• HOME
• 
• AUTO LISTINGS
• 
• FINANCE
• 
• NEWS
• 
• DIRECTORY
• 
• REVIEWS
• 
• FORUM
• 
• BLOG
• 

2004 BMW 645Ci Convertible Road Test

Bucking Trends and Setting a Few of Its Own

The 6-Series BMW, a completely new vehicle, draws heavily upon the 6-Series coupe lineage of yore. In keeping with its predecessors reputation for sleek lines and exhilarating performance, the 4-seat 2004 model is drop-dead gorgeous and thanks to 325-horsepower, amply fast.

Visually BMW has hit the jackpot, with 90 percent of the 645s creamy exterior. Where did they go wrong with the last 10-percent? In my opinion its the same place they went wrong with the exterior design of the new 7-Series and to a lesser extent the 5-Series: the trunk and taillights. Whether design overseer Chris Bangle is to blame for the weird "clump" of a decklid and stilted taillights is irrelevant, as it would be a waste of time to rip a divisive paragraph or two on new design head Adrian van Hooydonk, who actually penned both the 7 and the new 6 within BMWs Southern California Designworks/USA studio, the post he just graduated

Drawing on the 6-Series coupe lineage of yore, the 2004 BMW 645Ci convertible is drop-dead gorgeous. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

from. When it all comes down to it, I just find it regretful that what could have been one of the coolest coupes on the market, next to the ultra-sleek Jaguar XK8, sports a tail that stands-out like a wart on the tip of beautiful models nose. A colleague of mine compared the bulging trunk lid to that "gracing" the rear end of a pre-2001 Dodge Stratus - ouch! Sadly I couldnt disagree.

The coupe and cabriolet formats of the 645i will turn heads and attract the attention of car buffs young and old nevertheless. Its athletic yet graceful lines transcend age barriers like chocolate truffles at

Unfortunately, the 6-Series sports a tail that stands-out like a wart on the tip of beautiful models nose. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

Christmas. With regards to the open-air car, van Hooydonk did a remarkable job of maintaining the coupes sleekness when designing the outer shape of the convertibles soft-top. Often, retractable soft-tops in the closed position look unsightly and incongruent with the cars body style, but not so with the 645Ci. The tight fitting fabric roof protecting the leather interior is beautifully contoured with wide, long "D" pillars that blend smoothly into the cars rear deck. A slim rear window, which actually powers down for increased airflow, emphasizes the low profile of the cloth top. Although the design of the 3-layer convertible top is among the best that I have seen covering four seats, it comes

Often, retractable soft-tops in the closed position look unsightly and incongruent with the cars body style, but not so with the 645Ci. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

at the expense of restricted rearward visibility and condensed headroom. At just shy of six-feet, my thinly covered cranium brushed the roof when I sat in the rear of the 645Ci. However, adopting my usual slouching position eliminated the concern. And given the Houdini-like body-distorting ingress and egress challenges imposed by the roof, the rear seat is best suited to future BMW owners.

Of course, the curse of enclosure can be disposed of by the push of a single button mounted fore on the center console. Dropping the 645s cloth transforms the quiet running soft-top coupe into a testosterone dispensing rumbling beast. In its retracted position, the roof is neatly concealed beneath a hard tonneau cover, which creates

Dropping the 645s cloth transforms the quiet running soft-top coupe into a testosterone dispensing rumbling beast. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

a smooth, attractive transition between exterior and interior environs. The rear window can be raised when the roof is retracted in order to screen against excessive wind buffeting. The beauty of this setup is that unlike mesh screens, the transparency of the glass keeps it from interfering with the cars flowing sight lines. At highway speeds, with the side windows and rear window raised, buffeting and wind rush is very well controlled, with conversation manageable and the sound system capable of being enjoyed without resorting to ear-splitting volume levels. Roof up or down, those riding in the available 12-way, power adjustable, heated front buckets will enjoy their spectacular comfort and support. My perches were covered in Chateau Red, butter-soft Dakota leather, which imparted the rarified sense of quality owners have

The dash layout of the coupe and convertible differ slightly from the theme adopted by BMWs 5- and 7-Series brethren. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

come to expect of their BMWs.

Page:  1  2  3

AUTOMOBILE REVIEWS BY MAKE

Acura  Audi   Bentley   BMW   Buick   Cadillac   Chevrolet   Chrysler   Daewoo   Dodge   Eagle   Ferrari   Ford   Geo   GMC   Honda   Hummer   Hyundai   Infiniti   Isuzu   Jaguar   Jeep   Kia   Lamborghini   Lexus   Lincoln   Lotus   Maserati   Mazda   Mercedes-Benz   Mercury   MINI   Mitsubishi   Nissan   Oldsmobile   Plymouth   Pontiac   Porsche   Saab   Saturn   Scion   Subaru   Suzuki   Toyota   Volkswagen   Volvo