Fiat adds the next model to the Panda City car, this time an Urban crossover style car.

• Two-wheel-drive Panda, with off-road looks joins the range
• Available with the 69hp 1.2-litre petrol engine
• Orders for the New City Cross are now open, priced from £12,995

The new Fiat Panda City Cross is the latest addition to the Panda family, with two-wheel-drive and urban crossover looks, all for a city car price. 

The new Panda City Cross is a true urban crossover designed for customers looking for a practical city car, with an off-road look, at an affordable price. Building on the style of the Panda Cross 4x4, the Panda City Cross comes with body-coloured front and rear bumper inserts and side mouldings and contrasting black door mirror caps, roof bars and door handles. Completing the off-road look it comes with the same 15-inch alloy wheels, that can be found on the Panda Cross.

Inside, the Panda City Cross features a grey dashboard fascia with matt black instrument panel inserts and new seats, characterised by black and grey fabric with black eco-leather side inserts. The new Panda City Cross is available in front-wheel drive combined with the 69hp 1.2-litre petrol engine.

The new Panda City Cross is available in two new body colours: the pastel Minimal Grey and Electronica Blue, the latter available exclusively on this car. An optional pack can also be specified to customise the car further: The City Cross Style pack adds ultrashine roofbars, side mouldings and skid plate as well as body coloured door mirrors and front red hooks, to bring it in line with the Panda Cross. Inside, the City Cross style pack includes an upgraded copper dashboard and panels and seat upholstery to match its four-wheel-drive sibling.

Ever since its debut, Panda has stood out for its three different personalities: as a functional city car, an ultra-compact 4WD off-roader and a stylish urban crossover with excellent off-road qualities. Its compact size, flexible interior, wide choice of engines and colour combinations, and simple line-up are now enhanced with this latest version.

Model	Power hp	Torque Nm	Economy mpg  (combined  cycle)	Emissions  g/km CO2	Price OTR
Panda City Cross    1.2- litre     69hp	69	102 @3,000rpm	51.4	129	£12,995

The latest Nissan X-Trail carries on where the old one stopped, and should continue to be the world's best selling SUV.

• Nissan’s flagship crossover and best-selling model worldwide is upgraded
• Enhancements focus on fresh exterior design, greater cabin refinement, more practicality for owners and innovative new technology
• New X-Trail will be available with ProPILOT autonomous driving capability
• Upgrades reinforce X-Trail’s position as the perfect car for family adventures
• On sale from August 2017

The Nissan X-Trail is the world’s best-selling SUV and now available with a range of upgrades which further enhance its quality and refinement. The changes include a distinctive and robust redesign of the exterior, a higher-quality interior with desirable new features, additional practicality for owners and innovative new technologies to make life on the road even safer.

For drivers seeking new levels of flexibility and greater freedom when they want it, the new Nissan X-Trail will be available with ProPILOT autonomous drive technology.

The enhancements to X-Trail are based on consumer insight and customer feedback, and are designed to reinforce the X-Trail’s position as the perfect car for family adventures.

Philippe Saillard, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Nissan Europe, commented: “Demand for crossovers is growing all the time, and for the Nissan X-Trail to be the number one for global sales is a huge honour. With these enhancements, the new X-Trail is delivering more of what our customers want. The Nissan X-Trail is the perfect car for family adventures.”

Unveiled in dramatic style earlier this month at a special event in Cardiff, Wales – hours ahead of the UEFA Champions League Final – the new Nissan X-Trail will be on sale across Europe from August 2017.

The new Nissan X-Trail in detail

The X-Trail is number one for Nissan. A highly capable five or seven-seat crossover aimed at adventure-loving families, it’s the brand’s best-selling vehicle worldwide.

Including the USA, where the car is badged Rogue, more than 3.7 million have been sold since the first Nissan X-Trail was launched in 2000. That includes almost half a million cars in Europe, where the X-Trail remains hugely popular. Approximately 115,000 units have been sold in Europe since the all-new third-generation model was launched in 2014, and demand has grown significantly year on year; sales doubled from 2014 to 2015, and the total rose again by another 40% the following year.

