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Claudia Hommel
Cabaret Singer
Extraordinaire
Cordell Koland
Car Writer
Weekly Reviews
 2006 BMW 650i Convertible by Cordell Koland Call me a curmudgeon, but to my eye it seems that concepts like refinement and elegance have largely disappeared from the auto industry. What we¹ve largely lost in the auto industry is the elegant four-seat convertible that used to define style. From the 1920s until well into the 20th century, the industry produced thousands of these luxury vehicles so that discerning owners could travel in style. But there are exceptions to my lament, mainly from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. BMW revived the classy 6-Series a few years ago and for 2006, has upgraded and enlarged the engine and has named it the 650i, with a strong performance potential. Talk about having it all. Now all you need is a lot of cash or great credit. The base price of entry is about $80,000 for the 650i Convertible. And it¹s just the ticket for a romp down scenic California Highway One, overlooking the cool Pacific, or any other enchanted drive. As one might expect in an upscale German automobile, the 650i Convertible is loaded with technology. But most buyers will make their decisions based on styling and performance. Overall, I like the exterior design of the convertible. Seen from the front it exhibits a sleek hood and a wonderful integration of headlights, grille and bumper. BMW designers spend an inordinate amount of time on the integration theme in an attempt to seamlessly merge one form into another. The large wheels and wheel openings add a note of boldness to the smooth side view. I have one reservation and that¹s the rear deck. Consistent with the profile introduced in the 7-Series sedan a few years ago, the 6-Series wears its trunk lid high. Seen from a distance the form isn¹t objectionable, but on close inspection from the rear, it looks inordinately large and protruding. The interior of the 650i is understated and very elegant. If one is looking for a sea of rare walnut, as exhibited in an English Jaguar or Bentley, disappointment will reign. The interior feels restful and reserved, rather than shouting that you¹ve just spent a lot of money. As far as performance goes, the new 650i coupe goes in a hurry. Powered by BMW's sterling 360-horsepower, 4.8-liter V-8, the car‹equipped with the automatic transmission‹will glide from zero to 60 miles per hour in just 5.7 seconds. But the transition from slow to very fast is so smooth and effortless that it belies the huge performance potential of the car. Additionally, the convertible 650i with the automatic transmission does not accrue the dreaded Gas Guzzler tax, but models equipped with either the manual or BMW's Sequential Manual Gearbox have to pay the additional tarrif. The 650i benefits from a high-technology suspension system called Active Roll Stabilization. The goal is to control the amount of body lean induced by centrifugal force encountered when a car goes around a fast turn. The technology maximizes the car's resistance to roll, without affecting ride quality and actually increases steering response. The result is a luxury coupe that handles almost as well as a sports car and is a real pleasure to drive. But I do have one beef with the car and that's BMW's notorious iDrive. The heart of the iDrive interface is a controller, a center console-mounted joystick, and display screen mounted on the dashboard, which manages a computer menu system that wraps up a number of functions and removes them from view. You select from scores of choices via a menu system that accesses the audio, navigation system, climate controls and communications. I¹m about to give up on this interface; it is just too complicated and wherever I go in the system, it seems like I can never reach the function I really want to find. But I¹m not alone. A friend and owner of a new BMW 5-Series told me that she couldn't use iDrive. And she's no dummy with a Ph. D. from Stanford. Vehicle:
BMW 650i Convertible
Price as tested: $88,140 Engine: Type: 4.8-liter V-8 Horsepower: 360 @ 6,300 rpm Torque: 360 lbs.-ft. @ 3,400 rpm Fuel economy, automatic transmission City 17 mpg Highway 25 mpg Curb Weight: lbs. 4,277 Cordell Koland is an automotive journalist based in California's central coast. He can be reached at cordellkoland@oakparkjournal.com |
