By the way, the sport button initiates Dynamic Drive Control (DDC), a setting that quickens throttle reaction, enhances steering input at higher speeds, automatically reads throttle input and then revs the engine to near redline rpm levels when called upon, while providing quicker gear changes in automatic and SMG guise.
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| The 6-Series' paddle-shift SMG gearbox is slightly different than those in the M-cars, but still very intuitive. (Photo: BMW AG) |
The paddles themselves are less race-oriented than those in the M-cars as well, both of which are set up to click forward for upshifts and backward for downshifts instead of a backward flick of the right paddle for upshifts and the left paddle for downshifts. While it took a moment or two to get acclimatized, I soon found it to be quite intuitive.
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| The dash is an exquisitely minimalist affair, placing only priority controls front and center, within easy reach of driver or front passenger. (Photo: BMW AG) |
The same can be said for all the controls. Even its iDrive system, now much improved over previous examples, was relatively easy to operate, its big round metal knob making easy work of negotiating through what would otherwise be a confusing array of buttons and switches cluttering up the dash. Rather, the dash is an exquisitely minimalist affair, placing only priority controls front and center, within easy reach of driver or front passenger. Surfaces are covered in high-quality aluminum and richly textured plastics, resulting in one of the best made interiors in the industry.
You can get any seating surface you want as long as you want leather, in various shades and hues mind you. The seats are beyond supportive, with thickly bolstered sides and multiple adjustments. I was even surprised at the room in the rear. While I wouldn't want to while away the same distance in back that I covered sitting up front, for short jaunts they're ideal as long as rear passengers aren't over six feet.