 |
preaching to the converted
Ah, the thrill of the open road. The wind in your hair, the sun in your face and the smell of freshly mown grass in your nostrils.
Yes, but only if you have a convertible…
Unfortunately, as I have as much hair as a rugby ball, only two of these experiences were available to me when I took the new BMW 650i Convertible for a spin. But spinning is the last thing you’ll need to worry about in this beautifully designed piece of machinery.
If there can be such a thing as love at first sight with two tonnes of metal, canvas and glass, then the 650i is the Juliet to my Romeo.
The lines on this seriously sporty car are sleek and sexy, with sweeping fins on the bonnet hinting at the muscular beastie lying within. The 650i goes from 0 to 100km/h in just five seconds – about the time it takes to read this sentence – thanks to a nostril-flaring, twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 engine that produces electrifying pace and power. Pop the bonnet and you’ll see that not a centimetre of space has been wasted.
But with great power comes great responsibility. That’s why BMW has installed Drive Dynamic Control as standard. This allows drivers to select their own suspension settings – from Normal to Sport – while the Adaptive Drive system offers electrically controlled dampers and roll stabilisation. The eight-speed sports automatic transmission ensures swift gear changes, reduces background noise at high speeds and significantly reduces fuel consumption.
Yet that’s just the tip of the high-tech iceberg that has gone into this model, one that BMW believe has beauty and brains, claiming it to be “one of the smartest cars on the planet.”
Hence the optional Lane Change and Lane Departure Warning Systems, ConnectedDrive (the 650i can have up to five cameras), Night Vision, Bluetooth and USB interface. It even has a self-steering Parking Assistant that takes care of slotting the car into tricky spots. This vehicle comes with more bells and whistles than a steam train museum.
Inside the cabin the technology continues with seats that move in every conceivable direction – I’ve had suits that didn’t fit as snugly. The Control Display containing the satellite navigation and infotainment systems is free standing and easy to use while the exclusive white Nappa leather adds a real touch of class.
Despite all the gizmos, just driving a sports car is supposed to be fun and cruising down the motorway (even in the middle of winter – thank god for heated seats with the top down!) was just that. At the touch of a button on the central console, the cloth top folds away in less than 20 seconds. But unlike some people, she still looks good with her top off.
Whether the top is up or down, the 650i still purrs like a well-fed kitten, the only noise the reassuring growl of the V8 engine as you float across the bitumen like Aladdin on his magic carpet. The designers at BMW took their inspiration from the speedboat and apparently the aerodynamics are so good you can drive with the top down in the rain and still not get wet, although in the interests of future car reviews and insurance claims, I wasn’t game enough to try it.
One of the added advantages of a convertible is you become more in tune with your immediate environment. You can smell the fish market as you drive past and work on your tan all at the same time.
For golfers, for whom the weather can be a deciding factor on whether to play or not, a convertible that gets you up close and personal with the elements has to be a bonus. And there’s nothing like turning up at the club with the top down and the clubs snuggled in the passenger seat, although with the top up BMW say you can still get two sets in the 350-litre boot.
As a driving ‘experience’, the 650i promises a lot and delivers big time, one of the best rides I’ve had behind a steering wheel. Sure, some have labelled the 650i an expensive toy but this is one plaything that you won’t want to put down.
Jon Underwood
at a glance
BMW 650i Convertible
Engine: BMW TwinPower Turbo 4.4-litre V8.
Capacity: 4,395cc
Power: 300kW @ 5,500 to 6,400rpm
Torque: 600Nm @ 1,750 to 4,500rpm
0-100kph: 5.0 secs
Max speed: 250km/h (limited)
Fuel tank: 70 litres
Fuel economy: 10.7l/100km (combined)
Vehicle weight: 1,940kg
Overall length: 4,894mm
MLP: AU$248,300. Includes GST and LCT but excludes dealer charges, stamp duty, statutory charges and on-road charges.
For more information, visit bmw.com.au
|
Comments
|
|
|
|
|
