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| BMW
645 Ci Coupe |
Broadcast
date : 16th May 2004 |
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 What
kind of man or woman would drive a BMW 645Ci? The answer is
someone who has enough disposable income to indulge a desire
for a super-fast, super luxury coupe that is about style and
excellence of engineering.
Yes, it is technically a four-seater, but those rear pews are
there for occasional trips rather than everyday usage. Style
was first on the agenda with this new Beemer.
And while prices range from seven hundred and thirty six
thousand rand to seven hundred and fifty thousand, the car is
seen in some circle as a relative bargain - if you can believe
that.
The point about the 645 is that it undercuts the Mercedes SL
500, yet it targets a similar market.
True, it does not have quite the sporty two-seater appeal of
the SL, but this is a car that is designed to do much the same
thing.
The 645 has also recently been launched in convertible form.
Although once again it has to be said the BMW does not have
the Mercedes SL's versatility of being able to convert from a
steel-roofed coupe to a convertible.
This is definitely the best-looking BMW on the block right
now. It retains crucial BMW styling signatures and yet is far
less controversial than the 7-Series, or even the
newly-introduced 5-Series models.
Fitted with the famed 4,4 litre aluminium V8, it produces
exhilarating power, with a gorgeous V8 exhaust woofle.
From inside the car the engine note is more of a scream and it
is not all noise and no go.
The two hundred and forty five kilowatt engine scorches the
645 Ci to one hundred kilometres per hour in just five comma
six seconds at sea level.
And top speed is electronically limited to two hundred and
forty, although it would probably run closer to two seventy
kilometres per hour without the limiter.
The 645Ci comes in six speed manual, six-speed automatic and
six-speed SMG form. The last gearbox option features the
steering wheel mounted paddle shifts. Our choice would
probably be the automatic as the autobox suits the grace of
this rather large motorcar.
But the perfect mass distribution, achieved by extensive use
of aluminium panels in the car's construction, makes it a
nifty handler in the twisty stuff.
The car is also fitted with BMW's Active Steering, which
provides quick ratio steering at low speeds, and slower
steering reaction at high speeds.
This makes for easy handling and less arm movement in twisty
situations. At high speed, the slower steering makes for a
more relaxed driving attitude.
It is one beautifully built car, with exceptional quality
throughout.
The instrumentation is neat and stylish, although many people
still find the I-Drive info-tainment control on the console a
bit difficult to master.
All in all, the BMW 645Ci is a sign that BMW is well and truly
back on the performance block for its entire car range.
If you can afford one, you won't be disappointed.
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