BMW M6 Coupe

A blisteringly fast car, it features the German brand’s 4.4-litre V8 twin-turbocharged powerplant that delivers crushing top-end power with serious low-down torque.

And it is matched to seven-speed M double clutch transmission that can handle both urban cruising and flat-out quick shifts. It also has the Active M Differential, and even in standard guise has the M button feature that allows you to tailor the car depending on your driving style.

This is a niche model for BMW, and the new version is the most recent expression of the BMW M philosophy. It takes as its template the regular 6 Series Coupe look and then introduces a darker side. At the front there are deeper and wider air intakes, while the traditional kidney grille has a discreet M badge within.

The flagship of the 6 Series, the M6 Coupe has near 50/50 weight distribution. It also features a wider track than the standard car, so there are wider wheel arches to house them.

At the back you get the quad exhaust pipes and a tasty diffuser, while the roof panel is carbonfibre to shave weight and move the centre of gravity closer to the ground.

We’re talking heavyweight credentials here.

To complete the look, this M6 comes as standard with 19-inch forged alloy wheels featuring seven double spokes in a two-tone finish.

Optional 20-inch alloys are available.

Climb inside, and the M6’s cabin is spacious but snug. You sit low down surrounded by a bulking suite of BMW’s finest technology. The head-up display, which brings the satellite navigation and speed information into view, is a great boon, and you will soon find your perfect driving position in the electrically-adjustable, heated seats.

An added bonus is a new-look steering wheel which manages to pack in the numerous buttons into a classy three-spoke design.

There’s a particularly high level of standard equipment. In addition to the advanced mechanical package that the car offers, the M6 driver enjoys two-zone climate control, Merino leather interior trim and BMW Professional Navigation with a 10.2-inch colour screen.

The M6 Coupe is equipped for all environments. In Comfort mode it’s as comfortable as a regular 6 Series.

Press the M button once and you switch up into Sport mode for the engine, steering, gearbox and suspension (or other specific settings if you choose to modify them) and there’s an instantaneous tightening of the whole car as it primes itself for action. There’s extra eagerness in the throttle response, calling up the turbos more readily and as you push on the gearbox changes down more readily and holds the gears for longer.

You can go further too, into Sport+ mode for the snappiest gearchanges, weightier steering and a looser setting for DSC. You can even set your own preferences, too.

When pressed into serious action, the M6 throws off the notion of being a big and heavy GT and responds to the driver’s inputs. That big V8, which can also be found in the M5, produces a whopping 560bhp, has masses of torque and ploughs forward with relentlessness fervour, yet the car copes with the vagaries of poor surfaces with relaxing composure.

BMW’s M division worked tirelessly on the chassis of the M6, and the result is a sporting car that combines tremendous ability for high-performance driving with everyday usability. Drawing on their vast collective experience and legendary back catalogue, the M engineers combined their knowledge with the latest technology, honing it over an extensive testing period.

Thankfully, the M6 Coupe and Convertible feature as standard a powerful braking system with 400mm front discs and 396mm rear discs, gripped by six-piston callipers on the front axle that can be identified by their dark blue metallic finish.

The M6 Coupe is expensive, but you get an awful lot of car for your money. The Coupe costs from £93,795 and the Convertible £98,995, and they slot into insurance group 50.

Thanks to BMW’s EfficientDynamics technologies and the range of measures this incorporates, the new M6 is both cleaner and 30 per cent more fuelefficient than its predecessor, despite being significantly faster and more powerful.

Nevertheless, you are unlikely to ever achieve an mpg figure of 30 or more, and the CO2 emissions figure is 232g/km – a reduction in consumption and emissions by about 30 per cent over the former model.

BMW M6 COUPE

PRICE: £93,820

ENGINE: 4.4-litre petrol V8 developing 560bhp and 680lb.ft of torque

TRANSMISSION: sevenspeed dual clutch gearbox driving the rear wheels

PERFORMANCE: Top speed 155mph (limited), 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds

ECONOMY: 28.5mpg combined

CO2 RATING: 232g/km