Under the Hood

The 640i is powered by a 315-horsepower, turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine. Its peak torque rating is 332 pounds-feet. BMW cites a zero to 60 mph time of 5.5 seconds for both the coupe and convertible. The standard eight-speed automatic transmission includes steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles.

Other standard features include computer-controlled adaptive shock absorbers and Driving Dynamics Control, which allows the driver to adjust the ride quality, accelerator response, power-steering assist level and automatic transmission behavior.

Optional mechanical upgrades include active stabilizer bars and active steering, the latter of which adds rear-wheel steering to the earlier generation's variable-ratio front steering system.

    See also:

    Setting the voice dialog
    You can set whether the system should use the standard dialog or a shorter version. In the shorter variant of the voice dialog, the announcements from the system are issued in an abbreviated fo ...

    Buttons on the remote control
    1 Unlocking 2 Locking 3 Opening the trunk lid 4 Panic mode*, headlamp courtesy delay feature ...

    Hydroplaning
    On wet or slushy roads, a wedge of water can form between the tires and road surface. This phenomenon is referred to as hydroplaning. It is characterized by a partial or complete loss of contact ...