THE Series 6 Coupe E63 prepared by Hartge, called 645Ci 5.1 and presented in 2005, almost as he predicted what the future would hold for the double kidney of the Bavarian brand.
In fact, the double vertical rim, as we see in the new 4 Series Coupé G22, is by no means an absolute novelty at BMW. The inspiration comes from the brand's distant past, especially from pre-World War II models, when a double vertical rim, at full height at the front, was the norm on BMWs.
After the end of World War II, little by little the vertical double kidney was losing height, evolving into a horizontal development that has remained practically until today. We've only recently started to see the double kidney grow again... all over the place.
BMW 328 Roadster, 1936
Series 6 Coupé E63, polarizer q.s.
Even knowing this, the vertical interpretation of the double kidney in the new 4 Series Coupé is nonetheless polarizing, as we can see in Hartge's 6 Series Coupé E63 — not that the BMW 6 Series Coupé E63 needed an expressive double kidney for be the subject of polarizing opinions.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Launched in 2003 — anticipated in 1999 by the Z9 concept — two years after the also controversial 7-Series E65 of 2001, the return of the 6-Series to BMW consolidated the entry into the BMW era of Chris Bangle, head of design for the BMW group at the height.
Chris Bangle “turned” the design inside out at BMW and despite all the controversy surrounding the path followed, it was an expressive response to the criticisms of conservatism and “slackness” that the Bavarian brand's design received. At the time, nobody seemed to be pleased that all BMWs were the same and only varied in size.
Well… the 6 Series Coupé E63 was not to be confused with any other BMW… nor with any other car. However, it ended up generating more positive consensus than the still divisive 7 Series E65. Perhaps it was the fact that it was a coupé, a typology more given to bold and original “features”.
Hartge 645Ci 5.1, even more expressive
For Hartge, however, the E63's disruptive lines weren't enough to set itself apart. The German preparer didn't just add a few “spoilers” and large wheels to spice up the look of the large coupé. A new front bumper that transformed the face of the production model was added.
Not only were the headlights accompanied by an air intake, the Series 6's very horizontal double kidney became a very vertical double kidney. Even so, it didn't extend the full height of the front, as in the Series 4 Coupé G22, with still having space for the number plate below the double kidney and a small air intake.
Easier, however, was to appreciate the range of mechanical and dynamic changes made to the 6 Series Coupé E63.
The atmospheric V8 of the 645Ci grew from 4400 cm3 to 5100 cm3, which was reflected in the numbers of power and torque. These passed to 420 hp and 520 Nm, a considerable leap from the 333 hp and 450 Nm of the production model. Performance could also only improve: 4.9s in 0-100 km/h (5.6s as standard) and top speed was increased to 290 km/h (250 km/h limited as standard).
Dynamically, the Hartge 645Ci 5.1 received a new set of springs and dampers that brought it 25 mm to the ground and the wheels grew to values, at the time, giant: 21-inch wheels wrapped in tires 255/30 R21 at the front and 295/25 R21 ago.