• Published On: 8 March 2018
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Instead of making a long-wheelbase 5-series, BMW thought it would be wise to launch an all-new model altogether.

There’s always been a rift between the mid-size luxury sedans and their larger, limousine alternatives. This is due to the fact that the bigger cars get more powerful engines and also because the Indian market only gets them in the long-wheelbase avatar. And because of this, if you wanted to upgrade – it would cost you a lot more money over the mid-sized luxury cars. The German carmaker, Mercedes launched a longer wheelbase version and filled this gap. BMW has taken a different approach at entering this segment by launching an all-new model instead a tweaked alternative like Mercedes.

On the outside

The other, more obvious fact that makes it sit nicely in-between the 5 and the 7-Series is the car’s wheelbase. Interestingly, the wheelbase of 3,070mm makes it identical to the wheelbase seen on the international spec regular 7-series. Even though the 6 GT sits perfectly in terms of dimensions and pricing, you will begin to notice that it is not a regular sedan. It has BMW’s GT styling which means it has bulky proportions. The car is undoubtedly big and the roof flows well into the high-set rear end. The narrow taillights look nice and wrap around the rear.

Towards the front of the car, however, the car has the simple-looking BMW front. This is similar to the 5-series. In India, we only get the 6 GT in its base Sport Line trim which means it doesn’t feature the sporty body kit of the M sport, nor the chrome bits of the Luxury Line model. The wheels on the car also look simple and one size too small for a car of this size. However, one can option larger size wheels.

On the inside

Interior-wise, the new 6-series feels spacious owing to the large cabin. However, it is very familiar to the 5-series. This could be because it’s the base Sport Line model. However, don’t think it loses out on quality just because it is the base model. The car still features real leather seats and nice-looking aluminium on the dashboard. It also features contrast stitching however we still expected the car to have its own identity.

In terms of features, the car is equipped with the latest iDrive with a touchscreen, and it’s the first BMW to get Apple CarPlay in India. The BMW also gets adaptive LED headlamps, a digital instrumentation, a panoramic sunroof, and four-zone climate control and air suspension. Similar to the 5-series Sport Line, it gets sports front seats which are supportive but come with limited adjustability. The seat lacks lumbar support adjustment, for instance, but one can at least adjust the side bolsters. Only the driver side seat features the memory function.

How does it drive?

The 6-series GT shines in terms of handling. Even though it might seem so because of its specifications, it is impressive. To begin with, it has air suspension which provides good comfort levels but not a sporty ride. The engine it uses is a 2.0 litre four-cylinder petrol motor that makes 258hp and 400Nm, a slight increase over the model it replaces. Nonetheless, it does 100kph from a standstill in 6.7 seconds with a responsive feel in Sport mode. The eight-speed automatic is a perfect mix of smoothness and quickness with its shifts.

The car uses air suspension, which provides a plush ride quality. Even in sport mode, it has soft ride and only aggressive bumps catch it out. In Comfort mode, it’s as good as any of the bigger, more-expensive alternatives. Like the 7-series, there is a Comfort Plus mode on this car that further softens the ride, but this will result to very high levels of body movement on our road conditions.

Should I buy one?

Even though the rear seat might not be as comfortable as the Mercedes’s and the GT body styling may not be the conventional shade. Overall, this BMW delivers in many regards – it’s more roomy and comfortable while being nice to drive, typical of a good BMW. Lastly, it nicely sits between the 5- and 7-series in terms of pricing at Rs 58.90 lakh.