Background
BMW 650i Coupé (F13) belonged to the third generation of the BMW 6 Series and represented the luxurious V8-powered grand tourer of the range. The F13 Coupé reached the market in 2011 as the successor to the E63 and continued BMW’s tradition of large two-door coupés in a more modern and streamlined form. The 650i sat at the top of the regular 6 Series range, combining a powerful V8 engine, the traditional BMW rear-wheel-drive concept and a high level of comfort. The separately developed BMW M6 Coupé offered an even more performance-focused alternative.
Design
The exterior design of the F13 Coupé was created under the direction of Nader Faghihzadeh. The car retained classic grand tourer proportions with a long bonnet, rearward-positioned passenger compartment, low roofline and broad rear section. Compared with the previous E63, the styling became smoother and more flowing while retaining a strong and sporting stance. The 650i did not differ radically in appearance from the smaller-engined versions, but its V8 engine and position within the range gave it the status of the flagship among the regular 6 Series models.
V8 TwinPower Turbo
The original BMW 650i Coupé used a 4,395 cm³ BMW TwinPower Turbo V8 petrol engine, with its two turbochargers positioned between the cylinder banks. The engine produced 407 hp, or 300 kW, and a maximum torque of 600 Nm. Power was transmitted to the rear wheels through an eight-speed Sport Automatic transmission, allowing the car to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds. Top speed was electronically limited to 250 km/h. This performance made the 650i a very fast car, while the smooth power delivery and strong torque of the V8 suited the character of a luxury grand tourer particularly well.
2012 technical update
In 2012, the 650i received a further-developed version of the 4.4-litre V8 engine, incorporating technologies including VALVETRONIC. Power increased to 450 hp, or 330 kW, while maximum torque rose to 650 Nm. The updated engine improved both performance and efficiency and remained the basis of the 650i for the later production period. Depending on market, the 650i was available with either rear-wheel drive or xDrive all-wheel drive, giving the powerful V8 coupé greater traction in more demanding road conditions.
Grand touring character
The 650i Coupé was not designed as a pure sports car, but as a fast and luxurious long-distance machine. Inside, BMW combined a low sporting seating position with high-quality materials, a driver-oriented dashboard and the modern iDrive control system. The chassis incorporated technology from BMW’s upper model ranges, with systems such as Adaptive Drive, Integral Active Steering and a wide range of driver-assistance features available depending on specification. The result was a car capable of combining the comfort and refinement of a large coupé with very strong performance and the driving character associated with BMW.
Production and significance
The BMW 6 Series F13 Coupé was produced at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing in Germany. The Coupé reached the market in 2011 and remained in production until 2017. Throughout this period, the 650i was the most powerful petrol model in the regular range, while the BMW M6 formed a separate M model line. The F13 650i represents the BMW grand tourer concept of the 2010s particularly well: a large two-door coupé with a powerful V8, a high level of comfort and a choice of traditional rear-wheel drive or xDrive all-wheel drive. The role of BMW’s large luxury coupé was later effectively taken over by the new 8 Series.
Model in the collection
The model in my collection was produced by Paragon Models and represents the BMW 650i Coupé (F13). It is an official promotional model produced for the BMW dealer network and intended for presentation and sales purposes.
Technical data in brief
Production period: 2011–2017
Place of production: BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, Germany
Body style: two-door four-seat Coupé / grand tourer
Engine: 4,395 cm³ BMW TwinPower Turbo V8
Original power: 407 hp / 300 kW
Original torque: 600 Nm
Power from the 2012 update: 450 hp / 330 kW
Torque from the 2012 update: 650 Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Sport Automatic
Drivetrain: rear-wheel drive or xDrive all-wheel drive depending on version and market
0–100 km/h: 4.9 s for the original 407 hp rear-wheel-drive version
Top speed: 250 km/h, electronically limited
Production number: BMW has not published a separate total production figure for the 650i Coupé
Special feature: the V8-powered flagship of the regular F13 range, combining the performance of a large BMW coupé with the character of a luxury grand tourer