2019 saw a huge increase in demand for the BMW 8 Series, leaving the BMW 6 Series in the dust. The 8 Series brought us the refinement the 6 was unable to deliver in a more contemporary and sporting package.
The BMW 6 Series, which dates back to the 1970s, was previously retired until being reintroduced to the public in 2004. Are there any chances that these ungainly GTs, BMW’s underdogs, will make another appearance on the luxury auto scene?
In This Article...
BMW 6-Series is discontinued after 2019.
BMW announced a week ago as part of their announcements for the 2020 model year that the 6-Series brand won’t be sold in the United States after 2019.
The decision is not particularly surprising given the confused existing lineup, which includes of the more recent but unrelated 6-Series Gran Turismo and the more dated 6-Series Gran Coupe sedan.
Just like the previous 6-Series coupe and 6-Series Convertible were replaced by their respective 8-Series counterparts, the 2020 8-Series Gran Coupe will take the place of the 6-Series Gran Coupe.
There isn’t a direct alternative for the 6-Series GT. Sales in the United States last year were limited to a few thousand pieces, indicating that it was introduced for 2018 but failed to spark the market. It will still be accessible elsewhere, but it is unclear what will happen to it in the long run. The 6-Series GT is likely to be discontinued once its current life cycle is over, just as the smaller 3-Series GT was already.
For the 5-Series, which will be unveiled this fall, there will also be powertrain improvements for the 2020 model year. The 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 of the sporty M550i has undergone significant revisions, as was previously revealed in May. From 456 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque before, it now produces 530 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque.
A new battery with a greater range has also been added to the 530e plug-in hybrid. Its physical size hasn’t altered, but its capacity has increased from 9.2 to 12 kilowatt-hours. Although an EPA-rated electric range hasn’t been confirmed, the 9.2-kwh battery has a 16-mile rating for reference.
Execution of the BMW 6 Series Coupe Has Been Quiet.
We’ve known the BMW 6 Series Coupe for six years. In an industry where models change more frequently than I can scramble eggs, that is a long period for any one particular model. When the time comes to discontinue the 6 Series Coupe, you’d think BMW would at least make a statement. Actually, the 6 Series Coupe was retired three months ago; either BMW forgot or it didn’t believe it was newsworthy enough. Nothing is announced. No press statements. No social media updates. Nothing.
The 6 Series Coupe production halt announced by the German automaker didn’t just go unnoticed; it never even took off since BMW didn’t give it a chance. We just learned about it three months later, and it probably wouldn’t have happened at all if a BMW representative hadn’t told Road & Track that the 6 Series Coupe did indeed quietly cease manufacturing in February 2017. To be fair, BMW has previously stated that it intended to phase out the 6 Series lineup and reintroduce the 8 Series to serve as the brand’s flagship vehicle. However, nothing in those pronouncements suggested that the firm would silently discontinue the 6 Series Coupe without even informing anyone. It ran well and deserved at least a passing mention because of it.
Has the BMW M6 been retired?
From 1983 through 2018, the BMW M6 was a high-performance version of the 6 Series that was sold under the BMW M sub-brand (with a break from 1990 to 2004).
Later editions of the M6, which debuted in the coupe body style, also featured the fastback sedan (dubbed the “Gran Coupe”) and convertible body types. For the first three iterations of the 6 Series, an M6 model was created. The M6’s production ceased in 2018 and was replaced in 2019 by the BMW M8 (F91/F92/F93).
Will BMW bring the 6 Series back?
Sales of more conventional car styles like sedans, coupes, and convertibles are falling as everyone and their dog is eager to park an SUV or pickup on the driveway.
This also applies to the luxury market, where BMW may decide to respond by replacing both its 4-Series and 8-Series with a new 6-Series.
Yes, a new 6-Series will replace both the 4-Series and the 8-Series in 2026, according to the sources of Australia’s Which Car. Fans of BMW will notice that the change would be a reversal because the current 8-Series superseded the previous 6-Series upon its launch in 2018.
The 8-Series Gran Coupe, which would be introduced to the 7-Series family after its facelift, would be the only model to survive the purported culling of the 4-Series and 8-Series.
There aren’t many sales that any new 6-Series would need to make up for as the combined sales of the 4-Series and 8-Series in the U.S. last year were just around 30,000 vehicles. BMW would be able to save development expenses by using a single nameplate at the same time.
Mercedes-Benz has already started to phase out the SLK-Class, S-Class coupe and convertible, and AMG GT Roadster in accordance with this policy. Only the new AMG SL and AMG GT coupe remain to fill that void. Additionally, it is said that the present C-Class and E-Class coupes and convertibles would be replaced with a single moniker known as the CLE-Class, suggesting that Mercedes still has some trimming to do.
The BMW M6 is dependable.