It is also a record-breaker. Including Rogue sales, in FY16 the X-Trail was the world’s most popular SUV, with 766,000 vehicles sold – more than any other rival model.

The X-Trail has continued to evolve; earlier this year, Nissan launched the car with a new 2.0-litre 177PS diesel engine, broadening the range to meet the needs of consumers who require a higher-output powertrain.

Not surprisingly, the Nissan X-Trail is a hit with its owners. The car has an outstanding 8.9 out of 10 customer rating with independent ratings organisation Reevoo.

As with all Nissan vehicles, every upgrade – no matter how large or small – has been undertaken with the customer in mind. The result is the new X-Trail, featuring a distinctive and robust exterior design, higher-quality interior refinement, extra practicality for owners and innovative new technologies.

Robust new exterior design

The Nissan X-Trail has always been known for its sculpted and muscular styling, with chiselled lines, high wheel arches and elegant curves on the bonnet. All of those characteristics remain, and are now showcased through a distinctive and robust redesign of the front end, adding a new dynamism and more premium styling cues.

At its heart is Nissan’s latest ‘V-motion’ grille, wider than before for a more impactful appearance on the road and echoed in the design of the bumper beneath. The redesign makes much greater use of the X-Trail’s body colour, with the visible black plastic benefiting from a smart new gloss black finish.

On either side of the grille are new headlamp clusters, with much clearer design differentiation between the halogen units on Visia, Acenta and N-Connecta grades and full LEDs on Tekna. Both feature a contemporary new version of the X-Trail’s ‘boomerang’ Daytime Running Light signature.

For models with full LED lamps, dipped beam now features Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS). This means dynamic cornering lamps operating in conjunction with the vehicle’s speed and steering inputs. Also appearing on the new Qashqai crossover, this is the first use of AFS for Nissan in Europe, and means greater illumination of a corner’s apex for better visibility and road safety. On high beam, the beam pattern is now wider than before, also improving visibility.

The front fog lamps have evolved. Cleverly integrated into the new front bumper, they have changed from a round shape to a rectangular one. They are standard from Acenta grade.

Also revised are the front parking sensors. Previously they were integrated into the bumper but did not sit completely flush to the surface. Now they are flush. The difference is small but significant, perfectly illustrating the car’s higher-quality finish and Nissan’s attention to detail.

At the rear of the new X-Trail, the bumper has been redesigned to give it a more robust look with new chrome detailing. The rear lamp signature has been upgraded to become full LED, while the parking sensors are improved, as at the front of the car.

The biggest change to the profile of the new X-Trail is the addition of a chrome side moulding across the base of the two doors. Creating a more dynamic appearance, this is standard on Tekna grade. A new range of 17-inch (Visia and Acenta) and 18-inch (N-Connecta and Tekna) alloy wheels are now fitted as standard, with the existing 19-inch wheels (optional on Tekna) carried over from the previous model.

The upgrades have resulted in a very slight change to the overall length of the car – an increase of 50mm means it’s now 4,690mm from bumper to bumper. There is no change to the new X-Trail’s width (1,830mm), height (1,710mm) or wheelbase (2,705mm). The exterior changes have not affected the new X-Trail’s aerodynamic performance, with a Cd rating of 0.32.

Six of the eight existing exterior colours have been carried over, with four vibrant new additional shades added – Monarch Orange, Palatial Ruby, Sapphire Blue and Picador Brown.

Premium new interior with even greater refinement

The cabin of the new Nissan X-Trail boasts a raft of upgrades to enhance the existing high-quality feel. Entering the car, the striking new steering wheel is the first thing drivers will notice. It echoes the design of Nissan’s newest models globally and is standard across the X-Trail range. Now D-shaped, the horizontal base means easier entry and exit for the driver, as well as providing a more sporty look and feel.

The steering wheel’s compact central hub is smaller than before and the three spokes are slimmer, creating an upper space that’s larger by 17% to improve instrument visibility. The four-way controllers for the combimeter display (left spoke) and cruise control (right spoke) are new, and offer customers more intuitive use and reduced ‘eyes off the road’ time.

