This hasn't exactly come out of left field. BMW has done little to hide the fact a new M car was imminent and after a string of poorly disguised prototypes and teaser shots, (leaked or otherwise), the 2014 M6 Gran Coupe has finally been officially revealed. Sandwiched between the M5 and M6 coupe, the svelte four-door high-performance coupe further expands the BMW lineup and will come up against the likes of the Audi S7 and Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG when it hits showrooms in the summer.
Power mirrors that of M5 and M6 models, a direct-injection 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 generating 560 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque, which is sent to the rear wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and a special electronically-controlled limited-slip Active M Differential that optimizes traction and stability. The diff's control unit analyzes the gas pedal position, the wheels' rotational speed and the car's yaw rate. By evaluating every driving situation, loss of traction on one side of the car can be identified in advance, and the amount of axle lock is adjusted accordingly. In layman's terms, it's a clever way of getting all that power down to the road.
The V8 twin-turbo is also an engineering marvel, producing 10 percent more power and over 30 percent more torque than the preceding V10, making it the most powerful engine ever fitted in an M production car and enabling the M6 GC to rocket from 0-62 mph in 4.2 seconds (0.3 sec quicker than the M5) and hit an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph a short while later. Other noteworthy performance specs include aluminum-intensive suspension, speed-sensitive hydraulic power steering and M-specific stability control, reinforced chassis mountings and transmission programming.
As expected, the brakes have been upgraded with massive steel and aluminum front and rear motors (15.7 and 15.6 inches respectively), gripped by six-piston fixed calipers painted metallic blue. As for styling, an aggressive body kit accentuates its coupe-like profile, while M-model hallmarks include an exposed carbon-fiber roof, redesigned front and rear bumpers, quad exhausts, a carbon-fiber bumper-integrated rear diffuser and 20-inch forged alloys. Inside there's leather and Alcantara trim, a sporty, three-spoke steering wheel, heated sport seats, and a head-up display. Options include carbon-ceramic brakes identified by gold brake calipers.
Final pricing has yet to be announced, but we expect it to be a few grand more than the regular two-door M6, so figure on somewhere in the region of $110k. Watch this space for live shots of the BMW M6 Gran Coupe when the latest German performance fastback makes its public debut at the North American International Auto Show next month in Detroit.
