6 Appeal

Pre-Die Hard, Bruce Willis had hair, Cybill Shepherd was a babe — and since it was the 80s — had big big hair, and both strutted, flirted and romped their way to make Moonlighting among the sexiest things on TV at the time. In addition, Willis and Shepherd strutted, flirted and romped while suitably accompanied by a suave Al Jarreau ditty, and aboard a silver BMW 6 Series at that. Now it must be said that it was that car that definitely raised the show’s sex appeal factor several notches up, because frankly, who cares about Jarreau?

Along with the bad hair decade, Moonlighting has long gone, and after a 13-year production run, so was the 6 Series. BMW built the 8 Series from 1990 to 1999, which many considered as the 6 Series for the 90s. So the 6, just as many thought, was definitely over and done with.

But apparently, not permanently. Because launched amid much fanfare the world over late last year was the stunning new 6 Series, and only a few months after its debut, is available in the country now. BMW Group Philippines, led by its president Mark Gilbert, offered a glimpse of this new coupe — the 645Ci, to be precise — to the media last June 22 at the PGA Cars showroom located along EDSA.

BMW says that in terms of quality, the new coupe belongs to the luxury performance segment, which BMW believes is the same market category its über sports sedan, the 7 Series, also competes in. Why two BMW products in the same market? Because this segment is significantly growing the world over, BMW asserts, with the volume of luxury performance coupes and convertibles increasing by at least 48 percent from 1999 to 2001. And further growth is quite conceivable, BMW adds.

With its sophisticated and sleek proportions, the new 6 Series is a classic sporting and elegant coupe. The dynamic look of the car is matched to a powerful engine which, interacting with the outstanding chassis and suspension, innovative active steering, and the most advanced driver assistance systems, ensures a truly impressive and refined driving experience, BMW says.

According to BMW also, despite the 6 Series’ sporting performance and dynamic character, the car is no slouch when it comes to driving comfort. A genuine 2+2 coupe, the 6 Series offers all occupants maximum seating comfort with luxury features aplenty, resulting in an ambience of sheer elegance. All these are combined with practical qualities — plus various safety equipment to boot.

The new 6 Series smacks of high-tech goodies its predecessors never had. Stuff like a 4.4 liter, bi-VANOS, Valvetronic, quadcam V8 engine that churns out 333 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and 332 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm; either a six-speed automatic gearbox with Steptronic for manual gear shifting and Adaptive Transmission Management (ATM) features, or a six-speed Sequential Manual Gearbox (SGM); the abovementioned DSC which integrates the ABS, the Automatic Stability Control (ASC), the Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), the Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBFD) and more gizmos whose acronyms alone may be enough to fill this entire page up. An actice steering system is also available.

For more gee-whiz gadgetries, the 6 Series offers a Heads-Up Display (HUD) which allows pertinent information to be projected directly on the driver’s line of sight; BMW’s iDrive feature whose menu of functions can be viewed from a color monitor; an optional voice-activated entry device; a superb audio system that can play Al Jarreau ditties should you have the inexplicable urge to listen to some; and an available parking distance sensor to inform you that you are about to hit another object–which maybe intentional in some cases as self-inflicted harm is usually the result one gets from listening to Al Jarreau ditties. A cupholer is not standard, which is odd for a car in this price range.

Speaking of which, the 645Ci will carry price tags that will range in the posh neighborhood of P8.5 to P10.5 million, depending on its level of options. That money not only buys one of the prettiest coupes there is, but tremendous doses of sex appeal as well.

Sidebar: BMW To Increase Prices Effective July 1

BMW Philippines Corporation recently announced that it will increase the prices of its cars and motorcycles effective July 1.

BMW Philippines President Mark Gilbert stated that prices of BMWs will change next month by an average of 5 percent. "We will only increase our prices minimally, despite the continued depreciation of the Peso against the Euro since last year," Gilbert said. "While the revisions in the Automotive Excise Tax Law have previously allowed us to lower our prices, the exchange rate has increased our costs," he added.

Gilbert explained that despite tough market conditions, BMW Philippines continues to offer "the right products at the right price." It will be recalled that BMW was the first luxury carmaker to lower its prices last year, even before the amendments to the excise tax law took effect. At the same time, BMW has fought to maintain its prices while still being able to offer attractive financing packages and promotions through BMW Financial Services.

In view of these upcoming increases, Gilbert advises customers to make the right purchasing decision before the new prices take effect. "Now is always a great time to invest in sheer driving pleasure," he said.