The rim’s width has been widened – from 34mm to 37.5mm – to provide a more comfortable and safer grip. A new premium style comes from the satin silver detailing on the central spoke which echoes the shape of the car’s iconic ‘V-motion’ front grille. A new feature is integrated heating, which is standard on Tekna grade.

Whether customers select the five or seven-seat version of the X-Trail, the leather upholstery that’s standard on Tekna grade features enhanced quilting to create more defined seat contours.

Heated seats for both front and rear occupants (not third row) are new, and standard on Tekna grade. For customers seeking something different, a new tan and black two-tone leather interior is available as an optional extra on Tekna.

Other cabin upgrades add to the higher-quality ambience and increased refinement of the new X-Trail. A new leather knee pad on both sides of the centre console has been added, while the area above the glovebox has been given a more contemporary finish. The air vents now feature a new gloss black surface.

The new X-Trail has a wider range of interior door trims to distinguish the different grades, while the central armrest storage area has been redesigned. On models with the CVT XTronic automatic transmission, the gear selector has been restyled and features a new leather-style gaiter.

The interior practicality of the new X-Trail makes it perfect for adventurous families.

It continues to offers exceptional space and comfort, including best-in-class knee room in the second row of seats. It has clever storage solutions and practical features, such as the sliding / reclining functionality of the second row seats. On seven-seat versions, which make up 40% of the sales mix in Europe, access to the roomy third row is simple and convenient.

New hands-free practicality for the tailgate

The two highest grades of X-Trail have previously come with an electric tailgate as standard. This feature has been enhanced on new X-Trail with the additional of hands-free functionality. Customers with shopping bags or holding young children close by can now kick their foot under the centre of the car’s rear bumper to automatically activate the opening mechanism.

The boot on the new X-Trail is larger than before. Thanks to improved packaging, VDA capacity is up from 550 litres to 565 litres on the five-seat version with all seats in place. Capacity on seven-seat interiors (445 litres) remains unchanged. Total space with all seats folded flat increases to 1,996 litres.

Every X-Trail boot comes with Nissan’s innovative Flexible Luggage Board System, which allows for shelves and dividers to be adjusted in any one of nine configurations. These include a hidden compartment to keep valuables out of sight, making it the ideal base for family days out.

New BOSE Premium audio system

Reflecting customer demands for a superior audio option in the new X-Trail, Tekna grade is now fitted with an all-new eight-speaker system as standard. Supplied by BOSE, Nissan’s premium audio partner, it features two 25mm tweeters at the base of the windscreen, a 165mm woofer in each front door and a 130mm mid-range speaker in each rear door. Two 115mm woofers are housed in a 7.7-litre custom-engineered enclosure mounted in the spare wheel well. A BOSE digital amplifier with eight channels of custom equalisation and digital signal processing is mounted under the passenger seat.

The system has been fine-tuned for X-Trail, resulting in the most complete sound system ever offered in a Nissan Europe vehicle. The BOSE Premium system creates a wider soundscape for a concert-like listening experience, with clarity of acoustics and minimal distortion at higher volumes.

Customer feedback has led to improvements in the X-Trail’s two other infotainment systems. From October, DAB digital radio is standard for the first time, while the NissanConnect touch-screen satellite navigation unit (standard from N-Connecta,) features a smart new user interface that’s more app-like in appearance. Where the NissanConnect system is fitted, the new X-Trail now features a ‘shark fin’ roof antenna for improved reception and a more contemporary finish.

New Nissan Intelligent Mobility technologies, including ProPILOT autonomous drive

Nissan Intelligent Mobility is the name for the brand’s advanced technologies which make its cars more desirable by redefining how they are driven, powered and integrated into society. The goal is to make Nissan drivers feel more confident, excited and connected, while also enhancing road safety.

In 2018 Nissan will introduce ProPILOT on the new X-Trail. It’s the first stage on the brand’s journey to autonomous driving, giving drivers more freedom by allowing them to automate the mundane elements of their motoring life.

