BMW M6

BMW M6 in Nigeria

In the hands of your average armchair motoring enthusiast, the new BMW M6, and especially this M6 Convertible, produces automotive apoplexy. That's because when a BMW receives the M badge, it's met with a barrage of expectations. Most of them include recalling what we all liked about the E30 M3, E28 M5, and, to a lesser extent, the E24 M6. Then comes the bemoaning of the new M's increased weight, complexity, and unwelcome modernity.

This M6 drop-top has two primary missions: go super-fast and make your driver look and feel like a million bucks. The convertible, more than the coupe, is designed to be a special-occasion vehicle, more often than not for a grand touring road trip rather than a day at the track. On these fronts, the 2012 M vehicle greatly outperforms its predecessor, which was objectively slower and less luxuriously equipped.

Specifications of this model

Interior

Inside the interior is a whole different story, though, as BMW has produced a setting that is at once elegant, useful, and incredibly rich. The driver's seat is, without a doubt, the best in the house, especially with the M-specific three-spoke steering wheel to grip.

The rim has a nice thickness to it while still allowing you to view the gauges through the open space at the top. The leather is supple and has great graining here, as well as everywhere else one may touch it. There isn't a single driver control that doesn't feel well-weighted, securely built, or tastefully designed for its purpose.

The single luxury that was notably lacking in this M6 cabin was extra space. The front seats are comfortable and adaptable, but they are also fairly huge. Although the four-seat BMW has more space than a Porsche 911 Cabriolet, it is not a long-distance tourer for four adults. Two adults, on the other hand, will enjoy the journey and will be able to complete it quickly if necessary.

Driving Impression of the BMW M6

BMW's new seven-speed dual-clutch transmission also appears to be an excellent match for the massive power. Manual mode performs upshifts and downshifts faster than a typical stick, but it doesn't suffer from the low-speed jerkiness that many other DCTs can't seem to avoid. We're entirely fine backing the gearbox that BMW chose for this car, given that the Getrag manual employed in the new M5 leaves a lot to be desired.

It's a lot of fun to drive this 6 at both high and low speeds. Much of this is due to the configurability that modern software and modifiable settings for shift logic, steering effort, suspension damping, and other factors have incorporated into the driving experience. All of the settings' controls are located astride the stubby gear lever, and each has three levels to pick from.

Keep everything on the soft cycle, and this bad boy M6 will glide along like the "lesser" 650i. Nice ride, plenty of power, quiet with the top up, and no obnoxious exhaust noises to bother the neighbors.

Do you want to get yours?

This isn't a car that you can just drive. It will also do nothing to appease those who believe BMW has long since lost its path. The BMW M6 Convertible, on the other hand, excels at its job; it accelerates quickly and makes its driver feel fantastic. On that issue, there isn't much to debate. If this is the model you want, go to Cars45 in Nigeria to get your hands on one.