FIRSTLOOK

The number of M cars is certainly on the increase...

The four-door M6 is just as quick as the two-door version.

Yes, BMW is really fortifying the business case for its high-performance M cars.

The Gran Coupe you can see here, in official pictures released last week, is the third 6-series to go M, following the coupe and the convertible.

The last time BMW had three models wearing the same M badge was the M3, which comprised the E90 saloon, E92 coupe and E93 convertible.

Has this M6 got the same power as its two brothers?

Yes, it's the same 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 producing identical outputs of 560hp and 680Nm. In fact, this powerplant was also employed in the M5. BMW claims that the four-door M6 Gran Coupe is as fast as the two-door M6 Coupe, getting from 0-100kph in 4.2sec _ a tenth of a second faster than the M6 Convertible.

And does it beat the Merc CLS equivalent?

It sure does. The CLS63 AMG, equipped with a 525hp/700Nm 5.5-litre bi-turbo V8, accelerates in 4.4sec.

Even when spec-ed up with the Power Pack option, that takes the output all the way up to 557hp and 800Nm, the time only drops to 4.3sec.

But I bet the Panamera is quicker...

Yes it is. With a 550hp/750Nm 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8, the Porsche Panamera Turbo S does an exhilarating 3.8sec _ a good 0.4sec quicker than the fastest M6. And we haven't even mentioned the regular Panamera Turbo, which only delivers 500hp and 700Nm, but whose 4.2sec time matches that of the M6.

Probably the saving grace for the M6 Gran Coupe is its more resolved profile, which doesn't look quite as controversial as the banana-shaped CLS or the frog-like Panamera.

BTW, has the 6-series got a four-pot yet?

It seems you haven't yet been totally sold on this 15-20 million, high-performance quasi-saloon! But to answer your question: No, BMW has yet to give its 6-series four-cylinder petrol (or diesel) power _ a move which would certainly make it a lot more affordable. We know why you're asking, though, because the Thai Mercedes-Benz office was making loud noises about the CLS250 CDI at the just-concluded Motor Expo.

In either saloon or ''shooting brake'' estate form, the four-pot CLS has prices starting from an amusingly low 4.99 million baht.

We find it amusing because that's just a million baht dearer than the Thai-built E250 CDI _ and company executives aren't revealing how they managed it. Such attractive pricing is certainly making BMW Thailand very envious of its arch-rival. The cheapest Gran Coupe is the six-cylindered 640i, which goes for 9.499 million baht.