We were treated to a sneak peek of the new BMW M6 Gran Coupé following a ‘private’ unveiling at the company’s ’40 Years of M’ event held at the Nürburgring last month, but now official images of the latest M car have been released.
The flagship Gran Coupé has been given all the trademark BMW M performance parts, most of which are borrowed from its two-door M6 Coupé sibling. These include a carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) roof, unique M style front bumper, together with new side skirts and rear bumper that incorporates a diffuser and twin exhaust pipes on each side. Wheels are 19-inch as standard, with 20-inch available as an option, along with chrome trim for the trademark BMW kidney grille and the surround of the side indicators.
The engine is a cut and paste job from the M6 Coupé, which means it’s powered by a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 that pushes out 412 kW and 680 Nm of torque. Performance figures are 0 – 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds, an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h, or 305 km/h with the optional M Driver’s Package. The engine is mated to a 7-speed M-DCT double-clutch transmission and sends its power to the rear wheels via BMW’s active rear differential. Average fuel economy is a claimed 9.9 L/100km, but we reckon if you see that figure you won’t be having any fun.
The new M6 Gran Coupe features all the same mechanical equipment and software that we find on the M5 and M6 models, including: variable-rate and variable-assist hydraulic steering; Dynamic Stability Control; Dynamic Damper Control mapping; two M buttons on the M steering wheel to define performance pre-sets and more.
The interior is awash with leather and technology. Standard equipment includes heated driver and front passenger seats, automatically dimming rear-view and exterior mirrors, an alarm system and the BMW Professional radio with hi-fi loudspeakers. Available as an alternative to the standard 2-zone automatic climate control is a 4-zone system with a control panel in the rear compartment. Among the highlights on the options list are M multifunction seats, M-specific BMW Head-Up Display, Comfort Access, Park Distance Control, BMW Night Vision, Lane Change Warning, Lane Departure Warning and a Bang & Olufsen High End Surround Sound System.
It’s unknown when the M6 will make it’s public debut, but the most likely motor shows would be Detroit in January or Geneva in March. The M6 Gran Coupé will go on-sale in Europe in May 2013, with an expected time of arrival in South Africa in June 2013.
