Luxury Vehicle Report: BMW 640i

There are few premium car manufacturers in the world that can compete with the so-called “German Big Three” in terms of the all around performance of their vehicles, not to mention appearance and luxury.  The “German Big Three” includes, of course, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and BMW.  Founded in Munich, Germany in 1916, BMW was initially created to manufacture aircrafts.  After the conclusion of World War I, BMW began to expand its horizons, creating motorcycles and automobiles in the 1920s.  For the last 85 plus years, BMW has all but perfected the art of luxury automobile manufacturing.

One of the triumphs of BMW as of the last several years is the second generation of the 6 series.  After the success of the first generation of the 6 series, the expectations for the second generation were high, and BMW did not disappoint.  With the series introduced in 2010, production began in 2011.  Over the last few years, the cars that belong to the 6 series family of vehicles have impressed to say the least.


Next to 6 series highlights the M6, and big brother the 650i, the 640i is one of the most impressive vehicles to come out of the current generation thus far.  While its engine may not produce the same power as the 650i, the BMW 640i is equally as luxurious, to be sure.


The BMW 640i has 315 horsepower, which is respectable, but the increase to the 650i’s 445 horsepower is going to be difficult to turn down for potential buyers.  The engine of the 640i is a 3 liter BMW-made twin turbo V8, which is capable not only of producing a substantial amount of horsepower, but also 330 ft-lbs of torque at the car’s ideal rpm.


The 8 speed sports automatic transmission allows the car to be almost impossibly smooth to drive, as well.  This system allows the driver to go from a stopped position to 60 miles per hour in 5.2 seconds, which is rather impressive for a four door luxury vehicle.  The car’s top speed is 155 miles per hour, which the car can reach with startling ease.


While the 650i’s performance numbers are more impressive than the 640i’s, the 640i’s luxurious accommodations and incredibly smooth drive should be more than enough for a laid back luxury vehicle owner not looking to win any drag races.  With all the luxuries that have come to be expected from BMW, this car would no doubt be a joy to own.  The most affordable member of the 6 series family of vehicles, the BMW 640i has a base price of $75,400.

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McLaren MP4-12C

McLaren Automotive (formerly McLaren Cars) is a British high performance automobile manufacturer founded and based in Surrey, England. The company was founded by Ron Dennis in 1989, with the purpose of experimenting with Formula One technology in the production of street ready cars. Now in their 25th of vehicle production, McLaren enjoys a worldwide reputation for excellence. Their high performance vehicles are of extremely high quality, and are renowned for their performance capabilities, especially in terms of speed.

One of their newest models is the MP4-12C. The 12C is one of the only vehicles currently manufactured by McLaren, and it is the first car the company has designed and built independently this century, with the last being the McLaren F1 (which has not been produced since the late 1990s). The 12C began production in 2011 and is still being produced for the foreseeable future, with the 2014 model being one of the premier vehicles of 2014.

The car utilizes a 3.8 liter McLaren M838T Twin Turbo V8, which has a power output of 616 horsepower and 443 torque at 3,000 rpm. The 7 speed dual clutch transmission allows for maximum control over the vehicle, The car’s top speed is 207 miles per hour, making it intimidatingly fast for a street legal vehicle. Its 0-60 time is 3.2 seconds, but this time can be improved to 3 seconds flat if the car is equipped with Corsa tires.

One of the great innovations of the 12C, according to McLaren’s website, is the carbon fiber monocell cockpit. “The design of the MonoCell ensures the 12C performs handles like a race-bred supercar. Carbon fibre does not degrade like metal, so the integrity and racing performance of the MonoCell will be maintained for decades to come.” The entire monocell weighs only 165 pounds, which is consistent with this car’s overall aerodynamic, speed enhancing design.

The 12C’s Brake Steer technology allows for taking turns and difficult angles at maximum speeds while still being somewhat safe. According to McLaren’s website, the Brake Steer takes into account speed and steering angle. Using this information, Brake Steer “works out the perfect cornering trajectory. It then applies the exact amount of braking force required to the rear inside wheel as you corner – allowing the car to effectively pivot around the desired path.”
On top of the car’s incredible performance capabilities and control, the interior is luxurious as well. While it may not be spectacular in terms of roominess, the McLaren MP4-12C is lavish for the one, two or three people who can fit into the vehicle. All of this is going to cost you, of course. The 2014 McLaren MP4-12C has a base price of $239,400, and that is for the coupe. If you go for the convertible option, you are looking at a base price of $265,750.

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Aston Martin Vanquish

The newest sports car from Aston Martin’s Vanquish series is a beauty to say the least. One of five current models offered by Aston Martin, the Vanquish is a two door sports coupe with an FMR layout. The first generation of the Vanquish was introduced in 2001 and production continued until 2007.

After a five year break and in preparation for Aston Martin’s celebration of its 100th anniversary, the second generation of the Vanquish was introduced in 2012. Now in its third year of production, the second generation of Aston Martin’s Vanquish series is one of 2014’s most critically acclaimed cars, let alone one of the most critically acclaimed cars in Aston Martin’s currently offered models.

With the English company recently celebrating its 100th birthday, and just a couple years after Italian company Investindustrial invested around $250 million (£150 million) in the company, things have been looking up for Aston Martin in the last couple years. 2013 was no exception, and it looks like, with the introduction of the 2014 Vanquish, this year is going to be no different.

With a base price of $282,820, this car is more likely to be a “dream car” than anything else, though if you have a deep enough wallet, the 2014 Aston Martin Vanquish is certainly not a waste of money. According to AutoWeek, the Vanquish boasts an impressive 565 horsepower at 7,750 RPM and 457 ft-lb of torque at 5,500 RPM. A high performing sports car, the Vanquish can go from 0-60 in 4 seconds flat and has a top speed hovering above 200 miles per hour. These stunning performance capabilities are made possible partially by the car’s 6 liter V12 engine 6 speed engine.

The Vanquish is rather heavy, weighing just under two tons. As a result of this, it has an extremely grounded feel and is easy to control, but gets a combined fuel economy of just under 15 miles per gallon. Having said that, a little bit of extra fuel expense is not likely to stop someone willing to drop $300,000 on a vehicle.

Performance alone is not all that you are getting if you invest in a 2014 Aston Martin Vanquish, however. The interior is lavishly luxurious. According to Aston Martin’s website, the design of the car’s interior “combines the widest choice of materials and finishes ever created for a GT. All new ergonomic interior environment groupings and carbon fibre interior finishes. Contrasting seat accent colours and unique hour-glass stitching.”

Overall, the 2014 Aston Martin Vanquish is shaping up to be one of 2014’s most impressive cars, both in terms of technical performance and visual appea

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