2012 BMW 650i Coupe: First Look
- Competes with: Mercedes-Benz CL-Class
- Looks like: The 2012 BMW 650i convertible, except with a top
- Drivetrain: 400-hp, turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8, six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission
- Hits dealerships: Fall 2011
This vehicle may look familiar, especially if you’ve been keeping up with the developments surrounding the 2012 BMW 650i convertible. This is the coupe variant.
As far as we can tell there isn’t much difference between the coupe and the redesigned convertible, besides the fixed top. Both models are powered by a 400-horsepower, twin turbo 4.4-liter V-8, capable of propelling the coupe from zero to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds with the eight-speed automatic transmission. The model will also be available with a six-speed manual transmission.
The trunk will offer a generous 16.2 cubic feet of cargo space; that’s significantly more than its 2010 predecessor and more than what’s offered in the BMW 5 Series.
The coupe features a standard automatic leveling suspension with active roll stabilization optional. This feature helps keep the car flat during aggressive cornering.
Other high-tech features include available Integral Active Steering, which varies the steering angle of the rear wheels. This supposedly decreases the turning radius of the vehicle; it’s already available on the 7 Series.
An optional Top View system incorporates small cameras into the side mirrors, along with the standard backup camera and parking sensors. A computer-controlled system stitches the views together to make one bird’s-eye view that’s similar to Infiniti’s Around View Camera system.
We also noticed the optional Bang & Olufsen sound system with speakers that rise out of the dashboard, like in some recent top-end Audis.
As for information surrounding pricing and fuel economy, BMW says it will release that information later in mid-2011. The 2012 BMW 650i convertible goes on sale with a starting price of $90,500, excluding a $875 destination charge.