ProPILOT will control the steering, acceleration and braking in a single lane on highways during heavy traffic congestion and high-speed cruising. It is based on three technologies – Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) and Traffic Jam Pilot (TJP). Intuitive to use, ProPILOT will be activated via a button on the X-Trail’s steering wheel. Information will be displayed in the combimeter between the instrument dials. Further details on ProPILOT will be given nearer to its launch.

New Nissan Intelligent Mobility technologies have been added to the X-Trail. Rear Cross Traffic Alert, to mitigate the risk of low-speed impacts when reversing out of a parking space, is now available for the first time. If the driver attempts to reverse when an approaching vehicle is detected, the system gives visual and audible warnings.

Intelligent Emergency Braking has been on the X-Trail since 2014, but has now been upgraded with Pedestrian Recognition. This innovative technology helps to minimise collisions with pedestrians using a combination of forward-facing radar and camera.

New to the X-Trail is a technology called Stand Still Assist (SSA), which supplements Hill Start Assist (HSA) on cars with a manual transmission. SSA holds the car in a stationary position for up to three minutes, after which time the parking brake is automatically activated. SSA works on inclines, declines and on the flat, allowing the driver to take their foot off the brake. This improves safety, boosts driver confidence and reduces fatigue. A green light on the instrument cluster indicates when it’s activated.

The X-Trail continues to be offered with numerous other safety technologies including Traffic Sign Recognition, Intelligent Driver Alertness, Intelligent Park Assist, Intelligent Around View Monitor and Lane Departure Warning. These technologies increase customer’s confidence and trust in their car, making it the new X-Trail the perfect car for family adventures.

The new X-Trail maintains its 2014 five-star Euro NCAP safety rating.

Confident drive: new X-Trail is as refined as ever

Confident drive is what Nissan calls a common product attribute – something that’s engineered into all vehicles around the world. It means a smooth and refined feeling on the road, with precise and stress-free steering and handling. It’s measured and benchmarked in three scenarios – on motorways, on country roads and in the urban environment.

The confident driving characteristics of the Nissan X-Trail have been carried over to the new model, providing customers with predictable and safe performance for the life of the vehicle.

The range of three efficient engines also remains, including the 2.0-litre 177PS diesel launched in 2016. It means customers have the choice of petrol or high and low-powered diesel, six-speed manual or CVT XTronic automatic transmissions, and two or four-wheel drive to meet every type of customer need.

The full engine line-up is detailed below:

Engine	1.6 130PS diesel	1.6 130PS diesel	1.6 130PS diesel	2.0 177PS diesel	2.0 177PS diesel	2.0 177PS diesel	1.6 163PS petrol
Transmission	6MT (2WD)	6MT (4WD)	CVT (2WD)	6MT (4WD)	CVT (2WD)	CVT (4WD)	6MT (2WD)
CO2 (g/km)	129	139	135	149	148	158	145
Combined Cycle (mpg)	57.6	53.3	55.4	50.4	50.4	47.1	45.6

All performance figures are with 17-inch wheels

Standard equipment and options

Every new Nissan X-Trail comes with six airbags as standard, plus driver assistance systems including anti-lock brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution and stability control. Other standard equipment includes cruise control with speed limiter, Bluetooth connectivity, manual air-conditioning, electric folding / heated door mirrors and alloy wheels.

Depending on the grade chosen, other available features include an opening panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery, privacy glass, dual-zone automatic air-conditioning and roof rails.

Additional options include exterior styling plates and side styling bars. Genuine Nissan accessories include a dog guard, roof bars and a fixed towbar with electric hook-up.

Equipment levels on the new X-Trail vary across European markets, so please refer to local Nissan communications representatives for exact details.

The All-New BMW 6-Series Gran Turismo, better looks and more kit and technology.

• New BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo introduced with dynamic new look and cutting-edge technology.
• Longer and sleeker, the new 6 Series Gran Turismo offers more headroom and boot capacity despite reduced vehicle height. 
• Up to 115kg weight reduction and improved aerodynamics. Fuel consumption and emissions reduced by over 15 per cent. 
• Optional equipment includes Remote Control Parking, WiFi hotspot for up to 10 devices and remote 3D view.

The BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo sets a new level of comfort and elegance wrapped in a sporting coupé design but now with superior driving dynamics and efficiency. This new model, which takes over from the 5 Series Gran Turismo, gets a new designation to reflect the major step forward over its predecessor.

Set to make its World Premiere at the IAA show in Frankfurt the 6 Series Gran Turismo will make its market launch on 11 November 2017. Initially it will be offered with a choice of three engines while the BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive system will be available in two of the three variants in the model line-up.

The large GT, a vehicle concept blending the luxury of a comfortable saloon with coupé looks, was first launched in 2009. Known as BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo, the model was a game changer delivering comfort and elegance, but practicality too. The new 6 Series Gran Turismo takes these characteristics so enjoyed by 5 Series GT customers to another level and enhances the driving dynamics further.

Distinctive looks: eye-catching and powerful

From the BMW kidney grille to the sculpted LED units at the rear, the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo has an eye-catching profile, but when viewed from the front the vehicle has a muscular presence. 

Standard BMW Icon Adaptive LED headlights for dipped and main beam, joined by the daytime driving lights display the focused look familiar from other BMW models. The elongated BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo cuts an impressive silhouette: the A-pillars are much more heavily raked than its predecessor while the flowing roofline and sweeping side window design gives that true coupé look. 

The BMW 6 Gran Turismo is no longer broken up by an extra guide strip through the large window in the rear door and, at the rear, horizontal lines, sharp edges and tapering surfaces magnify the car’s width to emphasise its sporting nature.

Sleeker, sportier, with improved practicality

The new 6 Series Gran Turismo clearly takes its cues from the 5 Series GT, but its design offers a more athletic, sportier stance. Vehicle height has been reduced by 21mm, while the rear end has been lowered by 64mm. The vehicle length has been increased by 87mm while the width remains the same. All these changes, while retaining the coupé/saloon characteristics of the predecessor, have contributed to a more low-slung silhouette without compromising on interior space or practicality. 

Indeed, the 6 Series Gran Turismo better serves its passengers with more headroom as well as offering ample legroom. The rear has three full-size seats and customers can opt for electrically-adjustable chairs where the backrest angle can be altered at the push of a button.

With its increased length the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo also offers more boot space, both with the rear seats in place or folded down. Rear-seat backrests are 40:20:40 split-folding by means of a remote release system in the boot and, behind them, the boot area can accommodate a total of 610 litres (up 110 litres on the 5 Series GT) and 1,800 litres when the backrests are folded down (up 100 litres). 

The vehicle also features a one-piece electrically operated tailgate, while the boot sill has been lowered by more than five centimetres and is now flush with the floor for improved loading capability. The two-piece luggage compartment cover has a rigid structure and can be stowed away in a compartment underneath the boot floor.

Power and efficiency

The engine line-up features TwinPower Turbo technology and all variants offer the eight-speed Steptronic transmission with paddles as standard. The 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol unit in the new BMW 630i Gran Turismo delivers 258hp and peak torque of 400Nm, taking the car from zero to 62mph in 6.3 seconds with a combined fuel consumption of 43.4mpg with CO2 emissions of 148g/km. 

The 3.0-litre six-cylinder in-line petrol engine in the BMW 640i xDrive Gran Turismo generates 340hp and maximum torque of 450Nm and it will accelerate from zero to 62mph in 5.3 seconds. The combined fuel consumption is 35.3mpg respectively, which equates to CO2 emissions of 183g/km. The BMW 630d Gran Turismo and the new BMW 630d xDrive Gran Turismo both use a 3.0-litre six-cylinder in-line diesel engine producing 265hp and peak torque of 620Nm. 

The 630d version accelerates from zero to 62mph in 6.1 seconds while the xDrive version is slightly faster, reaching 62mph in 6.0 seconds. The combined fuel consumption and emissions figures are 57.6mpg and 129g/km for the BMW 630d Gran Turismo and 49.5mpg and 150g/km for the BMW 630d xDrive Gran Turismo.

