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WE’RE big fans of frothy little city cars here at Scotsman Motoring, but every so often we hanker after something a little more, well, imposing.

Enter the BMW 640d – a Bavarian bruiser with a deliciously swoopy coupé body and the muscle to match. Frothy it’s not, but don’t dismiss it as a cumbersome brute, for this big fella has feelings.

It’s longer, lower and wider than the previous 6-series, so we’re talking sleek. Take as long as you need to ponder the timeless appeal of a long bonnet and bulging wheel arches, then jump in – there’s room for four – and we’ll go for a spin.

Nice in here, isn’t it? Clearly, BMW has done its homework and knows what options make The Pulse team tick. Vermilion red Nappa leather? Tick. American Oak trim? Tick. A sunroof that’s almost as big as the roof it occupies? Tick. Did you notice the way the doors fastened themselves shut after you got in? The big car did that for you. It wants to keep you cosy. See? I told you it has feelings.

Dunno about you, but I’m won over already, and we haven’t even gone anywhere yet. Punch in a destination on the satnav screen that’s as big as a portable TV and we’ll begin. The handling is as sharp as the looks, and the ride is as comfortable as you want to make it. You’ll have already noticed, by the way we reached 60mph in five and a half seconds, that the 640d’s diesel engine is strong enough not just to cruise the city, but to power it. Two turbochargers help the motor produce a most un-diesel-like 313bhp. Heck, it doesn’t even sound like a diesel, does it?

But with all this power comes responsibility. So far, we’ve averaged just over 36mpg. Good for a car of this size but some way short of the 51mpg BMW says we ought to get. Let’s switch the Drive Dynamic Control button into Eco Pro mode and see if we can do a bit better. Selecting Eco Pro blunts the acceleration and reduces power to the air conditioning to make your fuel go further. A screen shows how many miles of fuel you’ve saved.

But, when it’s five-to-closing time at Harvey Nicks and saving the environment plays second fiddle to staking a claim to the last pair of Alexander Wangs on the shelf, choose Sport mode and unleash the beast to get you to the store on time. Sport+ is nuttier still, since it turns down the wick on stability control and suchlike. Select it and there’s a significant risk you’ll announce your arrival at Harvey Nicks by smashing through the front doors, backwards, in a shower of glass and steel.

A stylish shower, mind you.

Car BMW 640d M Sport Coupe

Price From £66,745 (£80,080 as tested)

Performance Max speed 155mph, 0-62mph 5.5s

MPG 51.4 (combined cycle)

CO2 emissions 144g/km