We spent some time at the 2012 Detroit NAIAS with Matt Russell, M Brand Manager for BMW North America. Matt is a BMW enthusiast like us and is a BIMMERPOST member himself. We asked Matt some current hot M related topics and he was able to share the following.

BMW 1M COUPE

What were the final production numbers for the US 1M?
740 units. The very first one imported was the Valencia Orange 1M Pace Car which debuted at the Rolex 24 hour race at Daytona.

Matt further expanded on the reason the 1M production run wasn’t extended into the 2012 model year. It was not due to any issues related to engine/emissions certification, but simply because BMW could not get enough MY2012 production to justify homologation. This had … CONTINUED

The 2013 M6 convertible (F12) has been spotted completely revealed for the first time! Spotted at the Bayonne Military Ocean Terminal in New Jersey was this beautiful blue M6 convertible.

It shows all the traditional and newest M signature parts such as big blue brakes (a la F10 M5), M side skirts, M rear bumper and diffuser, M style wheels, M quad exhausts, cross drilled rotors, M side gill, and an M front bumper which cannot be seen in these photos.

The F12 M6 cabrio will debut @ the the Detroit NAIAS show in January.

We bring you the latest live look and listen at the upcoming new M6 coupe (F13) and convertible (F12) undergoing some final testing at the Nurburgring. We’ve also posted below a set of photos from the testing.

Not much camouflage remains, so its general shape and styling is easy to imagine. As for sounds, the M6 sounds quite similar to the F10 M5, owing to sharing the M5’s 4.4L 560hp twinpower twin turbo V8 S63Tu engine [specs]. This prototype appears to be testing carbon ceramic brakes, which will be an optional upgrade.

There’s no final word on debut and availability of the BMW F12/F13 M6 but we expect BMW to officially unveil the M6 in late 2011/early 2012 with a market launch in 2012.

Be sure to follow all … CONTINUED

Last week we spied the exposed BMW M6 coupe’s front end M styled bumper. Working off those images, we’ve produced a render which reveals what the M6 coupe should resemble when all the camouflage comes off. Look for an M6 coupe reveal sometime later this year/early next year.

The 2012 BMW M6 has dropped some camouflage, revealing much of its front and rear bumper/diffuser styling for the first time. The front bumper appears to be a bit more aggressive than the F10 M5’s front bumper, with larger and more prominent ‘fins’ coming out/down from the bumper. The rear diffuser also features some aggressive styling, with prominent fins in the rear as well. The M6 coupe may also be featuring a carbon fiber roof, as the roof’s camouflage still remains.

The occasion unfortunately ended with a crash. Today marked the beginning of testing week at the Nurburgring and while most of the M6’s testing run was in the dry, the last 4 kilometers were in the wet. While negotiating the ‘Galgenkopf’ corner, the M6 coupe lost … CONTINUED

An M version of the upcoming 6-series Gran Coupe is on the way and it’s been confirmed that there will also be an M version. The M6 Gran Coupe will become BMW flagship M model once it’s introduced, taking the flag from the F10 M5.

According to insider Scott26, the M6 Gran Coupe will boast 580BHP, through the 7 Speed M-DCT.

Insider SCOTT26 chimes in on the upcoming 6-series Gran Coupe and M6 Gran Coupe. Perhaps most exciting is the claim that the M6 Gran Coupe will boast 580bhp! Supposedly, this power figure was originally intended for the F10 M5, but was instead reserved for the M6 Gran Coupe as it will be the new flagship M model upon its introduction.

Also info on the Tri-Turbo diesel engine which the new BMW X6xDrive50d, BMW 6er GranCoupe 50d, 50d-M-Sport, and BMW 750d models will see.

Based on recent spy photos of the upcoming M6 coupe and cribbing some details from the F10 M5, we’ve generated some renders of BMW’s upcoming range topping M coupe. Enjoy!

Be sure to follow our F12/F13 M6 coverage @ http://www.bimmerpost.com/m6/

Surprisingly, despite the slew of M6 spy photos we’ve brought you since last year, not a single prototype has been in any color other than black. That’s no longer the case as this space gray F12 M6 convertible was just spied on the streets of Munich.

The camouflage level remains the same as recent M6 convertible mules, with the front and rear fascia still mostly masked, but, as we’ve discussed previously — the details on the rear bumper can be made out through the tape, and appears to follow the current M trademark design, which is similar to the rear bumper on the 1M and X3 M Sport. It is still not known if the centerpiece would be black as on the 1M or painted as on … CONTINUED