02 Mar 05
Making its debut at Geneva was the M version of the 6-Series coupe, the M6. Like the M5, the M6 has a 5.0-litre V10 delivering 507bhp and 384lb ft; top speed will be limited to 155mph, and 0-60mph acceleration will come up in a mere 4.6 seconds, making the M6 BMW's fastest-accelerating road car. For the practically minded, it'll return 19mpg and emits 357g/km of carbon dioxide...
BMW claims that the lightweight engine has "one of the most advanced control systems ever developed", with each of the 10 cylinders having its own throttle butterfly and its position monitored 200 times per second. "Reacting to changes in throttle position, the butterfly can move from closed to fully open in a mere 120 milliseconds (around three times faster than the blink of an eye)", the company explains helpfully. The engine works with the seven-speed sequential manual gearbox (SMG), again as in the M5, with 11 different pre-set gear-change programmes.
Suspension is as for the 645Ci, but the M6 will add the speed-sensing variable M differential lock, standard electronic damper control and an M-tuned version of the two-mode Servotronic steering. The DSC stability control has also been modified, to allow for "considerable angles of controllable oversteer", and the lightweight forged aluminium five-spoke 19-inch wheels have aluminium double-piston calliper brakes with cross-drilled discs and 255.40 ZR19 tyres up front and 285/35/ZR19s behind.
A little lighter than the 630Ci and 645Ci at 1710kg, the M6 has a carbonfibre roof panel as well as thermoplastic front wings, aluminium doors and bonnet and compound boot lid. It can be visually distinguished by its deeper front valance with air intakes, more contoured side sills and a rear valance with diffuser. You're unlikely to miss its four rear exhaust tailpipes either. Four paint colours will be exclusive to this model: Indianapolis Red, Sepang Bronze, Interlagos Blue and Silverstone.
As drivers are unlikely to want all of the power, all of the time, the M6 will have the same 'power button' as the M5 which modifies the throttle response. From ignition, the car delivers a mere 400bhp, but engaging the button allows the full 507 to let rip. All settings for the power button, SMG, DCS, EDC and head-up display can be selected and specified via MDrive manager, a version of the iDrive control system; extreme settings can be programmed for track use, for example. The M6's cabin has fully-adjustable leather M sports seats with lumbar support (in a choice of five colours), alcantara headlining and the head-up display, which projects information on engine speed, gear selected and road speed onto the windscreen at eye level. BMW says that prices and final specification will be announced nearer to launch, but expect the M6 coupe to cost from around £70,000. Convertible versions are said to be on the way a little later in 2006, and a lightweight, yet more powerful M6 CSL in 2007.
