EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: Has The Mercedes SL Been Checkmated By The All New 2012 BMW 6-Series Coupe and Convertible?

that's a nice interior alright.
except
1. it doesn't look much more different from, say 3 series.
2. wasn't BMW (and it hardcore fans, which i can definitely name a few on BMWspies) worshiped the i-drive for it simplicity and made fun of other cars that has crazy a mount of buttons? well. i count about 40 buttons not including ones on the steering wheel. so.. what up?

Wheres the pictures of dessert?

Nope it does not compare with SL , I agree with senorgato. Also Z8 never was able to compare with the SL, the main reason: the Base of the suspension that was the so bad that you do not see Z8s in the road. The supension was terrible to the point that destroy the bodywork , there were not support in the chassis as most of BMWs. Even the current SL looks a lot better.

...sorry BMW fans but that is not a pretty car... The proportions are awkward.

I think it looks reeaally good!! IMO

This car compares with the E550 not the SL. I personally think the E looks better. The new 6 doesn't look much better than the old one.
T

What a silly title. The 2 goes after completely different markets, and did you forget that the SL is a 2 seater, smaller and has different sophistication than the 6, which LOOKS bigger.

Sorry, the 2 will not be cross-shopped.

The 6 competes with the same cars it always has -- $80-110k coupe and convertibles. In my opinion the closest match is the Jaguar XK. It's not as racy as a 911, but the prices do line up for someone considering sports cars and grand tourers. It also lines up with the SL regardless of the number of seats.

Anyway, the 6 convertible looks good. The coupe looks fantastic. I got to sit in a sold convertible at my local dealer, the interior was ridiculously nice. I didn't get to drive it obviously, and it was daytime so I couldn't experience the interior lighting at night, but I can say unequivocally that the interior is much nicer than an E550. It's not even close. Neither is the Jag XK. I've never thought the 911 interior was all that nice without spending a zillion dollars on options. I do like the SL interior, and have always liked the SL in general. That would be the car I'd have the most trouble picking between here. But there is no SL coupe, and on tech the 6-Series kills them all. A 650xi Coupe M Sport would make for a pretty fantastic car in my opinion.

Has the 1985 BMW M5 been outdone by the 2011 BMW M5?

I like the new 6er. It looks sleeker and thus more dynamic and far more elegant than its porky predecessor. It'll be a hit.

why are none of the cars on show equipped with the new 3D LED corona rings? It looks much better with them on. I still love this car. The interior on the individual looks delicious!

Sample of one: - I own a 2009 Mercedes SL 550 and I see nothing in this new 6 series (except the large screen for the navigation) that I like and that would make me even consider switching to the 6 series. The reasons for not liking the 6 include bloated styling, lack of a metal roof, BMW service experience [in some South Florida dealerships you have to sit and wait in order to check in with all the Mini owners!], cold and jarring interior design.

If I were to consider a BMW it would be a 3 series convertible because that vehicle has a metal roof, is exceptionally good looking and doesn't lose much interior space to the 6 series. Plus the M version of the 3 series is relatively good value compared to cars such as the Mercedes SL 550 and the new 6 series.

Finally I think I'd take the Jaguar convertible over this 6 series too. It's all about styling!

Q: What do these expensive high end vehicles have in common?
Porsche, Jaguar, Aston Martin, Maserati, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce, Bentley

A: All their convertibles are soft top only.

While we're at it, Benz only makes their two seater convertibles in a hardtop, their four seater is a soft top (and the S-class flagship convertible they were supposedly going to build off the Oceanside concept a few years ago was also a soft top). Ferrari would be on the list but for the California, which Ferrari purists refuse to acknowledge as a "real" Ferrari.

I'm not against hardtop convertibles (I like the 3-Series convertible and Z4 and said above I like the SL), just pointing out that higher end manufacturers typically only offer soft tops, especially for flagships, and soft tops are generally considered more rich, more upscale. It's like comparing classic architecture with modern architecture. Both can be nice, and both can be expensive, but the classic will ALWAYS be classic.

LOL, what a pretentious headline. The 6 is nice but by no means an SL competitor.

IMO, hard retractable tops are better if we are looking for noise isolation and durability. Now, SL or SLK and most of the coupes of MB is a lot nicier but you have to accept the price to pay and the added weight.

Why does it have to "checkmate" it? Cant we just have 2 different choices? Why do we always have to put one on top of the other here?

We really got some insecure folks here.