2013 BMW 640i Gran Coupe (pictures)

BMW designed the 6-series Gran Coupe to expand the buyer base for the 6-series, which only had been sold as a two-door coupe previously. The Gran Coupe retains the styling of the 6-series coupe yet adds easy accessibility and legroom to the rear seats.

BMW did an excellent job styling the 6-series for its most recent update. The hood drops down to the grille, making the front of the car look low to the ground.

Under the hood of the 640i Gran Coupe is BMW's 3-liter inline six-cylinder engine, making 320 horsepower with the help of direct injection and a turbocharger.

The Gran Coupe looks long and low. The roofline drops off before the trunk lip, an interesting choice given how competitors are designing near hatchback sedans.

These 20-inch wheels are an upgrade over the standard 19s.

The trunk is surprisingly large, with a lot of length.

This model came equipped with optional multicontour front seats that include a massage function.

Although the 640i Gran Coupe is based on a two-door model, the rear seats offer a good amount of legroom.

BMW puts the Gran Coupe badge on a panel just inside the rear window.

Navigation comes standard in the 640i Gran Coupe, but many other features, such as apps connectivity, are optional.

BMW uses a new electric power steering system, which helps the car achieve better fuel economy.

Unlike other automakers, BMW does not place screens for entertainment or the phone system on the instrument cluster.

The eight-speed automatic transmission is standard in the 640i Gran Coupe. To the right of the shifter are buttons that put the car into Sport or Comfort modes.

Paddle shifters on the steering wheel allow quick sequential manual shifting.

Eco Pro is one of five driving modes offered by the 640i Gran Coupe. This mode optimizes fuel economy.

The head-up display shows vehicle speed and route guidance on the windshield.

Icons on the mirror casings show when it is not safe to change lanes.

The rear-view camera peeps out from behind the badge.

BMW's rear-view camera shows distance and trajectory lines.

A split-view front camera helps when nosing out of a blind corner or driveway.

The iDrive controller manipulates all onscreen content.

The main menu in the iDrive interface includes the ConnectDrive as a recent addition, which leads to app connectivity features.

ConnectedDrive includes Facebook and Twitter updates.

One really cool connected feature is the Wiki Tourguide, which finds nearby locations with Wikipedia pages.

The Twitter feed not only shows updates, but the poster's photo.

The navigation system shows 3D rendered buildings in downtown urban areas.

Zoomed out to the 1-mile scale, the navigation system shows satellite imagery.

BMW includes traffic data in its navigation system.

BMW includes a Google search feature integrated with the navigation system, but this feature works through BMW's telematics service, not the ConnectedDrive app.

The 640i Gran Coupe includes space for music on an internal hard drive, as well as connectivity to a driver's digital devices.

This interface has always been a poor way to browse a music library, but BMW has added a feature called Browse Directory, which lets you more easily find music on a USB drive or other connected device.

The playback screen shows album art if it is available.

Among the broadcast audio sources, BMW now includes Web radio, a feature of its ConnectedDrive apps.

The Web radio feature brings in Internet-based stations from all over the world.

The Bang & Olufsen audio upgrade is worth the price, as it includes more detailed adjustments to sound through a seven-band graphic equalizer.

The Bang & Olufsen audio system brings in 16 speakers and 1,200 watts of amplification, not to mention stylish metal speaker grilles.

The Bluetooth phone system includes a messaging feature, which works with BlackBerrys and a few other phones.

The Vehicle Info section of iDrive shows useful features, such as an online manual.