null Bimmer Winner BMW's 650i convertible is not only tremendous fun to drive, it is also a thing of beauty. So why isn’t it selling better? Autos Reviews By Thane Peterson Slide Show> > Some people might find the BMW 650i convertible controversial. It has the sculpted, multisurfaced "Bangle" styling (as in Chris Bangle, BMW's American-born chief designer) that BMW traditionalists hate. It has the infamous, overly complicated iDrive computerized controls that cause first-time users to pull out their hair. And it comes packed with lots of advanced braking, steering, and stability-control technology that some purists might worry compromises the driving experience. But we don't mind that a bit. Styling, power, ergonomics, and technology all come together to make the 650i one of the most exciting cars we've ever driven. It isn't the fastest car off the mark—though BMW says the convertible will do zero to 60 in 5.6 seconds—but when you're out on the highway, or slicing up and down curvy country roads, or just trying to make a light during in-town driving, you have the feeling of absolute mastery you really want from a BMW. The 2006 650i has a new, more powerful engine than the one in the 645ci, the 6 Series model it replaces. It's the same 4.8-liter engine as in the '06 BMW 750i and 550i, and it delivers 360 hp (as opposed to 325 before) and 360 lb.-ft. of torque (up from 330 lb.-ft. before). The torque curve is also set to peak lower than on the previous engine, so when you hit the gas pedal at just about any rolling speed under 120 mph, you feel a strong surge of power. You don't have to punch it, either: Just put your foot down with authority and seemingly endless reserves of energy seem to be at your command. <leadin>WORTHY RIVAL TO PORSCHE.</leadin> One of the distinctive qualities of the car is its otherworldly exhaust note, which is somewhere between a growl and a low-pitched throaty howl. It sounds like something out of <cite>The Hound of the Baskervilles</cite>. Even on short jaunts to the grocery store, you find yourself risking a speeding ticket to hear that sound again—and feel the energy when you push the car a little. The two-door ragtop 650i is an especially good choice if you have kids but aren't yet ready to do all your driving in a minivan. BMW refers to the 650i's backseat passenger accommodations as "intimate, yet inviting 'occasional' rear seating"—which is a fancy way of saying it's cramped as hell for adults but fine for tykes. Tough as it is for a Porsche aficionado like me to admit, this car is a worthy alternative (and there aren't many) to the Porsche Carrera (see BusinessWeek.com, 7/15/05, "For My Money, Make it a Porsche"). Our test 650i had the six-speed Steptronic automatic transmission, the more boring of the three alternatives the car comes with. If you want more involvement in the driving experience, there's also a sequential manual transmission (which allows you to shift on your own without having to use a clutch pedal), as well as a regular six-speed stick shift. But if spousal or other considerations force you to go with the automatic, rest assured that this is still a fun car. <leadin>FEATURES GALORE.</leadin> The ragtop on the 650i, which folds into the trunk at the push of a button, is an engineering marvel. It tucks into a small space at the top of the trunk, leaving room for some fairly thick luggage to be slipped underneath it. That, plus the lack of a spare tire (run-flat tires are standard) and the car's controversial "Bangle butt"—its high, squared-off, two-tiered rear end—are why, even with the top down, the 650i has enough trunk space to make overnight family jaunts practical. The rectangular rear window also can be raised when the top is down, helping keep wind-buffeting in the interior to a minimum, even at highway speed. It would take an entire article to list all the other standard features on this car, which include everything from stability and traction control, brake proportioning, and the iDrive system, to eight-way power seats, leather upholstery, keyless push-button starting, a headlight washing system, and side, front, and knee-protecting airbags. But if you can round up the extra cash, we'd still consider loading up the 650i with the latest optional technology, too. Swallow hard first, since the convertible starts at $79,495 (vs. $72,495 for the coupe), plus a $1,300 to $1,700 gas-guzzler tax if you don't get the automatic transmission. (Although to get the manual, you need to spring for the $1,800 sport package.) Adding to the cost is the optional heads-up display, which goes for $1,000. As in Chevy Corvettes, it projects speedometer and other readings onto the windshield <cite>Top Gun</cite>-style, so they seem to be hovering out over the hood—which is not only fun, but far more practical than you might think. For one thing, having your speed constantly in front of your eyes in big, bright oversize numerals helps avoid speeding tickets. <leadin>SUPERIOR CRUISE CONTROL.</leadin> The BMW heads-up display (like the one in the new Corvettes) is also integrated with the navigation system, which is very helpful. If you've ever used a navigation system, you've probably had the experience of having the disembodied voice tell you to take the next right turn and not being sure exactly which road to turn on. BMW's system is close to being idiot-proof because the heads-up display tells you the name of the street you're supposed to turn onto, and counts down exactly how far ahead the turn is. Of course, you have to master the iDrive to use the nav system, but that can be done in a day or two. BMW's $2,200 active cruise-control system is the most effective one we've tried. Out on the highway, it allows you to lock in on the car ahead of you and automatically brakes the 650i when the car ahead slows, or speeds up when the car ahead speeds up (to a maximum speed you can preset). It's disconcerting to use at first, but you gain confidence when you figure out that it really will avoid an accident if your attention lapses. We tested it cruising down Interstate 81 in Pennsylvania during a heavy rainstorm, and the bad weather didn't reduce its effectiveness at all. Two other new technologies are also worth checking out. The test car didn't come with BMW's new night-vision system, which the company says has been available on the 650i since March. But if it's anything like the high-resolution night-vision system on the new Mercedes S550 (see BusinessWeek.com, 5/10/06, "The New S550: Sportier, Sexier, More Expensive"), it could be a boon in heavy rain or fog. <leadin>REMARKABLY LOW SALES.</leadin> We are less sure about active steering, which is now available on the 650i as a $1,250 standalone option. Variable ratio steering, which increases the effect of turning the wheel the farther it gets from center, is already standard. Active steering adds speed sensitivity, reducing the effort required to make turns at slow speeds. We're not sure we would want that much help with the steering. The 650i's negatives? We find the car's rakish roofline extremely attractive, but it isn't to everyone's taste. Some longtime BMW fans are so incensed that a "Fire Chris Bangle" campaign continues to smolder on the Internet. But the rakish styling makes headroom in the car very tight. If you're more than 6 feet tall, you'll probably have to tilt the seat way back to keep your head from brushing the ragtop periodically—which will make the rear compartment even more cramped. Like other performance cars, the 650i also burns up a lot of expensive premium gasoline: In a stretch of 275 miles of mixed driving, we got 18.9 mpg. Surprisingly, the 650i isn't selling especially well, even though BMW cars in general are hot right now. Through the end of May, U.S. sales of all BMW car models were up 20%, to 87,956 units, even as the company's SUV sales dropped 5% (to 25,085) and its Mini Cooper sales dropped 10% (to 16,470) during the same period. But the company only sold 2,486 650i convertibles (and half that many 650i coupes) in the first five months of this year, slightly less than the number of 645ci's it sold last year during the same period. We are at a loss for why the 650i isn't selling better. Judging by the sales numbers, a lot of buyers may be opting for BMW 5 Series sedans, instead. Some also may be waiting for the even speedier—and more expensive—2007 M6 Cabriolet to come out later this year. But the 650i is a great ragtop…and it's available…and it's summer. Why wait? To see more of the BMW 650i convertible, click here. http://www.businessweek.com/autos/content/jun2006/bw20060621_366507.htm http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/06/bmw6/index_01.htm,http://www.businessweek.com/investor/content/jan2008/pi20080117_467081.htm,http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_04/b4068000575390.htm False