer Convertibles not only for the well-to-do customer: The BMW 700 Convertible in genuine Italian design with a 2+2-seater open body developed by Baur in Stuttgart combined joy of life and the thrill of travelling in style even back then, the 40 bhp 700 cc flat-twin power unit fitted at the rear giving the car an “admirable” top speed of 130 km/h or 81 mph. BMW 1600 Convertible: Without doubt, one of the most coveted versions of the 02 Series is the 1600 Convertible. Again, the open body for this special model built exactly 1,682 times between 1967 and 1971 and powered by a 85 bhp four-cylinder was developed by Baur in Stuttgart. BMW 320 Baur Topcabriolet: When everybody was lamenting the demise of the convertible due to stricter safety regulations particularly in the USA, the Baur Coachbuilding Company in Stuttgart developed a convertible with a fixed rollbar based on the first BMW 3 Series, originally calling this special model the “Hardtop Cabriolet” and, a bit later, the “Topcabriolet”. Customers were able to order this special car directly from their BMW dealer with a wide choice of all 3 Series production engines. BMW M3 Convertible: Built only 786 times between 1988 and 1991, the first-generation M3 Convertible developed by BMW Motorsport GmbH already qualifies today as one of the rarities in the history of BMW. However, it is not only the very small production “volume”, but also and above all the 215 bhp high-performance four-cylinder that makes this special version of the M3 an absolute dream for the genuine enthusiast. Whenever the driver does not feel like shifting gears manually, he can leave things to the Gearbox Control System in the Drive Mode: Once pre-selected from the central shift lever, this system shifts gears automatically on the 6 Series as a function of map control and the respective driving situation, the gear currently in mesh being clearly presented to the driver on the instrument panel. Text Source – BMW Press |
