BMW E63 and E64: From Drawing Board to Production
Written by Steven KS. on Sunday, October 3rd, 2010 ( Start discussion )
Tags: BMW, BMW E63, BMW E64, BMW news, BMW Z9 concept, car news
When BMW’s existing 6-series models—the coupe E63 and convertible E64—first came out in 2004, everyone in the automobile industry had some pretty big expectations from them because they were the successor of the 1980’s “sharky” 6-series. When the 8-series parked its wheels back in 1999, the E63 and E64 officially manned up to what they fondly refer to as the Big GT duties.
Just like the 7-series and 5-series range, Chris Bangle’s design legacy reeks in the new 6-series but it veered away from the classic BMW look, and instead, went with a fresher style. Moreover, BMW forego the option of a V12 engine in the 6-series top-of-the-line model and opted for an engine inspired by no less than Formula One—a 5.0L V10 engine that enabled them to create a brand new M6 that comes with an snazzy carbon fiber roofing and BMW’s SMG III gearbox.
The original Z9 Gran Turismo concept car was revealed at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 1999 while the Z9 Convertible concept car was shown at the Paris Motor Show in 2000. A lot of the original concept designs didn’t make the production but we could see that they kept the trademark double kidney grilles. The E63/ E64 also received a nice roofline, a wheelbase, and an interior design that resembles that of the Z9 Convertible concept car. The E63 and E64 models will soon hit the market.
A little trivia though. Did you know that BMW’s Z9 Grand Turismo model was launched with “the world’s first V8 turbodiesel engine” which was first found in the BMW 740d?
