FIRST LOOK

Third-gen M6 gets 560hp power from M5 saloon to make it the fastest car in-class

- Should I just call them the coupe and cabriolet versions of the M5? 

Feel free to call them whatever you want mate, but the official names for the two-door M5 is M6 Coupe and Convertible.

Both will make their maiden appearance simultaneously at next month's Geneva motor show where the M party will be further intensified with the M550d, M550d Touring, X5 M50d and X6 M50d _ all four using an all-new tri-turbo six-cylinder diesel engine as featured in Life late last month.

Steering wheel is new.

- Super! How fast is the M6?

As already indicated in the deck above, the M6 gets its power from the M5 saloon, that is, a 560hp/680Nm 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol head and seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

It replaces its predecessor's tuneful, atmospheric 506hp 5.0-litre V10 albeit jerky, unresolved automated manual gearbox known as SMG in BMW speak.

According to BMW, the M6 Coupe goes from 0-100kph in 4.2sec _ 0.2sec faster than the M5 yet achieving the same 10.1kpl average fuel economy. The M6 Convertible does 4.3sec.

And if you'd care about top speed, the M6's speed limiter can be upped with the M Driver's package from 250kph to 305.

M6 is available both in coupe and cabrio bodies.

- Is there an M differential?

Of course, and it's part of a series of dynamic-enhancing features to make the M6 both enjoyable and easy to drive which can be found in the M5.

In fact, the styling enhancements of the M6 reflect those on the M5 like the accentuated vents in the bumpers. However, note the M6's bespoke, less chunky steering wheel.

- It looks quite nice. What about its rivals?

Like the 6-series it is based on, the M6 is nearly in a class of its own. The only luxury coupe (in the 15 million baht price bracket) to come with spicy performance treatment is the Jaguar XKR-S, which has a 550hp 5.0-litre supercharged V8 but is 0.2sec slower than the M6 from 0-100kph at 4.4sec.

The Aston Martin DBS, Bentley Continental Supersport and Mercedes-Benz CL63 AMG compete a notch higher in the 20 million baht range.

- What about the CLS63 AMG?

The CLS is more of a four-door saloon with a coupe-style profile. But don't think that Mercedes is the only one doing something strange. BMW has already announced this year the first details of the 6-series GranCoupe _ with four doors quasi-style like the CLS.

But what BMW hasn't revealed yet for its third 6-series model is the M power package the Coupe and Convertible have received here this week.

Spy shots in Europe have indicated that the M6 GranCoupe is undergoing durability tests on public roads and should go on sale within two years.

The M6 GranCoupe{aac} is likely to get that same 560hp powerplant. We'll just have to wait and see if it can match the CLS63 AMG in acceleration terms.

With a 525hp/700Nm 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8, the hot CLS does 4.4sec _ the same like the M5. With the 549hp/800Nm AMG performance pack, the time is cut by 0.1sec.

New M6 is more macho than before.

THE BLOODLINE