BMW packs 2012 M6 Coupe with 560 horsepower
Engineers at BMW have carefully tuned the engine fitted to the third-generation M6 intended to reach American car leasing showrooms in June. Built in both 4-seat coupe and convertible configurations, the car will add power, luxury and efficiency compared to previous models, the German automaker promises.
While the company has not yet announced pricing, specifications or EPA mileage ratings, one thing is clear - the new M6 will arrive on U.S. shores packing the most powerful engine ever fitted in a series-produced model from BMW.
Designed as a track car with the necessary accoutrements for daily driving comfort, the vehicle harnesses its tremendous power with a 7-speed M-Double Clutch Transmission (M-DCT) and an Active M Differential which optimizes power transfer between the rear wheels.
Bolted under the hood is a massive, 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine that screams with a peak output of 560 horsepower.
The sheer horsepower is about 10 percent greater than the V10 engine it replaces and torque is up by 30 percent. BMW's real trick was in managing the efficiency, however, as the new V8 will reduce both its fuel consumption rate and carbon dioxide emissions by a whopping 30 percent.
Connected to the pavement, the engine will hurtle an M6 Coupe down the road, accelerating from zero to 62 miles per hour in 4.2 seconds, and zero to 124 mph in 12.6 seconds. Top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph, but the improved efficiency provides a far greater driving range than the last generation model.
Helping drivers to manage that catapulting power, the M6 uses BMW's Active M Differential to correct for spinning tires in tricky conditions like slippery surfaces and tight corners. The system works by detecting a loss of traction and comparing it to the position of the accelerator pedal, the rotational speed of the wheels and the car's yaw rate.
Translated to driving performance, the differential produces improved stability in changing weather and impressive acceleration out of corners. Other safety functions include dynamic stability control (DSC) and an anti-lock braking system (ABS) that includes cornering brake control (CBC), dynamic brake control (DBC), brake assistant, brake fade compensation, a brake drying function and start-off assistant.
In U.S. vehicle lease dealer showrooms, the 2012 BMW M6 Convertible will arrive first, followed in late summer by the 2013 BMW M6 Coupe.
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