BMW Tweaks the 2008 6 Series

BMW is throwing its latest driveline and safety technology, along with a subtly altered exterior and more friendly interior controls, into the redesigned 2008 6 Series. Coming four years after the model's reintroduction to the BMW lineup, the reworked coupe and cabriolet are set to make their public debut at the Frankfurt auto show in September.

North American sales are planned to start shortly afterward. BMW hints there will be small price increases in line with improved equipment levels for the new car. It will take a trained eye to spot the face-lifted 2008 BMW 6 Series, because the cosmetic changes are indeed slight.

Up front, there's a redesigned front bumper with a larger duct for more efficient engine cooling, altered headlamps with new graphics and LED indicators, more shapely side sills underneath the doors, a reworked trunk lid, a deeper rear bumper and jewel lenses for the taillamps.

Interior changes are similarly subtle, with new trim options and some alterations to BMW's iDrive system, which now operates with eight "favorite" buttons incorporated into the audio header unit.

The 6 Series benefits from a range of new optional equipment that serves to raise the car's already impressive safety credentials. Among these are active cruise control with automatic brake application, a lane-departure warning system, night vision and adaptive headlamps with variable light distribution.

On the engine front, BMW has retained the 650i's velvety smooth 367-horsepower 4.8-liter V8 without any significant change. It's a different story with the high-selling 630i's engine, though. Its 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder now has BMW's high-pressure injection system and a 14-hp increase to 272 hp. Both 6 Series gasoline engines get the new brake regeneration system that was already applied to the face-lifted 5 Series earlier this year. It stores energy created under braking and applies it momentarily during acceleration, reducing strain on the engine.

Also new to manual versions of the new 6 Series is a shift indicator that lights up to signal the optimal time to choose a higher gear. The 650i's 0-62-mph time remains the same at 5.4 seconds, but fuel consumption is down 5 percent, to 20.1 mpg. The gains are even more evident on the 630i, on which 0-62-mph time drops by 0.3 second in combination with an impressive 15 percent fuel-usage cut and a 29.8-mpg average.

Although it's not planned for sale in North America, BMW has also added a sporty new 635d (diesel) model with a 286-hp twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-6. The 635d is claimed to reach 62 mph in 6.3 seconds while returning 34 mpg.