When it comes to BMW's new 2004 645 Ci, you need to park your assumptions at the curb. Upon hearing "BMW," most people picture the company's 3 Series sedan, the gold standard of small, luxurious sport sedans. While it sells plenty of other acclaimed performance models, this BMW series is arguably its most popular -- a pleasant, conservatively styled gem.

But the words "conservative," "sedan" and "small" don't describe the 645 Ci, which is a reintroduction of a model made years ago. It's a sleek, voluptuous coupe that you may swear is a Ferrari, but at a much lower price -- $69,995 to start, vs. $300,000 and up for Ferraris. It's also quite comfortable, with firmly supportive seats.

	2004 BMW 645 Ci Click photo for larger image.

But don't look for any coddling or unusual luxury creature comforts. This is strictly a high-performance car. You won't have time for luxurious loafing because the 645 Ci is far too engaging. You will need to be on your toes, listening to every sound for clues about when to shift to get the best performance from the car's 325-horsepower, 4.4-liter V-8, which hits 60 in about 5.5 seconds and rates 17 to 18 miles per gallon in the city and 25 or 26 on the highway.

Speaking of shifting, it's the centerpiece of this car because the transmission is a six-speed manual transmission with an automatic clutch -- that is, there's no clutch pedal. BMW calls it a sequential manual gearbox. You may shift via levers on the steering wheel, where you may typically rest your hands, or via a conventional floor shifter. Or if you wish, you simply engage the transmission in a "drive" mode and not worry about shifting at all.

I think this type of transmission is the wave of the future. It gives you a sense of control and a wonderful feeling of connectedness that you get with a manual transmission, along with the ease and convenience offered by an automatic.

A so-called clutchless manual differs from an automatic transmission with a "shift it yourself" feature. The clutchless manual gives instantaneous gear changes and all the other sensations of a manual, while the automatic manual seldom provides quick, immediate responses like that. Audi also offers a similar transmission on its TT sports car, as do Toyota (on its MR2) and several other makes.

The only fly in the ointment with the SMG on the 645 Ci is that the automatic mode, unlike the manual one, is rather unpleasant. The car seems to shift for itself at the wrong points, and feels jerky and abrupt. It seemed to "rev" forever before moving to a more comfortable gear setting. The manual setting is much smoother and cohesive.

But to be fair, BMW warns you in its press kit that the "D" mode is "not to be interpreted as a substitute for the D of a fully automatic transmission, but rather a convenient operational mode for those times when the driver wants ease of driving and is not concerned with extracting maximum performance."

	BMW 645 Ci interior. Click photo for larger image.

The bottom line? If you want a conventional automatic, order it. BMW has a marvelous six-speed Steptronic version with your name on it. You also can get a six-speed manual with a clutch. But I'd still get the SMG transmission and use just the levers on the steering wheel.

The handling, as I suggested earlier, was superb, and among the best I'd driven. It's helped considerably by BMW's Active Steering system -- when you're going slower, just a small amount of turning gets the job done, while faster speeds require more driver input and provide more "information" on how the car feels and is performing.

The 645 Ci also has dynamic stability control, which helps maintain the car's stability and offers extra help in slippery conditions. Another bonus is the active roll stabilization, which makes cornering even flatter. The suspension system on the 6 Series is similar to those in the 5 and 7 Series cars, but the 645 Ci has a lower ride height and center of gravity.

The 645 Ci does have its drawbacks. One of the biggest is the iDrive system, which controls the car's audio and navigation components. I had more trouble with the iDrive on this BMW than I had on other models. It was nearly impossible to get the CD system working properly even after pulling over to the side of the road and fiddling with it. Finally, using voice command control, I was able to get what I wanted -- after several attempts when the car's system couldn't understand what I wanted it to do.

The back seat is basically uninhabitable for any but the shortest trips and the youngest children. I also couldn't slide the sunroof open -- it could only be vented.

But none of its shortcomings can hide one fact: The 645 Ci is one superb high-performance automobile that ranks with the world's best.