The BMW 6 Series is a remarkable car, an intriguing attempt at blending state-of-the-art electronics with award-winning mechanicals. The BMW 650i coupe and convertible succeed, offering a combination of comfort, luxury, sportiness, exhilarating performance and ease of operation that's hard to beat in the class. On the M6 models, it remains an attempt, perhaps a misguided one, as it inserts unnecessarily isolating layers of electronics between driver and car, muddying a unique, symbiotic relationship that BMW has painstakingly cultivated over decades. We prefer the standard automatic and manual transmissions to the high-tech SMGs.

Blind spot monitors that will gently vibrate the steering wheel if they detect the M6 going astray are a cheap, $500 option. Night vision that can detect pedestrians on a dark road runs $2,300, an option worth considering if you spend a lot of your time on quiet back roads.

I love the way the car handles, but I dislike the lack tech inside.