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:

    Ignition on
    Automatic transmission: press the Start/Stop button, and do not press on the brake pedal at the same time. Manual-shift transmission: press the Start/Stop button, and do not press on the clutch ...

    Notes on Emergency Requests
    Do not use the voice activation system to initiate an Emergency Request. In stressful situations, the voice and vocal pitch can change. This can unnecessarily delay the establishment of a teleph ...

    Buttons at a glance
    1. System on/off, interrupt 2. Resume speed 3. Store speed 4. Reduce distance 5. Store, maintain/change speed 6. Increase distance ...