BMW Expands 6-Series Coupe and Cabrio Lineup with AWD Versions, Priced from $86,000

First announced this summer, the BMW 650i is now available for order in the States with the option of the xDrive all-wheel drive system on both the Coupe and Convertible body styles.

The xDrive system will cost buyers an additional $3,000 lifting the MSRP of the 650i Coupe from $83,000 to $86,000, and the 650i Convertible from $90,500 to $93,500.

BMW says that the 0-60mph sprint time for the 650i xDrive Coupe is 4.7 seconds or 0.2-seconds faster than the RWD model, and 4.8-seconds for the 650i xDrive Convertible, or 0.1 seconds quicker than the RWD model.

The Bavarian automaker also has plans to offer a six-cylinder 6-Series for the time in the U.S. since 1989.

The soon-to-be-released U.S.-market 640i Coupe and Convertible models will be fitted with a higher performance version of BMW’s N55 TwinPower Turbo 3.0-liter inline six producing 315 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque for a 0 to 60mph (96km/h) acceleration time of 5.5 seconds for both models.

SCOOP: BMW Continues Development of New 2012 M6 Coupe

BMW 6S CSP

We were expecting to see the new M6 making its global premiere at this week's Frankfurt Motor Show, but apparently BMW has other plans set aside. Regardless of where the new M6's debut takes place, we should see the high-performance model in dealership by the summer of 2012.

The third iteration of the M6 in both Coupe and Convertible flavors will borrow the inner works of the latest M5 sports saloon, which means power will come from a 4.4-liter eight-cylinder engine supplemented by a pair of turbochargers and direct-injection technology.

In the M6, the V8 will most likely produce the same output as it does in the M5 – 560-horswepoer between 6,000 to 7,000rpm and a peak torque of 680Nm (502 lb-ft) from 1,500 rpm.

A standard seven-speed dual clutch automatic transmission will handle the delivery of power to the rear wheels, but there's also the possibility of a traditional six-speed manual gearbox for certain markets such as the U.S.A.

An uprated chassis with a sport suspension, different steering wheel system settings and improved brakes, along with larger wheels and a bespoke but subtle in the tradition of the latest M models aero kit, will round off the changes over the standard 6-Series models.

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IAA 2011: Alpina Charges into Frankfurt with the B6 Bi-Turbo Cabrio

Alpina B6 Bi-Turbo Cabrio

The pride and joy of the Alpina stand in Frankfurt is the new B6 Bi-Turbo Cabrio based on the new BMW 650i Convertible.

The German tuning house has beaten its factory support to the punch with a high-performance version of the roofless 6-Series that boasts an uprated 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine generating 507-horsepower and 700Nm (516.3 lb-ft) of peak torque between 3,000 and 4,750 rpm.

All that power is transferred to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic Switch Tronic transmission. The B6 Bi-Turbo Cabrio runs the 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint in 4.8 seconds and has a top speed of 311km/h (193mph), while returning an average fuel consumption of 10.9lt/100km (21.6mpg US).

The transformation also includes some subtle aero bits such as the front apron, boot lid spoiler and rear diffuser along with a set of larger alloy wheels shod in performance tires and a variety of interior mods like the bespoke trim and leather upholstery.

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