Model	Power (hp)	Torque (Nm)	0 – 62mph (Seconds)	Top Speed (mph)	Combined (mpg)	CO2 Emissions (g/km)	From (OTR)
BMW 630i	258	400	6.3	155	43.4	148	£46,810
BMW 640i xDrive	340	450	5.3	155	35.3	183	£53,970
BMW 630d	265	620	6.1	155	57.6	129	£50,665
BMW 630d xDrive	265	620	6.0	155	49.5	150	£52,705

Improved aerodynamics, increased efficiency, sportier performance

The increased length and reduced height of the vehicle have stretched the proportions of the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo to give a sportier look. Among the other features that combine to give the new model its coupé -like profile are its long bonnet, the set-back position of the cabin, doors with frameless windows and an elongated window outline stretching deep into the rear end. 

This carefully sculpted design, along with a rear spoiler that automatically extends when the car exceeds 75mph and retracts below 50mph, have helped to bring the Cd drag coefficient from 0.29 on the outgoing model to 0.25 on the new 6 Series Gran Turismo. In order to optimise efficiency even further, BMW has combined lightweight engineering and increased use of aluminium and high-strength steel grades for both body and chassis components to achieve an average weight reduction of 115kg compared with the 5 Series GT. 

This, with the increase in power and superior efficiency of the new engines, has contributed to a reduction of over 15 per cent in fuel consumption and emissions (BMW 630d Gran Turismo).

Superior comfort and cornering capability 

The lighter chassis and improved suspension technology on the BMW 6 Series GT have combined to improve handling and comfort. Self-levelling air suspension comes as standard at the rear axle, but for extra comfort customers can opt for Adaptive suspension, which features front and rear air suspension plus Dynamic Damper Control. Customers can also take up the Executive Drive option, offered in combination with the Integral Active Steering system that incorporates active roll stabilisation to deliver supreme cornering capability. 

The two-axle air suspension allows the vehicle’s ride-height to be adjusted manually, meaning that, at the touch of a button, ground clearance can be increased by 20 millimetres when negotiating dirt tracks or steep ramps. 

The vehicle can also be lowered by 10 millimetres by pushing a button but it will so do automatically when SPORT mode is engaged via the Drive Performance Control switch or if the car exceeds 75mph. All optional suspension systems are now available with BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive system.

Interior comfort, driving pleasure and exceptional functionality

Inside, the BMW 6 Gran Turismo has been designed to give driving pleasure as well as comfort for passengers. A raised seating position optimises the driver’s all-round view and with electric front seats and driver’s memory function the perfect seating position can always be saved with ease.

Up front is a freestanding touchscreen for navigation, communication and infotainment functions. The high-resolution display has a 10.25-inch diagonal screen, while its tile-style menu layout with animated graphics in live mode allow for intuitive operation. 

The centre console again features the iDrive Touch Controller dial for BMW navigation and infotainment systems while standard-fit enhanced voice control that now responds to freely formulated instructions, enables total handsfree capability. The new BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo also features optional gesture control, which allows certain functions to be operated with simple movements of the hand or fingers. 

These are registered by a 3D sensor in the centre console and translated into the relevant commands. Customers can also opt for the new-generation BMW Head-Up Display. This system, where the projection area has been increased by 70 per cent, reflects driving-related information on to the windscreen that will be directly in the driver’s field of vision.

Two trim levels with option packages for individual style

Standard equipment on the BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo includes automatic climate control with an option to scale up to a four-zone system. Standard metallic paint is available in ten finishes whilst two non-metallic paint finishes are also available and, while 18-inch light-alloy wheels are standard, other wheels in sizes up to 20 inches can be ordered. 

The Original BMW Accessories range also includes 21-inch alloys. From launch, customers can choose from two trims: SE and M Sport. M Sport offers specific 19-inch light alloy wheels, leather upholstery with exclusive stitching and piping in contrasting colours, plus illuminated door sill strips. 

