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Shopping for a ride in six-digit pricing territory opens the door on a tremendous selection of posh, advanced excellent performance models, and the new BMW M6 Coupe is one of the most recent. Advanced technology, performance, and everyday usability are the big draws here.
BMW's latest M-powered rocket-sled delivers lung-squishing performance, face-peeling acceleration, locked-on handling, and killer looks in a package that's surprisingly easy to drive. Effectively, the 2013 BMW M6 is two cars in one: a comfortable tourer one moment and a fire-breathing sports coupe that's absolutely track-ready when dialed into “M” mode. It's a good thing you get two cars here because the tester, with some options, wore a sticker of $145,000.
Technicalities
The latest M-power engine motivates the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe. Specifically, it's a 4.4L V8 with targeted upgrades for durability and performance in a motorsports setting. Using turbocharging, it creates simply monstrous output as a pair of exhaust-driven air compressors blast the combustion chambers full of cooled, compressed air at a moment's notice.
The result? The 2013 BMW M6 Coupe generates a monstrous 560 horsepower, and video-game-like sound.
Drivers can expect it to dispense with 0-100 km/h in a tick over 4 seconds, followed by a non-stop flood of torque that blasts the big two-door ahead until the throttle is released. Explosive is a good word to describe acceleration. Drop your foot and after a very brief moment of turbo lag, the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe consumes the road ahead at an absolutely startling rate. If you haven't got the self-control of Buddhist monk, this thing will be the weapon of mass destruction for your driver's license. Often, the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe is just too fast for roads with speed limits.
The transmission is the engine's partner in crime: a 7-speed twin-clutch box that completes an entire gearshift in a blink at the click of a paddle, complete with perfect rev-matching in both directions. Left in drive it functions like a regular automatic, shifting gently and easily.
Driving the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe
Drivers can have all of the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe's performance any way they like thanks to switches that adjust the calibration of the suspension, steering, transmission, and overall system response in real time.
Fully dialed up, the shocks stiffen, the engine gets louder, and the transmission and engine become markedly more responsive. Drivers feel and hear more, and it all works to pull them into the experience right down to the steering that thickens up. Set up thusly, handling dynamics capitalize on the M6's size and weight for a stable, solid, and clamped-on agility that's big on confidence.
All the while, it fully reminds you that you'll get nowhere near the limits of its grip on a public road.
When a more relaxed drive is in order, the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe is surprisingly laid-back. It proves largely quiet and comfortable when cruising the highway in no particular rush.
Ins and Outs of the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe
Complaints were minimal, as expected of a car with pricing bordering on real-estate territory. Rearward visibility is limited, as is back-seat space. Fuel consumption is very reasonable during gentle highway driving, though it can spike as high as 17L / 100km in the city if you don't watch your right foot.
Drivers enjoy the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe from a cabin lined sumptuously with carbon fibre, leather, and gadgets; and in the case of the tester, $6k worth of stereo upgrades from Bang & Olufsen. I have no idea what their stereo sounds like, however... Twin-turbo V8, and all.
Front seat space is generous, even for taller drivers. Numerous passengers throughout the week admitted to expecting a far stiffer and noisier ride, as did I.
And, on a personal level, I'm not a fan of such a huge array of tech-y gadgets in a high-performance car, but gadget-geek types will love it.
Comparing the 2013 BMW M6
At this price range, there's no shortage of worthy options. The Audi R8 is less powerful for the money, but arguably attracts more attention than anything this side of a half-million dollars. The Jaguar XKR is more dated and not as powerful, but it's sumptuously classy and extremely attractive -- for thousands less. A Porsche 911 Carrera S is just as quick in a straight line, and feels more agile and lively to drive hard.
