Let's be honest, most convertibles with the roof down are the equivalent of swimsuit models in terms of sex appeal.
And I'm thinking that's probably why the planners in Munich went with launching the convertible version of BMW's new 6 Series first, before unveiling the hard-top coupé.
But having just spent some time with the coupé I'm not so sure that topless beats evening gown, if you get my drift.
Where the cabriolet is FHM, the coupé is more Fair Lady - and perhaps I'm getting old but there's a discreet sexiness to Fair Lady too. Which is very evident in the coupé. It may not wait for a parking spot in front of the News Café just so that it can peel or seal its top in a few seconds, but it certainly has the curves to turn heads. It looks like the real deal, and in my opinion is the sexier of the pair.
Having said all of this, sexy hasn't normally been a word you'd associate with the 6 Series. Where the previous generation was more whale this is more shark, and that seems to filter not just through interior and exterior design briefs, but through the very DNA of the car.
On test here is the 650i which, contrary to what the shiny silver numbers on the boot-lid insinuate, is actually a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 pushing very respectable outputs of 300kW and 600Nm. Remember this engine as in a few weeks time you'll be reading about it in tweaked form when the rip-snorting M5 is launched in SA.
But M badge or no M badge, the 650i is the equivalent of Muhammad Ali asking Joe Frazier if that's all he's got. Power delivery is merciless from idle to limiter, leaving the rear tyres and the traction-control systems throwing their hands up in despair.
It really doesn't matter what you do, with boost as readily available as corrupt politicians the smallest prod of the accelerator jumps the speedometer needle instantly by a centimetre or two. And our testing times seemed to agree. In overtaking terms, getting from 60km/h to 80km/h takes just one second, 80 to 120 takes just another four. That's the level of responsiveness we're talking about. Not to mention that the 0-100km/h time is 5.3 seconds (BMW claim 4.9) - which, to put into perspective, is on par with the 1 Series M and a squirt quicker than the current M3. Not too shabby for something this size.
My only problem with the engine is that it doesn't growl like a V8.
As Spiderman once said, with great power comes great responsibility, and the Germans have thrown in buckets of wizardry to keep the Six responsible. We've seen most of the tech in other ranges already, but they're certainly worthy of mention again. My favourite is Drive Dynamic Control, which is standard in the 650i (but not in the sibling 640i and 640d) and allows you to flick between Comfort, Sport and Sport+ settings which progressively sharpen throttle, suspension and steering responses.
It's not just a gimmick; get your teeth into the last two assault modes and you feel everything tighten up in terms of road manners. The suspension hardens up, steering sharpens, the gearbox keeps the rev-counter needle wide awake, and the traction control loosens its belt by at least two notches.
Sport is the happy medium, but forget a smooth ride - the accelerator goes into hair-trigger mode. Comfort, and more so Comfort+ (linked to the Adaptive Drive system) is where most buyers will live, and this setting - coupled with the silky-smooth eight-speed gearbox - keeps the shark from any sort of feeding frenzy. Comfort is also the reason we managed a respectable 11.6l/100km consumption figure.
Looking at the bulk of the Six, you'd never say it handles but, trust me, it does. There's harmony between steering feedback and suspension setup and, irrespective of the mode you're in, you're always planted on the road - with all the feedback you need to attack or play nicely. The steering is firm and enjoys being challenged.
Another cool feature, which debuted in the Seven, is the optional Integral Active Steering system which allows the rear wheels to turn slightly. This is a boon when parking or making U-turns, where it tightens the turning circle.
Should budget not be a problem the R38 600 Bang & Olufsen surround sound system is a must - besides making you feel like you're actually checking into the Hotel California it's seriously cutting-edge in design. The speakers have polished finishes while the tweeter, which rises quietly on the centre of the dash, looks like something Nasa commissioned.
Other interior highlights include a new flatscreen in the centre console; the satnav maps which are actual photographic images as you zoom out; and the high-definition head-up display (optional).
Debuting on the coupé is also quite a wicked set of Adaptive LED headlights (standard in the 650i), which, besides being amazing at night, add a new look to the car's nose.
Boot space is very decent but rear legroom is a joke; how a car this big could be so lacking in it is beyond me.
VERDICT
The 650i coupé does very little wrong, and at R1 127 273 it's also around fifty grand cheaper than the convertible. It certainly oozes sex appeal, and the engine not only pulls like a freight train but will embarrass just about anything that comes its way. In Comfort mode the 650i floats like a butterfly, in Sport+ it's definitely more on the sting-like-a-bee side.
The real question is: How much better can the M6, which lands in SA in the third quarter of this year, possibly be? - Star Motoring