BMW 6-series Gran Coupe

Whatever your view on the recently coined "four-door coupe" phrase, BMW’s largest take on the concept, the 6-series Gran Coupe, is a stunner. It is a far-better-looking 5-series sedan, terminology be damned. And unlike its rivals from Audi and Mercedes-Benz, the BMW is actually based on a real two-door coupe. (That car itself shares much with a sedan, but we’ll let that slide.) Given how that 6er receives updates for 2015, it should come as no surprise that the Gran Coupe is getting a refresh, too.
As with the 2015 6-series coupe and convertible, the Gran Coupe’s changes will be noticeable only to experts and BMW fanatics. The front fascia inherits a full-width lower-intake design reminiscent of that used on Mercedes-AMG’s latest products, while the kidney grilles lose one vertical slat. BMW has fitted full-LED headlights as standard, and the turn-signal element migrates from the bottom to the top of the lighting units. There are also turn-signal indicators in the door mirrors and a few tweaks to the color, trim, and wheel choices.

The light-refresh theme continues inside. The cabin gets a bit more chrome but no more usable space. The back seat remains tight—make no mistake, the 6-series Gran Coupe is not a viable alternative to a 7-series (or even a 5er) for people-hauling duty.

BMW hasn’t meddled with the 6-series Gran Coupe’s mechanicals. Buyers can once again choose between rear- or xDrive all-wheel drive, and an eight-speed automatic remains the sole transmission option. The entry-level 640i Gran Coupe is powered by a 315-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six and gets a new sports exhaust system, while the stronger choice remains the 650i Gran Coupe and its 445-hp twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8.
The 6-series Gran Coupe commands a massive price premium over the 5-series and costs more than the two-door 6-series coupe, but its seductive sheetmetal may justify the outlay. And given how the Gran Coupe makes up nearly half of all 6-series sales, clearly customers agree—even in the face of less-expensive competitors such as the Audi A7 and Mercedes-Benz CLS. Given how the 6-series Gran Coupe is good business for BMW and even better business for our eyes, it’s easy to see why there are minimal updates for 2015.

McLaren 650S Sprint

McLaren’s new 650S model now comes in three flavors, the standard road going 650S, the competition-spec 650S GT3 for serious racers, and now there’s the 650S Sprint which is aimed at track enthusiasts who still want a little bit of comfort. The 650S Sprint also replaces the MP4-12C-based 12C Sprint as McLaren’s track toy for the super-rich. Compared to the road model, the 650S Sprint features increased downforce and better cooling airflow to the 3.8 litre twin-turbocharged V8. It also features a competition-spec fuel tank and quick-fill cap, a larger radiator borrowed from the GT3 car, a new hood with additional cooling ducts for the radiator, front wing louvres for improved airflow, reduced ride height and recalibrated damping and spring rates, 19-inch center-locking race wheels with either Pirelli slicks or wet tires, onboard air jack system, and an upgraded braking system. On the inside the McLaren 650S Sprint features a stripped-out design with a FIA-approved rol...

Peugeot RC

The RC concept was designed at the Peugeot Style Centre. Intended as a true enthusiasts car, the real innovation lay in the fact that the car was designed as an "affordable" sports car. The Peugeot RC was the concept car that paved the way for the 2008 Peugeot RC HYmotion4 concept. Peugeot used the 2002 RC concept to compare performance and economy differences between comparable petrol and diesel engines. As an affordable sports car the RC had to deliver not only in terms of price, but there was the engine, the size and running costs, as well as driver comforts to consider. A wide panoramic windscreen and the cab forward seating helps the driver see all around the car and compensates for the effect caused by the length of the car. In the Petrol vs. Diesel experiment, Peugeot aimed to prove that an HDi engine could match the performance levels achieved from a petrol engine. And to demonstrate that it was not unreasonable to put an HDi engine in a sports car. The 2 resulti...

Maserati Ghibli vs BMW 6 Series : Which Will You Buy?

When considering vehicles like Maserati Ghibli and the BWM 6 Series Gran Coupe, both reflect an effort toward blending dignified luxury with exhilarating performance. Though beholding vehicles of this caliber is always an exercise most fruitfully left to the natural eye, the image above serves as a simple example of each sedan’s inherent dignity. In lieu of experiencing each vehicle’s performance profile from behind the wheel, the table provided similarly works to demonstrate what both Ghibli and BMW’s 6 series have been engineered to accomplish. Comparing the Maserati Ghibli vs. BMW 6 Series in this regard yields a number of important emphases. Local clients will notice that both vehicles develop their identity around six-cylinder engines with a pair of strategic turbochargers. Yet regardless of identical displacement and analogous induction technology, Maserati serves its Ghibli clients with significantly greater quantities of horsepower and torque. In addition to t...

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