2012 BMW 650i Coupe

We knew for some time that BMW was busy prepping the 2012 BMW 650i Coupe, the hard top version of its all-new 6 Series, but Munich decided the fixed-roof 6 would arrive after the convertible version. It's simply a timing thing, as the 6 drop-top is set to hit U.S. streets just in time for the summer.

Fans of the 650i coupe won't have too long to wait. BMW, which has just released the first official photos and details of the new coupe, is planning a fall release for the new 6 coupe in America.

Predictably, the new 650i coupe is a line-for-line clone of its convertible sibling below the beltline. Previewed by the 6 Series Concept shown at the 2010 Paris auto show, the new 6 Series coupe's exterior sheetmetal is clean, sculpted, and a refreshing change from the previous model. Designers labored to lend the coupe and convertible similar rooflines, although the hardtop does receive slender C-pillars, which incorporate the brand's distinctive Hofmeister kink.

Despite growing almost three inches in length and 1.5 inches in width, engineers labored to prevent the 650i from simultaneously gaining weight. Finalized specifications have yet to be released, but the new 6 makes extensive use of lightweight materials. Aluminum is employed in coupe's doors, hood, front shock towers, and a majority of the suspension components. The front fenders, trunk lid, and outer roof skin are crafted from composite materials.

The 6 Series coupe will only be sold in North America as a 650i. As with the convertible, the 650i makes use of BMW's twin-turbocharged, 4.4-liter V-8, which is rated at 400 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque. BMW's eight-speed automatic transmission, which we found to be a fine gearbox during our stint in the convertible, is standard equipment. For those looking to shift their own gears, a six-speed manual is an option. Remarkably, the manual-equipped cars are only bound for North America. Regardless of the gearbox, expect the 650i to be quite quick: BMW says either car is capable of sprinting from 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds, and is electronically limited to a top speed of 155 mph.