Take a look at this new M6. First impressions? Big car, and looks it—193 inches from its kidney pout to chunky tush. Weight makes for a comfortable ride, so its 4,500 pounds to be precise. Which means it’s probably going to drive heavy. So a nice relaxed cruiser. But no hard-driving bruiser. How wrong first impressions can be. Here is one of the most thrilling, most agile, most responsive, most fun cars to hit showrooms this year.
(See Also: Swiss Ferrari Collection)
A car that’s essentially a two-door version of BMW’s hallowed M5, yet one that steers better, brakes harder and feels less demanding to drive fast. And compared to the last-generation M6 with its howling V-10 engine and seemingly incredible bulk, this all-new version which adopts most of the M5’s greasy bits, is as different as night and day. Pop the hood and there in all its glory is BMW’s magical 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8. To fully describe its technical advancements requires a service manual longer than War & Peace. All you need to know is that, just like with the M5, it cranks out a towering 560 hp and 500 lb-ft of torque. Mated to a newly-developed seven-speed double clutch automatic and overly-complex launch control set-up, the M6 can blast from standstill to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds, hit the 100 mark in 9.2 and run to an easy 155 before the computer calls game over.
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Through the twisties the car seems to shrink in size, darting through curves as if running on rails. Select ‘Sport Plus’ and the Servotronic speed-sensitive steering gains just the right heft and precision to telegraph back everything that’s going on at the front. Exit the bend, pour on the power, and the big V-8 with its instant tsunami of power will fire you to the next one. Boy, this car is fun. Opt for the Convertible and that big canvas top can drop in 19 seconds flats, and on the move at speeds up to 25 mph. Go for the Coupe and you get a cool carbon fiber roof. With either car, you’ll be over-joyed.
LIST PRICE: $106,995 (coupe), $113,995 (convertible)
ENGINE: 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V-8
HORSEPOWER: 560 hp @ 5,750-7,000 rpm
TORQUE: 500 lb-ft @ 1,500-5,750 rpm
TRANSMISSION: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic
0–60: 4.3 seconds
TOP SPEED: 155 mph (limited)
PRO
Based on an M5 yet feels even more involving
CON
Systems choices for the driver that would challenge Einstein