Who among us could resist meandering through the neighborhood in a brand new BMW 6 Series Convertible with the top down, waiving to appreciative admirers?
Completely redesigned for 2012, the all-new 650i takes the winning elements of the outgoing model, melds & massages them and gives them to us in a breathtaking form that has perfect strangers stepping up and asking questions.
Power comes from a 4.4-liter twin turbocharged V-8 that whirrs out 400 horsepower and 450-lb.-ft. of torque, propelling the drop top from 0 to 60 MPH in just a tick under 5 seconds. Equipped with the 8-speed automatic, average mileage is posted at 19-MPG.
To say the interior is opulent doesn’t do it justice, but, for the first time since its introduction some 10 years ago, the i-Drive driver interface has finally been dumbed-down enough that we can kind of figure it out. Its huge 10.2-inch screen certainly helps.
Ride and handling are nimble except when encountering one of Houston’s growing numbers of large, deep pot holes. The 650i’s low profile tire and optional 20-inch wheel combination will jar you to the bone.
Get your BMW 650i convertible groove on beginning at $90,500.
Engine:Â 4.4-liter turbocharged
Horsepower: 400
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Highest MPG City: 15
Highest MPG Highway: 22
Trim Designations: 650i & 650i X Drive
Base Price: $90,500
What I Liked: Exterior beauty, interior luxury & plenty of turbocharged power with no lag
What Needs Improvement: bi wheels, low profile tires and Houston pot holes are a bad mix. When is BMW going to give up on that stupid iDrive interface and get with the program? Having to drill down through multiple menu’s to change radio stations or adjust settings is the definition of distracted driving.
Star Rating: 4 out of 5
