06-22-2012, 12:55 AM | #1 |
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2013 M6 Coupe First Drive Review by Autoexpress
Featured on BIMMERPOST.com By Matt Davis June 2012
The 552bhp Coupe is fitted with the same 4.4-litre twin turbocharged V8 and seven-speed DCT transmission as the Convertible, but the car weighs 130kg less. Given the chance to stretch its legs at the track, it’s quickly clear how much better this car is to drive than its convertible sibling. With less weight to lug around, and using the optional carbon-ceramic brakes fitted to our test car, the Coupe goes and stops with monumental force. The low-down thrust from the turbo V8 is incredible; the M6 feels closer to a rumbling US muscle car than its highly strung V10 predecessor. It also means the newcomer is just as happy rolling round town in a high gear as it is lapping a track in anger. When we drove the soft-top, we were left slightly disappointed by the lack of an exhaust note, and it’s quieter still in the Coupe. We’d expect, and welcome, more volume from an M car. There’s nothing muted about the way the M6 drives, though. Once you’ve settled on one of the hundreds of possible combinations for the steering resistance, throttle response, traction control, gearshifts and suspension feel (we found Sport mode for everything worked perfectly on the road), it’s simply a matter of pointing the car at a corner, feeling the limits of the grip and blasting out the other side. It’s not subtle, but is very effective. Of course, if you turn off all the electronic assistance systems, there’s a hooligan waiting to be unleashed, too. |
06-22-2012, 09:22 AM | #2 |
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Pardon this 650xi driver creeping around on y'alls forum, but I enjoy living vicariously through all of you until I hit 25 and my insurance company no longer treats me like a ticking time bomb
I was intrigued by the comments here about the exhaust note. My M-tuned exhaust on my 650xi coupe is pretty impressive, but, understandably, the expectations on the M6 are likely higher than the regular 6er. I find it hard to believe that they called the M6's exhaust "disappointing." What do those of you with the car think? Also, does the M6 play the synthesized exhaust note through the sound system like the M5, or did they do away with that for the M6? I know that was controversial, so I'm curious. Thanks in advance. Here are some videos from my blog I made showing the M Sport exhaust on the 650i.
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06-22-2012, 10:28 AM | #3 |
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I don't think your car nor the M sounds at all disappointing. And I'm in the same boat as you with the insurance scenario, they want to charge me $500 plus a month for a 2009 e60 M5...a new 650 coupe would make their heads explode. I've never had a wreck and only one ticket.. I'm just under 25 lol.
But your car looks awesome and sounds awesome, as do all BMWs!! |
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06-22-2012, 10:37 AM | #4 |
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It is interesting that press cars are showing up with the Ceramic brake option when it won't be available to purchase for quite some time yet.
Sounds like the car is a blast to drive though, as expected. |
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06-22-2012, 10:51 AM | #5 | |
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06-22-2012, 11:19 AM | #7 | |
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AUTOCAR: "You can also shift the steering’s weighting across three modes, but in none does its stylish rim provide much info about grip and slip-angles, this tactile shortfall a disappointment in such a driver-oriented car. So is the sometimes surprising lack of response from the transmission, even in the most hectic modes – often, it’s better to paddle your way to performance. Should I buy one? These shortfalls, plus a ride likely to turn busy on British surfaces in sport, make a faintly less satisfying device of the M6 than it ought to be. Especially when it costs over £20k more than an M5, and much the same for a nimbler, if slower, 911." Top Gear: "So, big kudos to the M engineers for making a big and heavy car feel so friendly when it’s in this unnatural environment. But really, they’ve missed the point. It never feels light. Worse, it never feels especially sharp. It’s not a sports car. It’s not, in the old sense, an M car. All these things mean that on the road it’s a staggeringly capable car but not a very captivating one. Really, what I want is a car that talks to me, rather than just has me along for the ride." |
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06-22-2012, 11:57 AM | #8 |
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Mobile! I Grew up in Mobile and now am in Birmingham. Good to know some other Alabama folks are part of the community.
