BMW series 6  

Following a late-2007 wash and brush-up for the range, the 6-Series has a neater and slightly more compact look to both its coupe and convertible bodies, and is now available with a choice of three excellent but very different engines. The 6-Series was previously fair game for critics who regarded it as too big, too heavy, too thirsty and too dirty, but the arrival of the 635 diesel engine has been accompanied by a series of Efficient Dynamics measures that make the two petrol engines, the six-cylinder 630i and the V8 650i, less harmful to the planet - yet, in the case of the 630i, more powerful. (This review does not include the M6 coupe and convertible, which are covered separately.)

The 2007 refresh involves new lights, tiny changes to the nose and tail bodywork, and reshaped side sills. The boot lid is reshaped to give a more compact appearance and, on the coupe, to incorporate the third brake light, in line with the convertible. The detail changes are barely noticeable, but the overall effect is subtly tighter and sharper.

The range now starts with the 630i coupe, priced at £49,300. Its 3.0-litre petrol engine now produces 268bhp, giving a 0-62mph time of 6.2 seconds and - like all 6-Series - a top speed electronically limited to 155mph. It also achieves a combined fuel consumption figure of 40.9mpg, which is remarkable for this sort of car. The 635d, a 3.0-litre twin-turbo diesel, makes 282bhp, with a 0-62mph time of 6.3 seconds for the coupe, which is priced from £53,910. The range topper, the 4.8-litre 650i, makes 362bhp, giving the coupe a 0-62mph time of 5.1 seconds. The most expensive 6-Series, the 650i Sport convertible, costs £63,215, and it's not difficult to get the price nearer to £70,000 by visiting the options list.

 BMW 6 Series refers to two generations of automobile from BMW. The first was the E24, launched in 1976 to replace the 3.0CS & 3.0CSi (E9). In 2003, BMW released the all new E63/E64 which was available as a coupé and convertible. Models were the 645ci (later replaced with the 650i) and the 630i.