It is the most powerful 6 Series yet to be produced as it shares its power unit with the recently released M5. However, compared with the M5 the wheelbase is shorter and the car comes with a lower centre of gravity for extra agility on the road.
The M6, which is a 2+2 seater, has all the qualities of thoroughbred sports car.
Acceleration from 0-100 km/h comes in 4.6 seconds and the M6 reaches 200 km/h about 14 seconds. Top speed is limited to 250 km/h.
Under the skin is a 5-litre V10 engine with a power output of 373 kW at 7 750 r/min, while torque is 520 Nm at 6 100 r/min.
Creating the M6, BMW's engineers have also focused not only on the sheer power of the engine, but also on the weight of the body and, as a result, the mass to be accelerated as quickly as possible on the road.
Reducing weight to a sensible minimum, the M6 comes with all the driving dynamics required for the race track.
The car comes with BMW's seven-speed SMG transmission. This gearbox from BMW M is the world's only sequential transmission with seven gears and Drivelogic.
It allows manual selection of gears with extremely short gearshift times as well as comfortable cruising qualities thanks to the automatic gear selection function.
And at the same time the additional gear keeps the increments between engine speed and torque even smaller, ensuring an absolutely smooth process of one gear "flowing" into the other.
The driver shifts gears in the SMG transmission either from the selector
lever or via paddles in the steering wheel.
Reducing power
In many situations the driver does not need all the power and agility of the BMW M6, for example in city traffic.
So when the driver starts the engine, the BMW M6 automatically sets off in its comfort-oriented P400 performance program with 296 kW (400 bhp) engine output.
But then all the driver has to do is press the power button on the selector lever cover in order to use all the engine muscle.
The body design of the BMW M6 has been modified discreetly when compare to the normal 6 Series coupé.
Special design features make the M6 look even ore powerful and dynamic than its less powerful siblings.
The most eye-catching feature is the prominent front air dam. This particular element focuses primarily on a specific function: The V10 power unit requires roughly twice as much cooling air as the V8 in the BMW 645Ci.
Large secondary intake openings to the left and right of the front air dam thus give the engine of the M6 even more air to breathe and cool the brakes at the same time.
BMW SA says the new M6 will go on sale locally towards the end of 2005
BMW M6 gallery
BMW M5 gallery