2013 BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe

BMW's 6 Series has traditionally consisted only of two-door offerings, the new 2013 6 Series Gran Coupe may throw that convention to the wind.

Despite the name, the Gran Coupe has four doors and is technically a sedan. No matter -- the Gran Coupe's sultry looks and low, sloping roofline instantly distinguish it from a traditional sedan design. Aside from the revised sheetmetal and the addition of two doors, the new model is essentially a close twin of the 6 Series coupe and convertible models that are already on sale.

The Gran Coupe's front fascia design those used on existing 6 Series variants. The rounded nose features traditional kidney-shaped grilles and upswept headlights, with two long creases along the hood that meet at the Roundel emblem just above the grille. Xenon headlights are standard, although LED units are optional. In profile, the 6 Series resembles other so-called four-door coupes like the Volkswagen CC and Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class.

A sharp crease runs from the front fender emblem through the door handles, terminating at the edge of the LED taillights. The trunk is concave, with a flatter deck lid than the coupe and convertible models. The relatively short rear window is topped by a line of red LEDs, which serve as the high-mounted brake lamp. Eighteen-inch wheels, LED fog lights, and twin chrome exhaust tips are standard design flourishes. The C-pillars, of course, exhibit BMW's traditional Hofmeister kink.

Inside, too, the Gran Coupe doesn't fall far from the 6 Series tree. A tall center console bisects the cabin, while a 10.2-inch LCD screen for the iDrive system sits above the climate and audio controls on the center stack.

Elegantly sweeping dashboard lines and BMW's traditional four-binnacle instrument cluster are present, with the same assortment of technology and equipment as other 6 Series models. In addition to iDrive, the Gran Coupe has the Driving Experience Control button, which allows the driver to alter an array of vehicle settings in presets called Comfort, Sport, and Eco Pro.

The increased vehicle length and wheelbase helps improve rear-seat legroom compared to two-door 6 Series models, and the headliner is scalloped above the rear seats to provide slightly more headroom. BMW calls the car a "4+1", a tacit admission that while there are five seatbelts, the Gran Coupe is really meant for four passengers; a fifth occupant would have to straddle the large center console.

As in the two-door versions, much of the suspension is made from lightweight aluminum, and adaptive dampers are standard. Optional chassis tech includes Active Roll Stabilization, which adjusts the anti-roll bars to keep the car level in turns; and Integral Active Steering, which varies the steering ratio and can also steer the rear wheels to help reduce the car's turning radius.

Safety gizmos range from stability control and parking sensors, to the 360-degree Top View Camera and blind-spot warning system. Other options include a Bang & Olufsen stereo said to provide "a feast of aural pleasure," Night Vision, and full-LED headlights. The M Sport package bundles new fascias and side skirts, black-chrome exhaust tips, black brake calipers, 19-inch wheels (with 20-inchers optional), leather and Alcantara seats, and a leather steering wheel.

Pricing for the car and its assorted options won't be revealed until closer to the on-sale date. Expect it to start slightly higher than the 640i coupe's entry price of $74,425 (including an $875 destination charge).

Vettel grabs pole on a wing and a prayer

Just nine thousandths of a second separated Sebastian Vettel from Button come the conclusion to an agonising qualifying session for the Briton ahead of tomorrow’s Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.

McLaren’s boffins then worked out what that slender amount of time equated to in terms of distance when travelling across the start-finish line at 175mph.

With Button’s last pole in Monaco during his championship-winning year of 2009, you can appreciate the 31-year-old felt aggrieved.

“You have always got to be a little disappointed when it is that close,” said Button as Vettel made it five poles in a row.

“I got everything out of the car, so to be nine thousandths off is disappointing, but also a front-row start is not such a bad thing.”

Button was also potentially 20 minutes away from ending his pole drought, as that was how close Vettel came to running with an old-spec front wing in qualifying.

A rare error from the 24-year-old German, who is now in the ideal place to gain the point he requires to become a back-to-back world champion, saw him crash into a barrier yesterday in first practice.

It was significant as it meant Vettel had damaged one of two new special noses for this race, with the other on that of team-mate Mark Webber’s car.

But unlike last year at Silverstone, when Red Bull took a new front wing off Webber and handed it to Vettel ahead of qualifying after a failure on the latter’s car in final practice, this time the team resorted to drastic measures.

Instead, Red Bull flew out a replacement overnight, the package travelling 10,000km and arriving at the circuit in time - by just those precious 20 minutes - for the team to bolt it onto Vettel’s car.

“When I went off in free practice and damaged the wing it wasn’t ideal in the afternoon to prepare the car for today,” said Vettel. “But today we were able to get everything, every single bit out of the car, which was crucial, so special thanks to the team for getting the new front wing out just in time.

“Many regards also to the factory because without them I would not be sitting on pole position, so I am very happy and very proud.”

Vettel was also fortunate Lewis Hamilton became embroiled in yet another incident to try his patience in a season he has already described as the most testing of his career.

On provisional pole from the first timed run, ahead of the second Hamilton backed up too much to give himself a gap to Button.

Approaching the final chicane Hamilton slowed but as he did so, and with the clock ticking, Mark Webber flashed by one side in his Red Bull and Michael Schumacher the other in his Mercedes.