The 6-series retains its allure, despite substantial upgrading several competitors have undergone recently. The controversial exterior style overseen by director Chris Bangle has aged well (his ideas seem much more conducive to coupes and sportscars than sedans). And its long, thrusting hoodline gives it an unmistakable air of aggression that makes otherwise svelte cars like BMW’s own 335i coupe appear a bit under endowed. It’s also exclusive and exudes an air of expensiveness that is very appealing.

Its cockpit is also a thoroughly pleasant place to while away the miles, with excellent front seats (and room in the rear for friends in a pinch) and top-drawer quality—augmented on the test car by such niceties as a leather dash. The only big blemish is the continuing frustrations in using BMW’s infamous (and infernal) iDrive control. Despite thorough familiarity with the system, and continuous upgrading to the interface software, it’s still a royal pain in the arse compared to other, more intuitive systems from Audi, Jaguar, and Lexus.

The same thing applies to the wipers and turn signals, which are different just to be so. This 6 did have some funky new tech, detailed here. But BMWs are supposed to be about driving, so what should we say?

That the steering is typically sublime, and the ride/handling tradeoff is brilliant in the manner that has brought fame and fortune to the Bavarians. The brakes seem up to the task for such a heavy boulevardier.

The 4.8-liter, 360hp engine is a torque-rich gem, though the long-winded six-speed manual it’s here attached to doesn’t make much sense, and probably wont be chosen by more than one or two percent of buyers anyway.

Is it a match for the recently revised Benz SL? Probably. And it’s quieter and more cosseting than a basic Porsche Carrera, and more torque-laden—though heavier—than the Jaguar XK. It is also a rare site on the road, which endows it with a certain level of desirability in and of itself. The outside challenge comes from Audi’s S5 coupe, which matches it in almost every area for $30k less, and adds all-wheel drive to the bargain.

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