Sexy Beast
When I arrived at the hotel in Malaga, Spain, the parking lot was full of top-tier BMWs. Everything from 760Li sedans to M3 coupes and convertibles lined the stalls, a sure sign that the Bavarian brand's top brass were on site for something very special.
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| I recently had the opportunity to travel to Malaga, Spain, to road test two all-new BMWs, the X3 sport utility and the highly anticipated 645 Ci luxury sport coupe. (Photo: BMW AG) |
That something special was the opportunity to road test two all-new BMWs. The fabulous X3 sport utility, that made these pages a few days ago, and the much anticipated 645 Ci luxury sport coupe. Long time readers will know I have a soft spot for BMW coupes, having pined after an early '70s 3.0 CSi on more than one occasion.
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| The new 645 Ci is a sight to behold, and probably the best execution of Chris Bangle's new-edge design language. Parked just behind is a history lesson in classic BMW coupes, from the 503 to the 8-Series. (Photo: BMW AG) |
On display at an evening cocktail party was a low-mileage example, seemingly perfect in its rare green hue and tan corduroy interior. While I'll take mine in Fjord Blue with black leather hides, it was beautiful nonetheless, as were the coupes to its right and left starting with a near perfect 503, and followed up by an extremely rare 3200 CS, a 635 CSi, and lastly, the much larger M1 inspired 840 Ci. Missing from the group was BMW's first two-door sports model, the 327 Coupé, as well as the 502 Coupé that followed and the 2000 CS that arrived on the scene in the '60s (see the gallery for photos of each).
The new coupe was a sight to behold under lights on its pedestal in the hotel ballroom, gray exterior over a warm red leather trimmed cabin. It's probably the best execution of Chris Bangle's new-edge design language, a cohesive statement of upscale style from front to back.