Large but easy to drive, BMW 6 Series GT lives up to its 'grand tourer' tag

The car serves up comfort on long drives

Gran Turismo is an Italian automotive term that means “grand tourer” and stands for sports cars geared for high-speed and long-range driving on account of a combination of performance and luxury features.

Typically, manufacturers use a format that is built around a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, two-door coupé with either a two- or four-seater configuration. BMW's latest 6 Series GT uses a five-seater configuration while ticking all the other boxes. 

The latest 6 Series GT is built for the long haul, which is to say it looks, feels and drives like a car that is best utilised on cross-country journeys, preferably in self-drive mode, and on highways that are smooth and unrestricted. Of course, the 6 GT replaces the earlier Series GT and while it’s a new car, those who appreciated the older GT won't miss the pluses it came with. By the way, BMW also makes a 5 Series GT and a 3 Series GT for those who appreciate things in smaller packages. 

But back to unfettered and wide, open roads. I was in Delhi when driving the GT and took it for a spin on long stretches. 

Across bends and turns, the car was smooth, agile and immensely more comfortable than, say, a standard Sports 3 Series sedan. This makes the GT a prime choice for families that want to hit the road over the weekend. 

Even while it is a large car at over 15 feet, the GT looks sharper and more feline than the older 6 Series GT, which leaned towards being rear-heavy and off-cue at a design level. BMW, like its German peers, is worth complimenting for its ability to leverage minor design nips and tucks and transform a body style to look like an entirely new vehicle. As a five-seater, the GT is available in three variants with two engines: A four-cylinder and six-cylinder, both of which come in petrol and diesel. The four-cylinder, while sufficient for busy city streets, may feel a little under-powered for a car its size. 

The new BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo

Equipped with standard BMW accoutrements, if there's a minor design specification that could be improved, it is this: The frameless windows make a soft yet discernible aftersound when the doors are shut and could be re-engineered to silence that. One expects that from a BMW, the car that James Bond has preferred over the years to the Aston Martin. 

The new GT does feature some firsts. 

Android auto, which has been introduced for the first time in this car, allows for connectivity to all sorts of platforms, not just Apple. The drivers' entertainment screen size is up to 12 inches from the 10.5 inches earlier, and also on hand is a wireless charger. The car's smooth ride is supported by air suspension, and the headlamps deploy "laser lights" that have a range of 650 metres, offering sharper visibility, especially in cross-country terrain, and they are also adaptive (changing focus based on turns and steering). 

The entertainment equipment features the high-end Harman Kardon speakers for all variants and rear-seat controls and entertainment centres that include individual TV screens. 

First revealed to the world at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, the BMW 6 Series GT bridges the gap between the 5 Series and the 7 Series. It also goes head to head with cars such as the Mercedes-Benz E Class Long Wheelbase and the Audi A6. Both competitors offer entirely different drive experiences, by the way. The Merc is stately and a refined city limo, while the A6 is a typical German luxury sedan.

So, what does the GT give drivers? A set of wheels that can be used to haul off the kids, the golf set and the water cooler to a weekend getaway over a long, comfortable drive.