BMW 650i Convertible - The German Open

The BMW Concept 6 Series Coupe displayed at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show wasn’t really a concept at all, but a foretaste of the next-generation 6 Series. And here’s an official pic of the new 650i Convertible, looking every inch the elegant, premium soft-top that the outgoing model had trouble pulling off. When it goes on sale in spring 2011 as a 2012 model, the 650i will have a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 with 400 hp and 450 lb-ft, coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission, or a six-speed manual (there are still some old-school types around who like such things). Zero to 60 mph is polished off in 4.9 seconds and, as ever, top speed is limited to 155 mph. Suspension-wise, the 6 has a double-wishbone front/multi-link rear setup with an optional Active Roll Stabilization to complement the standard Dynamic Damper Control. The new-generation 6 also gets the option of Active Steering, which takes some getting used to, but is really quite good. It takes 19 seconds for the electronic trickery to open the roof, 24 to close it. Prices still TBA, but a 2010 equivalent sold for $85,550, so that should be a decent ballpark.