The 2012 M6 convertible (F12) is big, it’s heavy, and it’s for showing off. But, courtesy of the usual magic from BMW M GmbH, it does not feel as big, heavy, or just for showing off. What it is is a super high performing GT convertible and a hell of a looker.
We spent two days this week in Santa Barbara, California to check out and test drive the all new 2012 BMW M6 and 6 Series Gran Coupe (see our previous review). After over 100 miles of highways, backroads, and mountain twisties, here were our impressions.
Leading with our biggest reaction is that the F12 M6 is a seriously fast car! Car and Driver just published their test numbers, which have the F12 M6 convertible clocked from … CONTINUED
We can finally confirm that the next generation M3 (F80 / F82) will be powered by an inline 6 cylinder engine. We spoke to the President of BMW North America, Mr. Ludwig Willisch, at the ongoing M6 convertible / 6 Gran Coupe US press launch and he has officially confirmed that the next generation M3’s engine will indeed feature an inline 6 layout and not a V6.
Until now, there has been no official confirmation (nor denial) from BMW on whether the F80 sedan and F82 coupe’s motor would feature an I6 or rumored V6 configuration (although it’s been all but a foregone conclusion that it will utilize forced induction by way of turbos).
Mr. Willisch added that a V6 configuration was previously considered (including whether a motor … CONTINUED
Check out some looks from the BMW M Driving Experience at the Monza Circuit in Italy, featuring the latest and greatest from BMW M GmbH - the F10 M5, F12 M6, M3, X5M and X6M.
“A company is like a human being. As long as it goes in for sports, it is fit, well-trained, full of enthusiasm and performance.” These were the words of Robert A. Lutz, BMW AG Board Member Sales, back in 1972. They were the words christening the youngest subsidiary of BMW AG at the time, BMW Motorsport GmbH. Today the company is called BMW M GmbH. But it is just as fit, well-trained, full of enthusiasm and performance as it was 40 years ago.
The early 1970s were the dawn of a new age for BMW: A new, young Board of Management under Eberhard von Kuenheim had set out to strategically power and pursue the ongoing success of the Company. This included the construction of a new head … CONTINUED
The all new 2013 M6 coupe (F13) will take on safety car duties for MotoGP this season, becoming the latest BMW M model to do so after the M5 and 1M Safety Cars.
The MotoGP M6 safety car will debut at the 24 Hour Nurburgring race this weekend and will lead the M Festival M Corso parade event.
The first half of the MotoGP race season will continue seeing the use of the F10 M5 and 1M safety cars, but the F13 M6 coupe safety car will replace the 1M halfway through the race season. Expect the M6 safety car to receive similar modifications as the M5 and 1M - siren, Akrapovic exhaust system (whose name is seen on the M6 below) and aerodynamic enhancements (front carbon … CONTINUED
BMWUSA.com has added the “Explore” M5 and M6 sections to its website. Along with the new sections chock full of M5/M6 media and information, the F10 M5 Build Your Own configurator has come back online (after a couple weeks outage) and the F13 M6 Coupe configurator is online for the first time.
Click below to enter the BMWUSA M portal.
M5POST member GTR-Dad took european delivery of his F10 M5 and shares with us his enthusiast perspective (review) on his experience with the M5 in Europe. He provides some great feedback on the M5’s gearbox, steering, suspension, driver aids, and overall real-life experience with the car.
BMW NA has published some updated ordering information on colors, trims, and upholsteries for the 2013 US M5 and M6. They break down each into 3 levels of configuration and provide more ordering details and clarifications than previously available.
The BMW Performance Driving School Team (Steve Maguire) updates us on the results of the F10 M5’s performance in days 3-5 of the One Lap of America Race. The M5 is now in 13th position overall (very good for a stock car) after days 3-5. Check out the updates inside.
