BMW reinterprets the Coupe

BMW GROUP Asia regional manager Seng-Theow-Seow, BMW Group Asia managing director Neil Florentino, Asian Carmakers Corp. president Maricar Parco and executive director for sales and marketing Glenn Dasig lead the unveiling of the Gran Coupe.

When a luxury car manufacturer comes up with a totally new automobile that breaks out of the limitations of its genre, it is a feat that calls for a celebration. So Asian Carmakers Corp. (ACC), the exclusive importer and distributor of BMW in the Philippines, invited people to celebrate and welcome the arrival of the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe, the first four-door coupe in BMW’s 116-year history.

Ever since BMW created the 6 Series in 1975, it was always a luxury two-door sports car in the form of a coupe or a convertible. Then, last March at the 82nd Geneva International Motor Show, BMW unveiled the third 6 Series model, one that has four doors instead of two.

BMW is not the first premium auto maker to reinterpret the coupe, the Mercedes CLS and Porsche Panamera having preceded it. But perhaps more than other premium coupes, the 6 Series Gran Coupe succeeds in achieving synergy for BMW between the aesthetics and dynamics of a sports coupe and the practicality of a four-door sedan, thanks to its lean, graceful yet athletic elegance.

The 6 Series lineup was completely redesigned for 2012. The 640i Gran Coupe’s beautiful, low-slung styling and powerful yet fuel-efficient TwinPower Turbo 6-cylinder, 320-hp engine with 8-speed automatic transmission carry on a grand tradition since the first 6 Series model, the E24, was dubbed the Bavarian Ferrari and was considered by many as the most aesthetically pleasing BMW of all time.

Posh. A glittering crowd, sprinkled with a few media personalities, gathered at the posh Ayala Museum in Makati last Thursday for cocktails and a look-see at the latest BMW offering. Only country club types, after all, can afford the BMW 640i Gran Coupe’s P7.790-million price tag. ACC president Maricar Parco and ACC executive director for sales and marketing Glen Dasig welcomed the guests together with BMW Group Asia regional manager Seng-Thiew-Seow and managing director Neil Florentino, both of whom had flown in from the BMW regional base in Singapore just for the occasion.

JOJO Zabarte, Sen. Richard Gordon, RJ Jacinto and Frannie Jacinto

A saxophone soloist provided sophisticated background music before wisecracking emcee Johnny Litton took the mike and announced the beginning of the program. After welcome remarks by Ms.Parco and a brief spiel about the 640i by Florentino, the cloth walls surrounding an improvised center stage went up and a bronze metallic BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe was seen in all its glory.

Among those seen at the scene admiring the 640i were former Senator and now Philippine National Red Cross chairman Richard Gordon, Iñigo Zobel, Alex Prieto, Marivic Rufino, Louie and Mellie Ablaza, Jojo Zabarte, Butch Lagdameo, Elbert Cuenca, Liza Ilarde, Princess Disini, Leana and Charlie Carmona, and Alice Briones. Asked if he was running for re-election to the Senate next year, Gordon replied, laughing: “No, I’m not Trillanes!”

In all, the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe launch party was an elegant success, as the 640i will undoubtedly be in the luxury car market.  The car that was displayed, by the way, already had a buyer here even before it arrived from Germany.