Overview

What Changed for 2009:

• Minor updates for 2009
• First aid kit removed from standard equipment
• Sport package upgraded
• New color choices for the interior and exterior

Overview
First introduced in 1976, the BMW 6 Series is the flagship coupe offering in the German automaker's lineup. The first-generation 6 Series, itself based on the 5 Series platform, replaced the classic BMW 3.0CS in the mid-1970s. After more than a decade of production, it was replaced by the all-new, and completely different, 8 Series lineup in 1989. The 8 Series was discontinued a decade later and BMW went without a large coupe until the arrival of the second-generation 6 Series in 2004. Introduced in the United States as the 645i in coupe and convertible body styles, a more powerful engine and new 650i nomenclature arrived in 2006. The 6 Series receives only minor updates for 2009.

BMW provides a 4-year/50,000-mile new-vehicle limited warranty and a 4-year/unlimited mileage membership in the BMW Assist Safety Plan. The BMW Maintenance Program includes all factory-recommended maintenance items for the first 4 years/50,000 miles of ownership.

Model Lineup
Traditionally, engine choice has dictated BMW trim levels. In the case of the 2009 6 Series, there is but one engine choice-therefore only one trim level. As the premier Grand Touring coupe and Luxury Convertible in the BMW lineup, the 6 Series offers many standard luxury features on each model. These include electric power operation of nearly every accessory, including the automatic soft top on the convertible. Both models feature a standard GPS-based navigation system with real-time traffic reporting. The engine is a 360-hp V-8, with a choice of a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic with shift paddles mounted on the steering wheel.

Several option packages are available on the 650i and 650i Convertible. The Sport package upgrades wheels from 18 inches to 19 inches, and adds sport seats and a different trim color. The Cold Weather package adds heating to the front seats and steering wheel, and a ski bag. Stand-alone options include an upgrade to the Logic7 Surround Sound stereo, Head-Up Display (HUD), Active Steering with variable steering ratio, Active Cruise Control (ACC), and Night Vision.

Powertrain
The rear-wheel-drive 2009 BMW 650i coupe and Convertible are powered by a 4.8-liter V-8 engine rated at 360 hp with peak torque of 360 lb.-ft. The aluminum powerplant features VALVETRONIC valve control, and variable double-VANOS camshaft management on both the intake and exhaust. According to BMW, the 6 Series accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds (6-speed automatic), on to an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph. The 2009 EPA fuel-economy ratings are 15 mpg city/23 mpg highway (6-speed automatic transmission).

Standard wheels on the 2009 BMW 6 Series are 18-inch aluminum alloy, with 19-inch aluminum wheels optional. Run-flat tires and a tire-pressure-monitoring system are standard features on all 6 Series vehicles. All 6 Series models feature a fully independent suspension with ventilated disc brakes on the front and rear axles.

Safety
All 2009 BMW 6 Series models include dual front air bags with dual-threshold deployment and 2-stage smart air bags protecting the driver and front passenger. Side air bags and a front- and rear-seat head protection system offer additional protection to occupants. The 6 Series also offers Active Knee Protection air bags. Front seat belts feature automatic pre-tensioners. Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH) attachments for infant and child seats are standard at outboard rear seating positions. The extensive list of standard electronic safety aids includes anti-lock brakes (ABS) and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC). DSC includes BMW's versions of electronic brake proportioning, cornering brake stability enhancement, Dynamic Brake Control, Brake Fade Compensation, Brake Standby, Dynamic Traction Control, and Start-off Assistant. In addition, BMW Assist, BMW's in-car telematics offering, is standard for all 2009 6 Series models.

The BMW 6 Series has not been crash tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Technology
The 2009 BMW 650i coupe and Convertible both offer BMW Night Vision. The optional system utilizes infrared technology to highlight pedestrians or animals that may be in the path of the moving BMW, but nearly invisible to the naked eye. As a safety feature, Night Vision uses a thermal imaging camera to differentiate between cold objects (the road, trees and sidewalks) and warm objects (people, animals or other vehicles). The resulting image is displayed on the navigation screen in grayscale-warm objects are brighter, while cold objects are dark. While other manufacturers offer their versions of Night Vision, BMW has extended the technology by adding panning to the camera (so the image follows the path of the road) and zooming. The Night Vision system is able to "see" nearly 1,000 feet down the road and it can be activated/deactivated via a switch next to the headlight controls.