BMW reveals all-new 6-series 14 | 03 | 2011

MONTHS BEFORE it enters Scottish showrooms, we can give you the first glimpse of the all-new BMW 6-series coupe. The two-door, which will be officially unveiled at next month's Shanghai Motor Show, will go head-to-head against the Jaguar XK and Mercedes-Benz E-class coupé.

The new car is 75mm longer, 39mm wider and 5mm lower than its predecessor and appears less in-your-face than the model it replaces. The wheelbase is also longer, extended 75mm to 2855mm, and obviously provides added rear-seat accommodation.

When it enters Scottish showrooms in the summer, the coupe will initially be available with a choice of two turbocharged, direct-injection petrol engines: a 3.0-litre straight six developing 316bhp fitted to the 640i, and the 650i which gets a 401bhp, 4.4-litre V8.

Both powerplants get an eight-speed automatic gearbox; in the case of the 640i, it also gets a stop-start function for added fuel savings.

BMW say the 640i will hit 62mph in 5.4sec — a full 1.0sec up on the 630i it replaces — while returning a not unacceptable 36.7mpg on the combined cycle. As you'd expect, the 650i raises the bar yet further. It scorches to 62mph from standstill in just 4.9sec — 0.2sec faster than the old model — but has a combined fuel figure of just 27.2mpg.

It's understood BMW is also planning to squeeze a 296bhp, 3.0, six-cylinder diesel into a new 640d model. But what really whets the appetite is the successor to the M6 which is pencilled in for late 2012. Out goes the 5.0-litre V10 engine of the last model to be replaced by a new twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8; whisper it, but it might just be good for 550bhp.

CLICK HERE to see the our video of the new BMW 6-series

Keep up-to-date with all the latest news by following us on twitter.com/scotcars