A Bowers and Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System can be ordered as option - this includes a fully active 10-channel 1,400-watt amplifier with dynamic sound equalising and 16 partially illuminated speakers - whilst a panoramic glass roof is standard on M Sport models and optionally available on the SE models. Reversing assist camera is standard across both trim levels.

The latest in driver assistance systems

The BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo makes use of a standard stereo camera as well as optional radar and ultrasonic sensors to monitor the vehicle’s surroundings to improve safety and security. The Collision and Pedestrian Warning with City Collision Mitigation comes as standard, while the list of options includes the new improved version of Active Cruise Control, which is operational at speeds between zero and130mph. 

Lane Departure and Lane Change Warning systems that operate between 44-130mph are also options as are Side Collision Warning and Evasion Aid, which both come to the driver’s aid with corrective steering inputs. The options list also features a Surround View camera system that can display a 3D image of the vehicle and its immediate surroundings from multiple perspectives in the Control Display. 

The Crossing Traffic warning system, which monitors the surrounding area using radar sensors, is particularly useful when exiting from concealed junctions or driveways or when backing out of a parking space perpendicular to the road. The Crossroads and Wrong-Way warning systems avoid potentially hazardous situations at junctions where traffic on the other road has right of way and when joining motorways or entering a roundabout. 

The BMW Night Vision system is another option that gives a real-time video image in the Control Display that highlights any pedestrians, larger animals or other objects radiating heat. The vehicle can also be ordered with the Remote Control Parking feature to help drivers get into tight spaces.

Drive Performance Control: ECO PRO, COMFORT, SPORT as well as COMFORT+ and ADAPTIVE options

The Drive Performance Control switch adjusts the car’s settings according to the driving conditions. If ECO PRO mode is selected the coasting function decouples the powertrain whenever the driver lifts off the accelerator between 31-99mph. Intelligent networking also improves the efficiency-boosting effect of the Auto Start Stop function by preventing the engine being switched off at moments where it would be counterproductive for efficiency – for example when pausing briefly at T-junctions or roundabouts. As well as ECO PRO mode, the Drive Performance Control switch can activate the COMFORT and SPORT settings for sportier or more relaxed driving. Customers who choose the Adaptive and Executive Drive options add COMFORT+ and ADAPTIVE modes to the Drive Performance Control selection. These additional settings allow drivers to select a particularly comfort-based set-up in COMFORT+ or one that responds automatically to their driving style in the ADAPTIVE setting. In ADAPTIVE mode, navigation data from the standard Professional Navigation system is used to proactively adjust the car’s responses when approaching intersections or bends. This system adapts to the route so, for example, it can perform an early downshift when approaching an intersection in order to take full advantage of the engine braking effect.

BMW Connected: personal mobility assistant, new services

BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo owners can also enjoy the benefits of the BMW Connected system that helps drivers get to their destination even when they are not in their car. Calendar entries from a smartphone can be used for route planning where the ideal departure time can be calculated on the basis of real-time traffic data. The Remote 3D View function adds extra security by allowing drivers to view live images of their car and its immediate vicinity on their smartphone.

Once inside, drivers are able to manage calendar, e-mail and contact data via the Microsoft Exchange function. BMW is the first car maker to offer a secure server connection for exchanging and editing emails, calendar entries and contact details thanks to the car’s built-in Microsoft Exchange function. This means that addresses from appointment entries can be imported straight into the navigation system and telephone numbers and email addresses from an incoming email or appointment can be dialled with an easy one click transfer so that it can easily be navigated on the move. Any incoming email can be read aloud and a response dictated back using the Intelligent Voice Assistant.

Real Time Traffic Information shows jams and slow-moving traffic and the On-Street Parking Information function helps drivers to find roadside parking spaces based on historical and current data. The BMW Professional Navigation system also uses car-to-car communication so drivers can get as much information about the road network ahead including warnings of traffic hazards caused by accidents, broken-down vehicles, fog, heavy rain or black ice.

The 6 Series Gran Turismo is also available with the BMW Display Key where drivers can keep in contact with their vehicle around the clock. As well as information about fuel level and service intervals, the colour display tells the driver if the doors, windows and panoramic sunroof are closed.