BMW’s New 6-Series GT will be pit against Mercedes’ popular long-wheelbase E 350d. The new 6 GT will be competitively priced and will rival the Merc when it comes to space and comfort on the inside.
Unlike the regular 5-Series, however, this car doesn’t focus on handling and grip, instead, it promises to offer supreme ride comfort. And, for India it will also get a lift feature that increases ground clearance by 20mm at the press of a button. The 6-series GT rides has the same 3,070mm wheelbase as the regular 7-Series and is of the same width. The car comes with a flowing coupé-like roof, frameless doors and a large, liftback or tailgate with a 610-litre capacity. If you fold the seats down electrically, you get a massive 1,800 litres of luggage space.
On the outside
This car doesn’t look as gawky as the old GT. The 6 GT has a more steeply raked windscreen, while the roof flows over much more elegantly. Those large wrap-around LED tail-lights add to its appeal. The 6 GT also comes with a 5-series-like nose, with headlight pods fused with the grille.
On the inside
The cabin is huge and very spacious, and overall levels of quality are a clear step up over the 5-series. The seats in the front are massive and are finished in the highest quality leather. You get fantastic shoulder support and plenty of thigh support. It’s easy to find a comfortable driving position thanks to the adjustable steering. The seats at the front are vented and get a massage function as well.
Legroom is great, but not as much as the long-wheelbase E-class, and the backrest doesn't recline as much as the ones in the Merc. Getting in and out is much easier in the BMW. The seat base is a fair bit higher and because you can recline the backrest electrically, finding a comfortable position is very easy too. And, there is more than enough legroom at the back.
The leather-lined and padded dash is exquisite, the 6GT also gets a full suite of BMW's current goodies. There’s a screen-based instrument panel, a big high-resolution touchscreen, gesture control, surround view cameras, remote parking, 10-inch screens for the rear-seat passengers, a 1400-watt Bowers & Wilkins sound system, and even the ability to create a WiFi hotspot.
How does it drive?
This car rides really well. In Comfort Plus mode, the car just glides over most rough bits. In Comfort mode, the car offers a silent ride and decent agility. Overall, this car is really quite enjoyable to drive, and is a clear step up from the long-wheelbase E-class.
We will most probably get the 30d version in India, which uses the same 265hp, 3.0-litre turbocharged-diesel inline six that sits under the hood of the 5-series. The car can do the 0-100kph sprint in 6.1sec, which is plenty quick and only a tad slower than the 5.
Should I buy one?
BMW will launch the car here in 2018 and will look to entice customers who would have otherwise headed straight to a Mercedes showroom. BMW intends to price the car competitively, at ₹60-70 lakh, and at that price, it could well do some damage to the E-class’ sales.
