2004 BMW 645Ci Convertible Road Test

Needless to say, the BMW suspension and chassis folks toiled long and hard

The 645Ci treats its occupants to a comfortable, yet nailed down ride. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

to develop a setup that smoothes out the roughness, while providing serious handling capabilities. Few cars I've experienced have achieved this elusive goal as perfectly as BMW's new 6. The 645Ci treats its occupants to a comfortable, yet nailed down ride. Toss it into a corner and presto, the car becomes a tenacious road-hugging beast. Turn-in is predictable, lightening quick and progressive in nature. Both road feel and steering feedback are exceptional, leaving little in the driver's mind about what is taking place down below where the rubber meets the road. Should driver enthusiasm outrun driver

The powerful ABS-equipped binders maintain their cool stop after stop. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, Canadian Auto Press)

skill, the Bimmer soft-top carries an electronic safety net, part of which is its Dynamic Stability Control (DSC III) system, a system that will engage wheel specific braking and engine modulation to assist the 645Ci in obtaining a foothold on the road.

Additional aspects of the 645's electronic safety net include Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Cornering Brake Control, the latter of which enhances stability and control when the four disc brakes are applied during a turn. The powerful ABS-equipped binders maintain their cool stop after stop, thanks in part to inner venting. Braking effort is predictable and easily modulated by linear, progressive pedal actuation. Due to the pedal's lightness, little foot pressure is required to achieve maximum braking performance, which by the way induced negligible nosedive, feeling surefooted and astonishingly brief.