Ultimately, the 2013 BMW M6 will appeal highly for its size, space, high-tech flare, and all-out firepower. Having to choose a model from the above list is a nice problem to have.
 |
BMW's latest M-powered rocket-sled delivers lung-squishing performance, face-peeling acceleration, locked-on handling, and killer looks in a package that's surprisingly easy to drive. Effectively, the 2013 BMW M6 is two cars in one: a comfortable tourer one moment and a fire-breathing sports coupe that's absolutely track-ready when dialed into “M” mode. It's a good thing you get two cars here because the tester, with some options, wore a sticker of $145,000.
 |
| The 2013 BMW M6 is two cars in one: a comfortable tourer one moment and a fire-breathing sports coupe that's absolutely track-ready when dialed into “M” mode. (Photo: Justin Pritchard) |
Technicalities
The latest M-power engine motivates the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe. Specifically, it's a 4.4L V8 with targeted upgrades for durability and performance in a motorsports setting. Using turbocharging, it creates simply monstrous output as a pair of exhaust-driven air compressors blast the combustion chambers full of cooled, compressed air at a moment's notice.
The result? The 2013 BMW M6 Coupe generates a monstrous 560 horsepower, and video-game-like sound.
Drivers can expect it to dispense with 0-100 km/h in a tick over 4 seconds, followed by a non-stop flood of torque that blasts the big two-door ahead until the throttle is released. Explosive is a good word to describe acceleration. Drop your foot and after a very brief moment of turbo lag, the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe consumes the road ahead at an absolutely startling rate. If you haven't got the self-control of Buddhist monk, this thing will be the weapon of mass destruction for your driver's license. Often, the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe is just too fast for roads with speed limits.
The transmission is the engine's partner in crime: a 7-speed twin-clutch box that completes an entire gearshift in a blink at the click of a paddle, complete with perfect rev-matching in both directions. Left in drive it functions like a regular automatic, shifting gently and easily.
 |
| The 2013 BMW M6 Coupe generates a monstrous 560 horsepower, and video-game-like sound.(Photo: Justin Pritchard) |
Driving the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe
Drivers can have all of the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe's performance any way they like thanks to switches that adjust the calibration of the suspension, steering, transmission, and overall system response in real time.
Fully dialed up, the shocks stiffen, the engine gets louder, and the transmission and engine become markedly more responsive. Drivers feel and hear more, and it all works to pull them into the experience right down to the steering that thickens up. Set up thusly, handling dynamics capitalize on the M6's size and weight for a stable, solid, and clamped-on agility that's big on confidence.
All the while, it fully reminds you that you'll get nowhere near the limits of its grip on a public road.
When a more relaxed drive is in order, the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe is surprisingly laid-back. It proves largely quiet and comfortable when cruising the highway in no particular rush.
 |
| Drivers can have all of the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe's performance any way they like thanks to switches that adjust the calibration of the suspension, steering, transmission, and overall system response in real time. (Photo: Justin Pritchard) |
Ins and Outs of the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe
Complaints were minimal, as expected of a car with pricing bordering on real-estate territory. Rearward visibility is limited, as is back-seat space. Fuel consumption is very reasonable during gentle highway driving, though it can spike as high as 17L / 100km in the city if you don't watch your right foot.
Drivers enjoy the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe from a cabin lined sumptuously with carbon fibre, leather, and gadgets; and in the case of the tester, $6k worth of stereo upgrades from Bang & Olufsen. I have no idea what their stereo sounds like, however... Twin-turbo V8, and all.
Front seat space is generous, even for taller drivers. Numerous passengers throughout the week admitted to expecting a far stiffer and noisier ride, as did I.
And, on a personal level, I'm not a fan of such a huge array of tech-y gadgets in a high-performance car, but gadget-geek types will love it.
 |
| Drivers enjoy the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe from a cabin lined sumptuously with carbon fibre, leather, and gadgets (Photo: Justin Pritchard) |
Comparing the 2013 BMW M6
At this price range, there's no shortage of worthy options. The Audi R8 is less powerful for the money, but arguably attracts more attention than anything this side of a half-million dollars. The Jaguar XKR is more dated and not as powerful, but it's sumptuously classy and extremely attractive -- for thousands less. A Porsche 911 Carrera S is just as quick in a straight line, and feels more agile and lively to drive hard.
Ultimately, the 2013 BMW M6 will appeal highly for its size, space, high-tech flare, and all-out firepower. Having to choose a model from the above list is a nice problem to have.