The Cabrio adds a flourish to the return of BMW's 6 Series and competes with Mercedes BMW's last 6 Series ceased production in 1998. An upmarket 850i coupe surfaced briefly in the early 1990s with lacklustre sales. Since then, BMW has been without a high-end luxury coupe. However, last year the 6 Series was reborn, based on the 5 Series. This was followed closely by the Cabrio version. The first noticeable thing about the 645Ci Cabrio is it is hard to rest your eyes on any one thing. There is so much to see and so many details begging to be explored. This is my idea of a million-dollar car - keeping its owners busy and amused. The Cabrio looks handsome even with its roof down. With a long silhouette and graceful lines, it makes its presence felt to all around. The car's cabin is beautiful and the materials so rich. Even the stitching around the leather seats and armrests is perfectly aligned. The cloth top takes about 20 seconds to lower or raise, which is about standard for convertible tops that involve raising the front section, the back window section and a tonneau cover for the rear deck - all folding away at the flick of a switch. Similar to the Ferrari 360 Spyder, the Cabrio's top has two pointed elements extending to the rear deck. Between the soft top and the deck's surface, there is a plastic moulding for the top to sit on. The 645Ci Cabrio is a high-performance, extremely civilised car. Its 333bhp V8 engine propels it to 100km/h in less than six seconds. It purrs slightly at cruising speed, but positively gurgles when called on. Its front struts and rear multilink suspension is shared with the 5 Series and it is shod with grippy 19-inch tyres. On the open road, the ride is as plush as any top-notch GT cruiser. The quick-acting suspension keeps body movement to a minimum. Corners are taken with grace and the grip limit is so high you are reassured of why BMW is called the 'ultimate driving machine'. The Cabrio does not feel like its roof was removed as an afterthought. Chassis rigidity suffers only slightly compared with the 645Ci Coupe. Performance The 4.4-litre V8 engine, first installed in the 745i saloon, is a gem. With a Valvetronic induction system and infinitely variable inlet and exhaust valve control, the engine has the lungs of an Olympic swimmer. And in typical BMW fashion, torque delivery of this 333bhp lump is linear. Its big capacity makes acceleration strong throughout the range. Wheel spin can be produced by flooring the accelerator even on dry tarmac. Traction control takes care of the wheels in the wet. The best acceleration can be achieved by flooring the pedal in automatic rather than manually shifting through the gears because the gearbox will shift right at the redline. The car will cruise legally on the Tolo Highway in under six seconds. Handling is impressive, but it is how effortlessly the car deals with the curves that sets it apart. Exterior The latest BMW style started with the 7 Series and has filtered down to the 5 Series and 6 Series. The 645Ci Cabrio makes a powerful statement. The front features the trademark big kidney grille and droopy-eyed headlights, while the rear, without the Coupe's swooping roof line and with the top down, is more exaggerated. This is one area that takes time to get accustomed to. Like the Z4 and M3, the 645Ci's front wings have gill-like air extractors behind the wheels. With the top up, the 645Ci Cabrio suffers less than other four-seater convertibles, which tend to have a hunchback look. Interior The interior of the 6 Series is a perfect mixture of comfort, elegance and sportiness. The dashboard of the 645Ci Cabrio has two prominent binnacles for the speedometer and the rev counter. They are simple, elegant and easy to read. The binnacle at the top of the centre console houses the display screen for the i-Drive system. Beneath are air-conditioning control buttons and two panels that cover a cubbyhole and the ashtray. The i-Drive system has been simplified since it was launched in the 7 Series, wiith a menu button behind the mouse that instantly takes you back to the main screen. BMW 645Ci Cabrio Price: $1,332,000 Engine: 4.4-litre V8 Power: 333bhp@6,100 rpm Torque: 450Nm@3,600 rpm Transmission: six-speed automatic Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 6.1 seconds Top speed: 250km/h (electronically limited)