BMW M6

The M6's chassis is similar to that of an M5 except for the wheelbase (shorter) and its center of gravity lower. It costs € 115,300, ie € 20,300 more than an M5. It is more of a coupe to a very high performance sport in which everything is subject to maximum efficiency.

It has nothing to do it particularly difficult to drive, despite its power. It's convenient, easy to carry and is not up until a certain point (or reactions, or motor).

The major limitation is that the comfort is hard to have the suspension (especially at the stages of compression), on roads that have a strong downturn. In exceptional circumstances, the car may be slightly descolocar the path if there is support with broken asphalt. In this sense, as happens with other BMW hardened suspension. A Mercedes CL is more comfortable in these cases and less sensitive to the state of the soil. Roads in good condition, the level of comfort in the front seats is not very different from what is obtained, for example, a 5 Series.

The engine is powerful and has a captivating sound. Like other engines to reach the maximum power to a very high (in this case are 507 hp at 7750 rpm), use the gearbox with a certain frequency to achieve a response commensurate with what is expected of a car like that. Who use this car in gear and does not reach its limit, the 507 hp it may seem "small".

M6 wins the speed with amazing ease. To some extent it does not appear because the interior is well insulated, you can reach a very high speed without being aware of it. However, no marches in short pushes with force and violence with which they do some more sports cars, which have less power but are lighter, like a Porsche 911 Turbo. Mercedes CL 600 (which has a V12 biturbo engine of 500 hp) can also give more sense of acceleration that the M6.

The driver has a series of commands in the console (picture). Used to change the parameters of the automatic gearshift (there are eleven programs, five in the fully automatic mode and six in sequential mode), to change the hardness of the suspension ( 'EDC', 'comfort', 'normal' and 'Sports ') and to select the power (the P400, 400 hp or program-P500 Sport, 507 hp). The "EDC" also changes the feel of the address. There is another button on the gearshift that completely off stability control.

Part of the presentation to the press was held at the Ascari circuit (Malaga). Monitors BMW told us that to achieve the best possible relationship between efficacy and safety must operate the option MDrive. This function is connected by pressing "M" steering wheel (image).

By activating the "MDrive", the settings are automatically activated for maximum power, maximum hardness of the suspension and the maximum possible speed gearshift. The stability control program enters a more "permissive" (which is new to BMW, is called "MDynamic ') and that can only be achieved by pressing the wheel.

In addition, the "Head-Up-Display (if carrying), operates in a different way: in the windshield reflected an account revolutions with three zones distinguished by color, a speedometer and a number indicating the selected motion. When the engine reaches a cut near the injection, these indicators are beginning to parpadedar.

In the faster gear changes occur quickly, but with rough, especially when switching to a system running very high and very depressed with the throttle. With programs slower, the changes are much smoother. Even so, there is an ongoing change to another form of light shaking, this gearbox is not the brilliant performance of the Volkswagen group's DSG.

It seems that BMW is working on a gearbox of this type; Porsche itself. The M6's SMG box sequence does not change position in a top gear when it reaches the limit of spin, or even depress the accelerator to the floor at a low speed and with a long running gear. In sequential mode, simply switch to a top gear when they reach the maximum system if activated mode Launch Control.

I asked why the 507 hp is not available at any time, but we have to press a button to switch from 400 to 507 hp. I was told that 400 hp is more docile and easy to regulate the power, for example in city traffic or when it is necessary to move a car. Another reason is that with 400 hp engine works most of the time at Lambda = 1 and not with the 507 hp (thus pollutant emissions are lower).

Circuit, with the setting "MDrive" dynamic result is very good, not tried it with that configuration on the road. This setting seems to me very interesting, especially since stability control works as a "permission" that can not be obtained in any other way. Circuit can be driven at a rapid pace without coming into operation frequency, provided that the driver can move the steering wheel and measure the throttle.

Only in very pronounced curves and out of these, you can operate the DSC and limiting the acceleration. In these cases, it can be more effectively bring the stability control completely turned off. Only then can the car sobrevirar acceleration with ease.

With the DSC connected at all times as "intrusive", it happens to other BMW, which comes into operation on many occasions without really seems necessary. Circuit, this means that it is very easy to run out of capacity to accelerate a little support when cornering car and starts to slip slightly.

Despite the roof of the fiber and streamlined bumper with the rest of the 6 Series is a heavy car (1,785 kg), and moves as such. However, in the circuit, the biggest drawback I've found have been the brakes. Cars of the international filing took a few days available to other journalists. The disks were praised, which is not surprising when you use such a car on the street.

I asked why the M6 can not have ceramic brakes. BMW said that they felt during the development of the car, but dismissed the idea for the client because this type of car (which is not to exhaust brakes) offer more disadvantages than advantages (disadvantages are the braking cold its strength and low speed). Still, they said that it is likely that further, more powerful cars from BMW have them or may have.

The M6 (and M5) can not have active steering. Siegfried Friedmann (Launch Manager, BMW M), I responded with a question: "Are you missing the active steering?". I told him that the circuit, but which city would be as valuable as any car can be large and unwieldy in the turns, as a Series 5 (a 630i or a 645i can do). He commented that the direction of the M6 has a gearing mechanism that gives a different (in a very small range) depending on the position of the steering wheel, which is not comparable to the active direction. Nor can lead active stabilization