How dependable are the M5, M6, M8, X5M, and X6M powered by the BMW S63? The S63 engine itself is often rather dependable. Although there aren’t many significant, frequent issues with the engine, they can and do occasionally occur. But the BMW M cars that employ it have a high-performance engine. Upkeep costs can mount up rapidly. This is especially true when the enormous brakes, tires, etc. are taken into account. Although the BMW S63 engine is dependable, it is by no means a cheap engine to purchase.
Certain engine issues are beyond our control. However, keep up with maintenance and address S63 problems as soon as they arise. If you follow these steps, owning an S63 should be a satisfying experience. Additionally, budget for the typical BMW maintenance and issues after 100,000 miles.
Finally, the BMW S63 V8 is quite adaptable to tune and modifications. In the low RPM range, it can produce a lot of power and potentially harmful quantities of torque. The M5 and M6 engines and transmission are under a lot more strain as a result. To keep the engine safe, stick to conservative tweaking.
What is the lifespan of a BMW M6?
The BMW M6 appears in iSeeCars’ top 10 list of sports cars with the longest lifespans, some of which have over 200,000 kilometers on them. So there’s no need to fear about buying a high-performance M6 being a hasty decision.
Describe the BMW E63.
The BMW E63 (coupe version) and BMW E64 (convertible version) grand tourers are part of the second generation of the BMW 6 Series. From 2003 through 2010, BMW developed the E63/E64 generation, which is frequently referred to as the E63.
The E63 has many features with the E60 5 Series because it is built on a scaled-down version of its chassis. The automobile attracted criticism at first for its contentious appearance and complex iDrive technology.
In 2005, the M6 vehicle was unveiled in coupe and convertible body types. Most M6s produced have a 7-speed automatic manual transmission, and it is powered by the same S85 V10 engine as the E60 M5 (“SMG III”).
The manufacture of the BMW 6 Series (F06/F12/F13), the E63’s replacement, started in March 2011.
What does a 2020 BMW M6 cost?
Pricing and Specs for the M6 Gran Coupe in 2020 BMW M Models. Considering a BMW M model? Based on third party pricing information, you might anticipate paying between $221,200 and 279,620.
There might be a BMW M7.
BMW also claims that a 7-series with the M label will appear later, though it won’t be a full-fledged M7 with over 600 horsepower. The M760i’s twin-turbo V-12 is no longer available.
Replaces the BMW 6 Series with the BMW 8 Series?
Although it’s too soon to speculate, you can almost certainly count on a large grille on the rumored new 6 Series. An early design sketch for the modern 4 Series may be seen here.
Across borders – One of the many effects of the SUV’s unrelenting rise is a persistent decline in the market share of conventional cars. This is never more evident than in the two-door coupe and cabriolet market.
However, German automakers are streamlining their two-door ranges rather than abandoning this oh-so-beautiful automotive type. The C-Class and E-Class coupe and cabriolet models are reportedly being replaced by a new Mercedes-Benz line called the CLE, and now it seems that BMW has the same idea.
The BMW 6 Series is scheduled to be relaunched as a two-door line-up around 2026, replacing both the 4 Series and 8 Series, according to Australian website WhichCar’s sources in Munich. The source does suggest that the 8 Series Gran Coupe is expected to remain, although as a branch of the upcoming 7 Series family; however, it is unclear whether a 6 Series Gran Coupe with four doors will be produced.
The BMW 6 Series was initially unveiled in 1976 as a flagship coupe, and it was manufactured until the late 1980s. BMW didn’t release a second generation model until 2003, and in 2011 it evolved into a third generation that also gave rise to a four-door Gran Coupe.
The current 8 Series effectively supplanted the previous model series, but the 6 Series moniker is still used on a Gran Turismo vehicle that was influenced by MPVs and took the place of the 5 Series GT. However, the most recent 6 GT has been withdrawn from sale in a number of significant areas, but it is still available in Germany. We find it difficult to believe it will last much longer.
Given the substantial sums of money the business is investing in an electric future, BMW’s present internal combustion models must be rationalized. BMW is one of the few businesses that doesn’t seem to be abandoning ICE cars any time soon, either.
According to a 2020 report by Klaus Froehlich, head of R&D at BMW, the company intends to keep making petrol engines for at least another 30 years.
According to more recent rumors, BMW has invested in a new generation of petrol and diesel engines with six and eight cylinders that are projected to dramatically lower CO2 emissions. But the V12 is already in the waiting area, and BMW plans to build its final 12-cylinder vehicle in the middle of this year.
New generations of classic models like the 3 Series are anticipated to continue the line, but in addition to that, Autocar revealed last year that BMW plans to introduce an all-electric 3 Series in 2025 that will be constructed on a brand-new EV platform.
The ‘Neue Klasse EV’ architecture will give rise to a variety of new-generation goods, including SUVs.