First Drive: 2012 BMW 640i - MotorTrend Magazine
" In the past, buying a base car meant settling, but now that consumers are demanding more for their dollar, that's beginning to change. Take the new 2012 BMW 640i, for example. If you're the kind of person who can afford a 6 Series and aren't interested in an M car, the answer is probably "not many. " So let it be said here and now that the 650i's twin-turbo V-8 is a fantastic engine, but it's also far more than you need to get you to the office. If you're not married to the idea or image of a V-8, you really ought to consider this six. In a world where naturally aspirated V-6s are breaking the 300-horsepower mark on a regular basis, a turbocharged I-6 that makes 315 horsepower and 330 lb-ft of torque might not sound all that impressive. BMW's twin-scroll turbo technology is getting closer to eliminating turbo lag with every new engine, and this latest six is no exception. Most important, it delivers much more low-end torque, a place where BMW's high-revving sixes have traditionally been weak. BMW claims peak torque from 1400 to 4800 RPM and peak horsepower at 5800 RPM. Consider that BMW claims a 0-to-60 mph time of 5. 4 seconds, just half-a-second slower than the 400-horsepower 650i with its 450 lb-ft of torque. Source: www.motortrend.com
