Mercedes-Benz was the first to introduce a four door sedan reminiscent of a sporty two door coupe. A coupe-like-sedan, better known as the CLS. Quickly, it became an instant hit with wealthy individuals tired of boring looking sedans. Beautiful sweeping curves, stylish interior, and a great power train selection.
Fast forward to the present… In 2012, one variant of the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class is the CLS550. A 4 door sedan utilizing a 4.7L Twin Turbo V8 engine producing 403 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque, mated to a 7 speed automatic. To make a long story short, the CLS is the benchmark leading this category. With BMW Gran Coupe on the market, the question remains,will this be another case of BMW chasing the S-class without totally de-throwning it? Or will this be a major sweep for BMW with the all new 650i Gran Coupe sedan? Similarly to how the X5 destroyed the competition when it was introduced.
Currently available at dealers across the United States, the 2013 BMW 650i Gran Coupe 4dr Sedan takes advantage of a direct injected 4.4-liter TwinPower Turbo V8 engine, producing 445 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. It Combines two turbochargers with variable valve timing consisting of double VANOS and Valvetronic. A less powerful inline six cylinder ,n55-powered, variant is available on the 640i model. At first glance in the real world, the Gran Coupe resembles a marriage between the 5-Series, 6-Series coupe, and the flagship 7-Series. Great looks and finesse from any angle, combined with drive-ability at a sportier level than that of the 550i that it is based on. Sure the Gran Coupe has the correct formula for success, but BMW could be too late entering the game. Even Porsche and Audi beat BMW to the market with the Panamera and A7.
Comparable performance figures to the 650i, the 2013 Audi S7 employs a 4.0-liter Twin Turbo DOHC V8 engine. FSI direct injection and a valvelift system help the power-plant produce 420 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Audi claims 0-60 mph (0-100km/h) in 4.5 sec and an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h). The base model A7 uses a 3-liter supercharged V6 producing similar power figures to the 640i Gran Coupe. As for the design, beautiful in places, while controversial in others. The Audi S7 has a demanding front fascia, with a classier side design than it’s rivals. Contrasting the rest of the body, the S7 truly differentiates itself from the pack with a unique love-it or leave-it rear-end design.
It’s important to note that currently Mercedes-Benz offers a more powerful CLS63 variant, but currently does not offer a more efficient package. While Porsche offers a full range of engine options, covering the relative fuel efficiency with the Panamera, S Hybrid, S, GTS, Turbo, and Turbo S.
With the CLS63 and the Turbo Panamera roaming the streets. How soon will we see a BMW M6 Gran Coupe and an Audi RS7? The answer is sooner than you think!
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