2012 BMW 650i Convertible: First Drive

2012 BMW 650i Convertible

So, summer's hit full swing. Temperatures are reaching the 100s and above and there's no end to the heatwave in sight, that is, until September or October arrive. So, if you're the business type with millions of dollars at your disposal and you're looking into a comfortable and fast sports car, what do you do? Well, luckily for you, I'm here to help, with a little something from BMW.

Car Meets Art

I'm probably one of the youngest ever to test drive a $100,000 convertible, and fortunately for the company and myself, that's never happening again. Anyway, this is the 650i Convertible, a redesigned, re-shaped, sports convertible for those who love just spending money and driving something relaxing. I got my first look into it at Open Road BMW in Edison. Even in the pictures you see here, you can tell that BMW has done a very good job with it. It, quite frankly, looks absolutely fantastic. What's even better is that it doesn't use as much fuel as the old 650i. The old one had a 4.8-liter 360 horsepower V8 that inhaled fuel ever quarter-inch. This one uses a much smaller 4.4-liter 400 horsepower Twin-Turbo V8 engine from the new 7-Series sedan. And, since it's a smaller engine with more power, it won't need as much fuel as the big 4.8, however I would advise you to bring a $100 bill if you're buying gas with this car, just in case. It will do 0 to 60 in 4.8 seconds and hit a limited top speed of 155 MPH. Now, you would imagine a big V8 like this one would sound like something out of a Chevy Camaro SS or, more relatively, the BMW M3 since it uses a non-turbo version of the same V8. But, strangely, it doesn't! It actually sounds like a Ferrari weirdly. I guess it's because the car features two turbos and a Ferrari sized engine.

Just Glorious

As a driver's car, this thing is fantastic. BMW has really spent some time working with the suspension and body to make this car as comfortable as anything. With the top down, this car is exciting. If you're a man, this is the perfect car to take your girly-friend out for a drive. As for technology, it borrows some from the Range Rover. For example, the new Range Rover line (including the Evoque) have cameras all around the car so that the driver can see if he's close to hitting a rock when he's off-roading. The 650i has this same system, only it's a bit different. There are two cameras on each side of the front bumper, a camera on each side mirror, and the traditional rear-view camera hidden behind the BMW badge at the back. Inside the car, you press a button allowing you to see what's coming out on each side of the road in the event that you're in a blind intersection. What's next? A car that uses cruise control, line radars, and bumper radars so that it basically drive itself? Yeah, I believe Mercedes is already working on that.

Glistening in the Sun

So, it handles well, it rides comfortable, has technology from the future, and looks beautiful. Any car with all these features must be quite expensive: and it is. The base price of this car stands at $90,500. The one I drove was available for $108,650. So, if you're a businessman or businesswoman, and like to get to places in a hurry, comfortably, and with the top down, the 650i Convertible is the car for you. Unfortunately, this is my last test drive of the summer, but don't worry. My next test drive: the new Ford Mustang GT 5.0.