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BMW M6 leads new design direction
$300,000 Bavarian missile spearheads BMW's evolving design philosophyBMW has already delivered 10 of its high performance M6 coupe and convertible models in Australia, and another 10 of the $300,000 machines are expected to find homes before the end of 2012, as the hard-charging M car ushers in a new era of design for the German company.
The twin-turbo 412kW V8 four-seater sports car is priced at $292,500 for the BMW M6 Coupe and $308,500 for the M6 Convertible, and the Bavarian car maker's local arm is confident the vehicle's new design will elevate the car into exotic territory and boost sales as a result.
"Looking at initial interest I'm certain we'll outsell the previous model," says Piers Scott, BMW Australia's Head of Public Relations and Corporate Communications.
"It also has the looks and capability to appeal to a broader customer base than we were with the previous model. We're talking about competing with more exotic marques like Maserati and Aston Martin to some degree, as opposed to the traditional [rival] Benz."
The new 6 Series and M6 in particular represent a hallmark for BMW's current design chief, Adrian van Hooydonk, a far cry from the preceding iteration of the M6 overseen by Chris Bangle – a design that polarised the BMW faithful.
"This is a car that we do think can lure customers away from exotic marques, and a lot of that is in the design. The E63/64 was polarising as far as its look was concerned. It was groundbreaking and it was a derivative of the Z9 concept that really typified the [Chris] Bangle era as far as design goes, but with the new 6 Series you're really seeing the van Hooydonk era in its prime.
"It's got all the distinguishing characteristics that define van Hooydonk's time in the chair. A return to the shark nose, very sleek lines, there's a strong nautical theme that runs through the car," opined Mr Scott.
Chris Bangle was BMW's chief designer between 1992 and 2009 and will be remembered for creating the notorious 'Bangle butt' generation of vehicles seen on the rear of cars like the E63 6 Series and E65 7 Series, which were widely criticised for their unflattering rumps.
"Flame surfacing was his terminology, Bangle butt was the terminology of his critics," says Mr Scott. "But whatever you want to call his approach to the proportions of the car, you're seeing a more fluid, lightweight approach [from Hooydonk]... accentuating the precision of the design rather than its bulk."
Asked if BMW design was making a return to form after the troubled Bangle era, Scott responded: "Absolutely. And I think the 6 Series is where you see it most strongly. The 6 series is where we've chosen to really make a statement, design wise.
"The 6 series is doing the business for the brand. Were selling extremely well and leading the segment. It's getting a lot of attention," he said.
Standard kit on the M6 pair include heated/ventilated Merino leather seats, Walknappa leather trimmed dashboard, 20-inch wheels, Internet and TV functionality, a high-end 16 speaker stereo (12 speakers for the convertible), an advanced head-up display, rear-view and surround view cameras, radar-based cruise control, lane change and departure warning systems and soft closing doors to mention a few.
BMW's new M6 duo have the potential to benefit from the new design and improved standard features, but there's also a new 4.4-litre twin turbocharged V8 engine, which outputs more power and significantly more torque than the naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V10 engine it replaces.
The previous 10-cylinder engine's 373kW/520Nm output was not to be sniffed at, but the new forced-induction eight-cylinder engine generates 412kW/680N, enough mumbo to hasten the coupe and convertible from 0-100km/h in 4.2 and 4.3 seconds respectively.
While the previous V10 engine had its admirers, it really only came alive in the upper rev range, something the new model seeks to address.
"The thing that distinguishes this car [from its predecessor] is that it has a broader breadth of capability," says Mr Scott. "First of all it's far more usable and more easily wielded as a commuter but also has that top end capability as a track day special. The car has grown in its capability at both ends of spectrum," he adds.
We'll find out exactly how the new M6 performs when we test it on road and track. Read the full M6 review, or our international launch review.
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Written byFeann Torr
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