Vehicle Overview
The M6 is BMW’s high-performance version of its 6 Series sports car. It has more aggressive, M-specific styling cues and is powered by a turbocharged V-8 engine that’s rated at 560 horsepower. The M6 is available as a coupe, soft-top convertible or as a coupelike four-door, dubbed Gran Coupe. The M6 competes with the Porsche 911, Audi R8 and Jaguar XKR.
(Skip to details on the: M6 Gran Coupe)
New for 2014
A traditional six-speed manual transmission is now available as a no-cost option, and the transmission includes a downshift-rev-matching feature. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission with steering-wheel shift paddles and a launch-control function is still available.
Large carbon-ceramic brake rotors with gold-painted calipers are also optional. The brakes shave nearly 43 pounds from the M6’s curb weight, and the system quickly dissipates heat, according to BMW.
All M6s get an updated version of BMW’s iDrive controller system that brings revised graphics, new menu interfaces, upgraded navigation and a dictation service for composing short messages.
Exterior Highlights
- M6 gets an aggressive lower front bumper, revised rear bumper and quad exhaust tips
- Standard 19-inch light-alloy wheels; 20-inch light-alloy wheels available
- Lightweight carbon fiber roof lowers coupe’s center of gravity
- Twin-kidney grille has black slats
- M-style appliques in the front fenders
- Adaptive xenon high-intensity-discharge headlights with LED accents
- Available adaptive LED headlights
- Convertible’s soft-top takes 19 seconds to open, 24 seconds to close, according to BMW
- Soft-top can be operated at speeds up to 25 mph
Interior Highlights
- Driver-centric dashboard layout with 10.2-inch screen, which serves as the display for the iDrive system
- Merino leather upholstery
- Carbon fiber trim
- M6 lettering on the doorsills
- Two customizable M Drive buttons on the steering wheel for vehicle settings
- M Drive can alter the characteristics of the engine, steering and stability system, among others
- Available head-up display
- Available Bang & Olufsen premium stereo
Under the Hood
- 560-hp, twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 engine that makes 500 pounds-feet of torque
- Six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch transmission
- Maximum turbo boost pressure is 21.7 pounds per square inch
- Fuel-saving stop-start engine technology
- Electronically controlled limited-slip Active M Differential
- Adaptive dampers and adjustable power-steering assistance
- Top speed electronically limited to 155 mph
Safety Features
- Antilock brakes
- Electronic stability system with deactivation setting
- Side-impact airbags
- Side curtain airbags (coupe, Gran Coupe)
- Pop-up aluminum roll bars behind rear head restraints (convertible)
M6 Gran Coupe
The Gran Coupe body style is equipped similarly to the other M6 versions. The biggest differences are in the body style itself and the resulting interior space. From bumper to bumper, the Gran Coupe is 4.4 inches longer than the M6 coupe and 4.1 inches longer than the 5 Series sedan. The front seat dimensions are essentially the same as the coupe’s, but the Gran Coupe boasts a roomier backseat with three rather than two positions.
- 35.3 inches of legroom versus the coupe’s 30.5 inches
- 37 inches of headroom versus 35.8 inches in the coupe
- The Gran Coupe shares the coupe’s 16.2-cubic-foot trunk, which is 2.2 cubic feet larger than the 5 Series sedan’s trunk
