Motor vehicle
The
BMW 6 Series
is a range of
grand tourers
produced by
BMW
since 1976. It is the successor to the
E9 Coupe
and is currently in its fourth generation.
The first generation
BMW E24
6 Series was available solely as a two-door
coupe
and produced from 1976 to 1989, when it was supplanted by the larger
BMW 8 Series (E31)
. When the 6 Series nameplate was revived in 2004 for the second generation, the
BMW E63/E64 6 Series
, the coupe was joined by a
convertible
body style. The third generation
F06/F12/F13 6 Series
debuted in 2011 as a coupe and convertible, and a sedan variant known as the "Gran Coupe" in 2012. When the F06/F12/F13 6 Series ended production, the "Gran Coupe"/coupe/convertible models have been shifted into the more upmarket
BMW 8 Series (G15)
nameplate. The fourth generation 6 Series, the
G32 6 Series
, debuted in mid-2017 and is offered only as a
fastback
body style to complement the
BMW 5 Series (G30)
sedan/wagon.
[1]
[2]
The first generation 6 Series was derived from the
BMW E23 7 Series
, and was powered by a range of
naturally aspirated
inline-six
gasoline
engines. Following generations have been powered by
inline-four
,
V8
, and
V10
engines with both
natural aspiration
and
turbocharging
. Since 2008,
diesel
engines have been included in the 6 Series range, with
four-wheel drive
models on offer since 2012.
[3]
A
BMW M6
high performance model was produced for the first three generations of the 6 Series.
First generation (E24; 1976?1989)
[
edit
]
The BMW E24 is the first generation of 6 Series and was produced from 1976 to 1989. It replaced the
E9
coupes
[4]
and was solely produced in the 2-door coupe body style.
[5]
Aside from the M635CSi/M6 models, the E24 was powered by a range of
M30
straight-6
engines.
The E24 M635CSi (called the M6 in North America and Japan) is considered the start of the
M6
model line. In most markets, the M635CSi is powered by the
M88
straight-6 engine.
[6]
In North America and Japan, the M6 is powered by the less powerful
S38
straight-6 engine.
[7]
Second generation (E63/E64; 2003?2010)
[
edit
]
The E63/E64 is the second generation of 6 Series and was sold from 2003 to 2010. The body styles of the range are the
coupe
(E63 model code) and
convertible
(E64 model code).
In January 2003, the E63 coupe re-introduced the 6 Series range, 14 years after the
E24 6 Series
ended production. A few months later, the E64 convertible was released.
The E63/E64 uses a shortened version of the
E60 5 Series
chassis and shares many features with the 5 Series. The car initially drew criticism, due to its controversial styling and complicated
iDrive
system.
[8]
[9]
The
M6
model was released in 2005 in coupe and convertible body styles. It is powered by the
S85
V10 engine and most cars were sold with a 7-speed automated manual transmission ("SMG III"). Customers who wanted a fast four-door M6 Gran Coupe had to wait until November 2013 to get an M6 Gran Coupe, whereas the F12 convertible and F13 coupe M6 models were unveiled in May 2013 for the F12 M6 convertible, and July 2013 for the F13 M6 Coupe. An
Alpina
version of the four-door Gran Coupe was unveiled prior to the announcement of the M6 Gran Coupe at the
2011 Tokyo Motor Show
, and has been in production since 2011.
Third generation (F06/F12/F13; 2011?2018)
[
edit
]
The BMW F06/F12/F13 is the third generation 6 Series and was sold from 2011 to 2018. The body styles of the range are a 4-door sedan (F06 model code, marketed as "Gran Coupe"), 2-door convertible (F12 model code) and 2-door coupe (F13 model code).
It was introduced at the 2011
Shanghai Auto Show
and
New York Auto Show
.
[10]
[11]
A new four-door coupe version of the 6 Series was introduced in 2012, at the
Geneva Motor Show
; and is based on the 2007
CS Concept
.
[12]
Initial models included a 3.0-litre
inline six
engine, a 4.4-litre
V8
, and a 3.0-litre inline six
diesel
engine, with
all-wheel drive
variants later added to the lineup.
[3]
In 2015, the 6 Series underwent a facelift, featuring design changes and minor performance and fuel economy improvements. In February 2017, it was confirmed that the 6 Series coupe model had ended production.
[13]
The convertible ended in February 2018, and the Gran Coupe ended in October 2018. Although production ended in the Autumn of 2018, the F06 Gran Coupe are available in the 2019 model year.
The F06/F12/F13
M6
is powered by the
S63
twin-turbo V8 engine with a 7-speed dual clutch transmission. It is the first M6 to use a turbocharged engine.
Fourth generation (G32; 2017?2023)
[
edit
]
The BMW G32 is the fourth generation 6 Series, which went on sale in 2017.
[14]
The body style of the G32 is a 5-door fastback and it is marketed as "6 Series Gran Turismo" (replacing the previous generation
5 Series Gran Turismo
).
[15]
The G32 was first introduced online on 14 June 2017
[16]
and launched at the 2017
Frankfurt Auto Show
in September.
[17]
The range of engines consist of turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol, 6-cylinder petrol and 6-cylinder diesel engines. Most models are
rear-wheel drive
, with
all-wheel drive
(called "xDrive" by BMW) available as an option for some models.
Production and sales
[
edit
]
The following are production figures for the BMW 6 Series since 2004.
[18]
[19]
Year
|
Total Production
|
2004
|
21,040
|
2005
|
23,340
|
2006
|
21,947
|
2007
|
19,626
|
2008
|
16,299
|
2009
|
8,648
|
2010
|
5,848
|
2011
|
9,396
|
2012
|
23,193
|
2013
|
27,687
|
2014
|
23,988
|
2015
|
20,962
|
2016
|
13,400
|
2017
|
11,052
|
2018
|
26,606
|
Total:
|
273,032
|
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]