Skip advert
Advertisement

BMW 650i Sport review - price, specs and 0-60 time

New engine and upgrade package for the big coupe

Evo rating
RRP
from £53,965
  • Fantastic engine, deceptively rapid
  • Not the ultimate driving machine

BMW has been getting itself in a bit of a fuddle with its model numbering system. It's not the first time this has happened, but it's just as serious as the last outbreak, which saw a 2.5-litre 323i and a 1.8 litre 316i. This time what should have been called the 648i has been given the 650i moniker. In old BMW speak, this would suggest a 6-series with a tasty 5-litre V12 under the bonnet; in fact, power comes from a 4.8-litre V8.

Engie and performance

Not that you should hold this lack of cylinders against it too much. It's still a mighty fine engine, producing chunks more torque than the 4.5-litre in the outgoing 645i, as well as a useful extra 34bhp.

Advertisement - Article continues below

To my eyes the 6-series is still the best looking car BMW currently produces, and this classy look has been further enhanced with the introduction of a 'Sport' package, available across all variants of the Six range, including the Gaudi-influenced convertible. Sport models cost approximately £2000 extra, for which you get unique multi-spoke 19in wheels, an M Sport steering wheel and sports seats, plus some rather tasteless dark wood trimmings scattered around the cockpit.

The driving experience continues to be heavily influenced by what other options you choose, though. For example, our test 650i had the standard steering rack fitted, which is a dramatic improvement over the clever-but-flawed Active Steering option we had on our long-term 645i.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Advertisement - Article continues below

The new engine delivers the goods big time. It has to be one of the smoothest V8s in existence, but it also dispenses tyre-challenging torque from the off (60 arrives in little more than five seconds), before a metallic snarl emerges as the redline approaches. Helping to keep things refined at higher speeds is the galactic 35mph/1000rpm achieved in sixth gear on the auto 'box (a six-speed manual is an option).

What's it like to drive?

That's the good news. The bad news is that it's hard to escape the conclusion that despite all this performance potential, the 6-series is simply not a car that encourages you to hustle it in the first place. If you consider the raw ingredients - that mighty V8 engine, the rear-wheel drive and the BMW pedigree - it should result in a truly compelling driving machine, but somehow it doesn't. It's hard to fathom why. Perhaps it's because the 6-series has morphed into BMW's flagship techno-wagon, to the point where that vital spark of driver appeal that has kept BMW owners coming back for more has been overlooked.

If BMW is serious about creating the ultimate driving machines, perhaps its engineers would be better put to use developing a traction-enhancing slippy diff or tactile paddle-shifts behind the wheel for the auto gearbox instead of programming endless new screen updates for the infuriating iDrive, or creating this year's most pointless piece of new technology ('high beam assist', which is meant to dip the headlights for you as cars come towards you but ends up dipping the lights whenever it spots a reflective road sign, as well as not allowing full-beam to be used at speeds below 30mph).

With sales of the 6-series running behind expectations, next month's drive in the all-new Jaguar XK is going to be even more intriguing. Life could be about to get a whole lot tougher for BMW's elegant but ultimately rather bland coupe.

Price and release date

The BMW 650i Sport is available now from £53,965.

Specifications

EngineV8, 4799cc, 32v
Max power362bhp @ 6600rpm
Max torque361lb ft @ 3400rpm
0-605.5sec (claimed)
Top speed155mph (limited)
On saleNow
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Ford Focus ST (Mk3) – the car world's greatest misses
Ford Focus ST Mk3
Features

Ford Focus ST (Mk3) – the car world's greatest misses

We’d hoped the 2015 Focus ST would share a good dose of its little brother’s magic. Sadly, it didn’t
28 Apr 2025
The Ferrari 296 Speciale has arrived, and it could be the most thrilling Ferrari ever
Ferrari 296 Speciale – front
News

The Ferrari 296 Speciale has arrived, and it could be the most thrilling Ferrari ever

The 296 Speciale is the latest in Ferrari's line of mid-engined road racers, packing 868bhp and LaFerrari-beating pace on track
29 Apr 2025
Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 2025 review – the ultimate analogue hypercar
GMA T.50 front
Reviews

Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 2025 review – the ultimate analogue hypercar

The GMA T.50 is the car we thought would never come: Gordon Murray's sequel to the ultimate hypercar, the McLaren F1
26 Apr 2025