The new 6 Series measures some 3 inches longer and 1.5 inches wider than its predecessor; it's a few tenths of an inch shorter at the roof level. As before, the car maintains a short front overhang and low-slung appearance. BMW says the design was inspired by the natural motion of waves. The car's available LED headlights include an adaptive function to illuminate oncoming corners, something LED lights haven't traditionally been capable of doing. Eighteen-inch alloy wheels are standard, with 19- or 20-inch wheels optional.

The convertible's fully automatic soft-top has what BMW describes as a flying-buttress design in which the top trails behind a vertical rear window, maintaining a coupe-like roofline. The top, which can be operated at the touch of a button at speeds up to 25 mph, comes in black or beige.