BMW India launches 6 Series Gran Coupe, X6 crossover coming

Luxury carmaker BMW Group India today rolled out its next model, the 6 Series Gran Coupe, true to its word of launching 15 new models in calendar year 2015.

Earlier this year, BMW had introduced the petrol hybrid i8 as a completely built unit (CBU) and the 6 Series Gran Coupe follows on the same lines coming as a CBU, being a niche segment car.

BMW clubbed the launch of the Gran Coupe with the flagging off of the curtain raiser of the BMW India Bridal fashion week 2015. 

The 6 Series Gran Coupe will be available immediately at dealerships in two trim levels – the 640d Eminence priced at Rs 1,14,90,000 and the 640d Design Pure Experience carrying a sticker price of Rs 1,21,90,000 9 (ex-showroom all India).

Powered by the TwinPower turbo inline, 6-cylinder diesel engine, the Gran Coupe combines two turbochargers, valvetronic, double-VANOS and high-precision injection that deliver an output of 230kW/313 hp. The Gran Coupe accelerates to 100kph in 5.4 seconds and goes on to hit a top speed of 250kph.

The luxury car comes with an eight-speed steptronic sport transmission with cruise control that can adapt to different driving styles enabling smooth gearshifts. The sports leather steering features shift paddles for manual gear shifts. With the driving experience control switch the driver can switch between different driving modes Eco, Pro, Comfort, Comfort + and Sport. The damper control adapts the shock absorber characteristics to suit both road conditions and driving style.

The saloon comes equipped with airbags, adaptive LED headlights and dynamic stability control. In line with current trends, the Gran Coupe is fitted with connectivity solutions such as new generation driver assist systems. These encompass the BMW iDrive with touch controller, navigation professional with 10.2 inch colour display with 3D maps, full-colour head-up display, connectivity through Bluetooth and USB devices, high end surround system from Bang and Olufsen and BMW Apps. The Park Distance Control rear and front along with rearview camera come as standard fitments.

Philip von Sahr, president, BMW India, told Autocar Professional that the X6 luxury crossover is next in line for a launch and every two weeks BMW India would be having an event.

Highlighting the targeted customers for the 6 Series Gran Coupe, he said: “Customers want the best of everything – the most dynamic engine, four doors to travel with family and are very much on the aesthetic side.”

Earlier this month, BMW Group India announced that it had kicked off its localisation drive at its Chennai plant since 1 January with its 2-litre diesel engine taking up the local content from 20 percent to 50 percent in cars fitted with that engine. From 1 June, the 3-litre diesel engine will be localised so that all the eight models that are currently made at the Chennai plant average 50 percent local content.

In terms of localising the petrol engine, the 7 Series has an 8-cylinder petrol engine and comes as a CBU. “We are watching the situation. At the moment, the demand is for diesel cars but with the National Green Tribunal in Delhi banning more than 10-year-old diesel cars on Delhi roads, there will automatically be a long-term trend towards petrol,” says Sahr. “When our Chennai plant is flexible and can flex between 8 different models it can also change from diesel to petrol. We have very good three-cylinder and four-cylinder petrol engines as well as others and can react very fast. Maybe we could decide to have the top-end petrol and volume segment diesel.”

But for the present, the luxury carmaker prefers to first focus on maintaining quality with production following the market. BMW has not set any targets in terms of sales volumes for the Gran Coupe but a challenge will be to have enough cars in stock to manage sales.