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06-22-2012, 12:44 PM | #9 | |
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Everyone knows that Car & Driver are huge BMW fanboys and they even ranked the new M5 lower than its MB and Audi competition. ///Marketing is getting too much control and the direction of things isn't pretty. They even changed their slogan from "The ultimate driving machine" to "Joy" and it's showing. Please BMW, whatever you're doing... stop doing it. |
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06-22-2012, 02:47 PM | #10 | |
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I don't expect a 4200 lbs. car to feel like sports car. It just needs to be nimble for its size, and of course it should still be fast. I consider my E93 a blast to drive, and despite the low revving engine in the new M vehicles, I bet they are a hoot to drive too. At least for me they would be. Cheers. |
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06-22-2012, 04:06 PM | #11 | |
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The reason why I fell in love with BMW M cars was due to the level of performance, daily driver usability, and more importantly, a level of driver involvement usually reserved for much more expensive pure sports cars. Unfortunately this latest generation of M cars (new M5, M6, X5M, X6M) seem to have forgotten that key characteristic and therefore are moving away from what made them so brilliant for so many years. As eisenb11 said in his post above, it seems that the marketing department is having too much influence in the decisions being made at BMW M. I really hope that the upcoming M3 breaks drastically away from this trend, but something tells me that it won't. |
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06-22-2012, 06:12 PM | #12 | ||
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Just my 2 cents.
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06-22-2012, 08:04 PM | #13 |
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Funny thing is at the same time, AMG and S/RS cars are getting better and better at making their chassis' and having driver involvement in their cars. If this keeps up then give them 1 more generation and they will be on top.
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06-22-2012, 08:17 PM | #14 | |||||
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I'm going to the PC for the 2-day school in January, and I can't wait to see how the M5 and M6 drive. The 650xi is more car than I need for a daily driver (not that I'd turn down an M6 ), so the M6 will be a great treat for track use. Quote:
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The article posted a couple days ago about this being the end of a true manual in the M5 mentioned that the M3 will always have a stick. I think that's a good sign for the ///M line, albeit a bit disappointing for the M5 and M6. I have the 8-speed auto in my 650xi, and it is brilliant. Even though I didn't go for the manual, I do appreciate that they made the 6-speed manual available as it speaks to the sporting heritage of BMW. Sadly that will be discontinued for 2013, if I remember correctly.
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06-23-2012, 12:41 AM | #15 |
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Hey Guys Just thinking about an M6, for now. But our 650i Coupe is really nice and I don't know if it's really worth the extra $$$$$ ???
A 2&1/2 ton car, 400+HP and we're getting over 23MPG on a 4&1/2 hr trip!!!!! How cool is that?? I'm still old school, KMs is where I live but mileage I only know in MPG's!!!.......................................... ....... and yes, it's raining!!! Must clean the wheels again...argh!!! And my 2 cents............ BMW is only marketing whatever it sells!! In Canada. only xDrive and no 6 speeds for the 2012!! Gidgets & Gazmos is what the people with the $$$ have to spend it on and BMW is "fine tuning" their market. I agree.......... 3-series will be the only stick car in their future!! Last edited by M6-4KIX; 06-23-2012 at 12:46 AM.. Reason: content |
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06-23-2012, 07:03 AM | #16 |
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Where in Alabama do you live? Just asking because that looks precariously close to the roads I drive going back and fourth between Auburn and Huntsville.
Mobile! I Grew up in Mobile and now am in Birmingham. Good to know some other Alabama folks are part of the community.[ (Mobile, AL) guy here as well. Henni |
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06-23-2012, 01:33 PM | #17 |
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It s funny how some journalists expect to "feel" an M6 as it would be an 1M or an M3 Coupe...
Let's put it near its class rivals (Merc CL AMG, Bentley GT, Jag XKR-S, etc.) and after that we can have a realistic conclusion! |
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06-24-2012, 03:46 PM | #18 | |
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What I noticed is BMW was 60% sport and 40% luxury before while MB was 60% luxury and 40% sport. Now theyre both moving towards 50/50 more. I guess BMW noticed most of their customers are younger and perhaps with all the new safety regulations cars will become more and more expensive because of technology. For BMW to make money in the future they have to shift to older people with more money which is the market MB holds more of. If you look at the asian markets they like MB a lot more than BMW because MB is considered more luxurious yet they dont know the comparison between the performance figures between the two. I am sure everyone has noticed the increase in visual and physical appeal in BMW now vs the past. MB on the other hand is increasing their sporty aspect of their cars because that is what their cars lack and what everyone who knows cars complain about. Their line up is more expensive than BMW but their driving feel is no where close. Sure their fitament and quality may be better but they make cars like the SLS, CL AMG, and SL AMG that are all over 150k which at that price range demands great driving feel. So I feel BMW is investing more money on visual and physical appeals than the sporty aspect while the competition is going towards developing a sporty character in their cars. BMW pretty much traded too much for visual appeal too much at once. Just what I think. Sorry I was watching a movie while typing this so its prob not that clear/direct/or even makes sense.
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06-24-2012, 04:07 PM | #19 |
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The sound, hugh? I don't know that I have the windows open often enough to care...LOL
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Tony ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ '07, e92 335i, Sparkling Graphite, Coral Leather, Aluminum, 6-speed |
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06-24-2012, 08:18 PM | #20 | |
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