Launched here in the UK this month, the new BMW 6 GT replaces the somewhat unsuccessful 5 Series GT in the firm's line-up and aims to attract company car drivers  in search of something a little more special than the standard and hugely successful 5 Series saloon.

Like its predecessor, it's still a bit of an oddity, fusing the driving dynamics of the 5 Series with the space and luxury of the 7 Series, and combining coupé-esque styling touches with a slightly higher driving position and raised ground clearance.

The 6 GT is 9cm longer and 2cm lower than the previous car and shares the same wheelbase as the 7 series, with almost limo-like amounts of legroom on offer, while headroom is good (even in the rear) and driver visibility is excellent.

The boot has grown considerably too, up 110 litres to 610 litres in this latest car, making it the second largest boot in the BMW range behind the X5 and 80 litres up on the 5 Series saloon.

To the naked eye the 6 GT still very much looks like it belongs in the BMW family; only minor tweaks, like the lights extending into the trademark kidney grille, are noticeable. It's also much sleeker than the car it replaces and thse curvy lines help give it a rather elegant and rakish appearance, something the 5 Series GT never really managed to pull off.

Powerful diesel engine

The engine line-up here in the UK consists of a 258hp four-cylinder petrol, a six-cylinder 340hp all-wheel-drive petrol and a 3.0-litre diesel producing 265hp, all fitted with a slick eight-speed automatic transmission as standard. 

The diesel we're testing is smooth and refined, while the 620Nm of torque provides plenty of pull, making the car feel powerful and quick on the road. Officially, the 0-62mph sprint is achieved in just 6.1 seconds.

That higher riding position offers greater comfort on the motorway; however, you do feel as if the car has lost a little of its handling edge, and despite a significant weight loss (up to 115kg) compared with its predecessor, it can't quite match the 5 Series for agility either.

The rear-wheel steering is nicely-weighted, though, and the different driving modes help improve driver involvement behind the wheel - but perhaps not as much as you'd expect if you've driven the 3 or 5 Series before.

Inside you could almost hear at pin drop, especially at cruising speeds, while the suspension (air suspension is standard at the rear) is excellent at ironing out any imperfections on the road.

Familiar trim line-up

Like a lot of the BMW range, the 6 GT is available in either SE or M Sport spec, with the latter expected to be the most popular choice here in the UK, accounting for 85% of sales. 

Standard equipment is generous and more luxurious compared with the 5 Series. The M Sport model we're testing comes with adaptive LED headlights, a reversing camera and a panoramic sunroof as standard, none of which are available on its smaller sibling without paying a premium. All this extra kit does mean the car is more expensive, though.