2013 BMW 640

2013 640 Photos
The BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe is an all-new model. Despite the coupe name, it's a four-door with good interior room and seating for four adults and one smaller person. The 6 Series Gran Coupe is physically distinctive, with its long hood, short front overhang, and longer passenger compartment. The roofline is low and stretches a long way to the rear deck, making a head-turning silhouette.

Its wheelbase is 4.5 inches longer than the regular 6 Series Coupe. Initially, it was offered with one engine, BMW's brilliant 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder single turbo, called the BMW 640i Gran Coupe. Later there will be a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 BMW 650i Gran Coupe, an engine currently used in other BMW models. The all-wheel-drive BMW 650xi Gran Coupe will join the range a bit later.

The BMW 640i Gran Coupe contends with the Audi A7, Mercedes CLS, and Jaguar XJL, although it's the second-most expensive, with the A7 being most affordable. The BMW also has the least cargo space and the second-least rear legroom. Styling is what the car is intended to be all about.

Like all of the 6 Series BMWs, the lines are elegant and athletic; in fact, it's lower and wider than the BMW 550i that it's based on. It has a long hood with a powerful contour, short front overhang, and stretched roofline flowing smoothly to the rear deck.

Just when you think the BMW 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine can't get any better, their engineers announce more stunning work has increased both performance and efficiency. The 2013 version, with direct injection and variable valve timing, makes 315 horsepower and 330 foot-pounds of torque from 1400 to 4500 rpm, and easily propels this car that's no lightweight from 0 to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph. Fuel mileage isn't EPA rated yet, but BMW estimates the 640i Gran Coupe will get 20 city, 30 highway miles per gallon, for a combined 24 mpg. We drove really hard on the throttle for half a day and got 21 mpg, so that number of 30 mpg at a steady 65 mph on the freeway is doable.

The silky and fast-revving engine is matched by a superb new 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. We tested and challenged it every way but sideways, and it met our every demand. It was always tight, quick, smooth, responsive and obedient, whether in manual sport mode, or auto mode shifting on its own. It exhibited none of the intrusive characteristics of 8-speed Mercedes transmissions.

There are a number of mechanical features BMW calls Efficient Dynamics measures. Brake Energy Regeneration, engine Auto Start-Stop, on-demand operation of ancillary components, intelligent lightweight construction, and extensive aerodynamic refinement, which all contribute to efficiency and fuel mileage. Auto Start-Stop shuts the engine off at stoplights, and re-starts it again when you need to go. It might increase fuel mileage, but we found the start-up annoying, and wonder how many BMW owners will use it to …
Full Review

The BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe is an all-new model. Despite the coupe name, it's a four-door with good interior room and seating for four adults and one smaller person. The 6 Series Gran Coupe is physically distinctive, with its long hood, short front overhang, and longer passenger compartment. The roofline is low and stretches a long way to the rear deck, making a head-turning silhouette.

Its wheelbase is 4.5 inches longer than the regular 6 Series Coupe. Initially, it was offered with one engine, BMW's brilliant 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder single turbo, called the BMW 640i Gran Coupe. Later there will be a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 BMW 650i Gran Coupe, an engine currently used in other BMW models. The all-wheel-drive BMW 650xi Gran Coupe will join the range a bit later.

The BMW 640i Gran Coupe contends with the Audi A7, Mercedes CLS, and Jaguar XJL, although it's the second-most expensive, with the A7 being most affordable. The BMW also has the least cargo space and the second-least rear legroom. Styling is what the car is intended to be all about.

Like all of the 6 Series BMWs, the lines are elegant and athletic; in fact, it's lower and wider than the BMW 550i that it's based on. It has a long hood with a powerful contour, short front overhang, and stretched roofline flowing smoothly to the rear deck.

Just when you think the BMW 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine can't get any better, their engineers announce more stunning work has increased both performance and efficiency. The 2013 version, with direct injection and variable valve timing, makes 315 horsepower and 330 foot-pounds of torque from 1400 to 4500 rpm, and easily propels this car that's no lightweight from 0 to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph. Fuel mileage isn't EPA rated yet, but BMW estimates the 640i Gran Coupe will get 20 city, 30 highway miles per gallon, for a combined 24 mpg. We drove really hard on the throttle for half a day and got 21 mpg, so that number of 30 mpg at a steady 65 mph on the freeway is doable.

The silky and fast-revving engine is matched by a superb new 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. We tested and challenged it every way but sideways, and it met our every demand. It was always tight, quick, smooth, responsive and obedient, whether in manual sport mode, or auto mode shifting on its own. It exhibited none of the intrusive characteristics of 8-speed Mercedes transmissions.

There are a number of mechanical features BMW calls Efficient Dynamics measures. Brake Energy Regeneration, engine Auto Start-Stop, on-demand operation of ancillary components, intelligent lightweight construction, and extensive aerodynamic refinement, which all contribute to efficiency and fuel mileage. Auto Start-Stop shuts the engine off at stoplights, and re-starts it again when you need to go. It might increase fuel mileage, but we found the start-up annoying, and wonder how many BMW owners will use it to …
Hide Full Review

Retail Price

$74,900 - $82,400 MSRP / Window Sticker Price
Engine 3.0L I-6
MPG Up to 23 city / 33 highway
Seating 4 Passengers
Transmission 8-spd w/OD
Power 315 @ 5800 rpm
Drivetrain rear-wheel
Curb Weight 4,001 - 4,255 lbs
Smart Buy Program is powered by powered by TrueCar®
Autoblog Advertisement