All-new 2012 BMW M6 officially available in Malaysia
BMW Group Malaysia has officially announced the immediate availability of its second-generation 2012 BMW M6 Coupe today following a sneak preview at the BMW M Track Experience Asia 2012 event held at the Sepang International Circuit earlier this year in June.
According to Dr. Gerhard Pils, Chief Executive Officer of BMW Group Malaysia, customer interest in the car has been highly encouraging following the preview, noting that, “I am confident that with its exceptional performance, stunning aesthetics and assuredly BMW efficiency, the new BMW M6 Coupé will prove to be a popular choice in the market, allowing us to further strengthen our presence as Malaysia’s best-selling premium automotive brand.”
Outwardly, the M6 sports several M-specific design cues and enhancements that set it apart from a regular 6 Series. Its roof is made of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic to reduce weight and lower the car’s centre of gravity for better balance and agility. The surface of the roof itself is specifically contoured to improve airflow whilst also giving an aggressive appearance. At the bumpers, the front fog lights disappear to make way for the gaping air inlet, whilst the kidney grille carries a small M6 badge in similar fashion to old BMWs of the 1970s and 1980s.
Developed alongside the current generation BMW M5, the M6 is powered by the same 4.4-litre dual twin-scroll turbo V8 lined with technologies such as direct injection, Valvetronic, and Double VANOS. Functions of this highly advanced engine is managed by two interconnected processors, one responsible for each bank of four cylinders. As per the M5, outputs for the M6 read 560hp @ 6,000 – 7,000rpm and 680Nm @ 1,500 – 5,750rpm.
Mated to the Getrag-supplied 7-speed M Double Clutch Transmission, the M6 blasts to a century sprint time of 4.2 seconds, presumably achieved with the help of the built-in Launch Control function. In addition, there is also a Low Speed Assistance feature to help negate the inherent jerkiness experienced by dual clutch gearboxes in stop-and-go traffic conditions. Fuel consumption, for the record, is 9.9 l/100km in the European combined cycle.
Helping to facilitate better handling is the new Active M Differential, an electronically controlled multi-plate LSD that regulates power distribution between the left and right rear wheels for optimum traction in even the most treacherous conditions. The M6 also comes with Dynamic Damper Control that allows the driver to choose between three damper settings – Comfort, Sport, and Sport+. For stopping power, the M6 comes with M carbon ceramic brakes, the front pair having six pistons each.
In addition to its adaptive dampers, the M6 also allows its driver to fiddle with different settings for its engine, transmission, traction control, and steering response individually. There are two memory slots for drivers to store their preferred pre-set settings, and they can be accessed by the two M Drive buttons on the steering wheel.
The new BMW M6 Coupé will be available for purchase at BMW dealerships throughout Malaysia from 17th November. Available in exterior colours of Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Imperial Blue, Singapore Grey, Havanna, Sakhir Orange, Silverstone, San Marino Blue and Space Grey and a choice of either extended leather trim or full leather Merino Silverstone, Sakhir Orange or Merino Black for the interior, the retail price (on the road, without insurance) for the new BMW M6 Coupé is RM 988,800.
Pictures: Official BMW release.
