2012 BMW 650i (photos)

It has been a long time coming, but BMW finally updated its 6-series, changing the body style and giving it all the latest technology, from a powerful and efficient engine to app integration.

Back to review.

The exterior design better echoes the original 6-series, with clean lines down the sides and a better-looking trunk lid. The front has the shorter grille of recent BMW models.

Back to review.

LED headlights are an option on the 650i.

Back to review.

The engine is common to BMW's other big cars, a 4.4-liter V-8 with direct injection and two twin-scroll turbos. It produces 407 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque.

Back to review.

Although the front seats are very comfortable, the rear seat is practically unusable. Think of it as a padded luggage shelf.

Back to review.

A dynamic suspension helps counteract centrifugal forces during hard cornering, and can be set for comfort.

Back to review.

Although the trunk is not huge, the wide opening lid makes access easy.

Back to review.

BMW's rear-view camera is hidden under the badge, popping out only when in use.

Back to review.

The interior is very lush, in keeping with BMW's luxury image.

Back to review.

Unlike its lower-end cars, BMW makes many tech features, such as navigation, standard in the 650i.

Back to review.

One neat feature are these winged headrests, with adjustable plates that cup your head.

Back to review.

The 650i uses a very well-tuned electric power steering system, giving the car very neutral handling.

Back to review.

Buttons integrated with the steering-wheel spokes control voice command, the phone system, and the stereo.

Back to review.

BMW uses very elegant-looking gauges, and shows its efficiency gauge at the bottom of the tachometer.

Back to review.

The transmission is an eight-speed automatic with Sport and Manual modes.

Back to review.

A rocker switch lets you cycle through Sport plus, Sport, Comfort, and Comfort plus modes. The camera button activates a front split-view camera, useful for nosing out of parking garages.

Back to review.

The iDrive controller remains a standard for BMW's cabin electronics control.

Back to review.

This row of buttons activates a variety of driver assistance features, such as night vision and lane-departure warnings.

Back to review.

The heads-up display shows speed and route guidance, using multiple colors.

Back to review.

The main menu is very simple and lets you select from a variety of cabin-tech functions.

Back to review.

The navigation system stores its maps on a hard drive, and renders buildings in 3D.

Back to review.

Address entry with the iDrive controller can be a little tedious; you have to use a rotary controller to select letters.

Back to review.

BMW's phone system includes the ability to read text messages, but it only works with a few handsets.

Back to review.

Along with the CD player and the onboard hard drive, the 650i lets you plug in various portable devices for audio.

Back to review.

Playing music from an iPod, the playback screen shows album art.

Back to review.

The interface for MOG online music connectivity shows album art and a number of features for selecting music, such as editors' picks and new releases.

Back to review.

You can plug an iPhone 4 or 4S into this special cradle, or use the white iPhone cable with the USB port in the console.

Back to review.

With the Bang & Olufsen audio system, BMW allows a fine degree of music tuning, from simple treble and bass sliders to a seven-band equalizer.

Back to review.

The Bang & Olufsen audio system has 1,200 watts of amplification and 16 speakers.

Back to review.

BMW's ConnectedDrive app only works on iPhones, but enables some very cool features, from calendar integration to Twitter and Facebook.

Back to review.

The different apps are available under the ConnectedDrive menu. BMW can add more app functionality through its ConnectedDrive app.

Back to review.

The calendar integration shows your appointments from the iPhone calendar on the car's LCD.

Back to review.

The Facebook integration shows your news feed.

Back to review.

When selecting an individual news feed item, you can like it and have the car read it out loud.

Back to review.