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June 21, 2006
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Combining all kinds of different qualities in unprecedented style, the BMW M6 Convertible is truly unmistakable. It is the open-air version of the BMW M6 high-performance sports car. And at the same time it is the most sporting and dynamic rendition of the BMW 6 Series Convertible. In particular, however, the BMW M6 Convertible is one of the most fascinating and exclusive cars ever built. Reflecting the usual standard of a BMW M Car, the dynamic driving qualities of the BMW M6 Convertible have been optimised on the race track. With its supreme driving comfort, wide range of equipment and unique flair, the M6 Convertible is however equally at home on all kinds of roads the world over. The high-quality fabric roof ensures sheer driving pleasure at all times of the year. And not least, the BMW M6 Convertible stands out through the understatement and style so typical of every BMW M Car. Unique at first sight In the sum total of all its features, the BMW M6 Convertible is beyond any competition. Proudly bearing the motorsport DNA of BMW M and the comfort-oriented elegance of the BMW 650i Convertible, the M6 Convertible most definitely comes in a class of its own - it is a high-performance BMW convertible thrilling in every respect. So there can be no doubt about it: Compared with other high-performance open two-seaters, the BMW M6 Convertible comes closest to the concept of the ideal car in this segment. Measuring 4,871 millimetres or 191.8 inches in length, BMW M's new highperformance convertible is more than 5 centimetres or 2 inches longer than the BMW 6 Series Convertible, above all due to its rear air dam optimized for supreme aerodynamic performance and giving the entire car an even sleeker, stretched-out silhouette. Widely flared wheel arches, in turn, give the car a very sporting, low and dynamic look. Fin-roof look with the softtop either closed or open
The roof of the BMW M6 Convertible is made up of three layers. A special noise- and heat-insulating layer of polyurethane (PUR) foam comes between the rubberised outer layer and the interior roof lining. Thanks to its unique fin-roof look, the softtop boasts the same dynamic contours as the coupé. The wide C-pillar, in turn, is characterised by the so-called Hofmeister "kick" proudly borne out on all BMWs and so typical of the brand. Although the roof covers an extremely generous passenger compartment, it folds up into compact dimensions, the vertically positioned rear window hardly taking up any storage space at all, since it moves up and down electrically, regardless of whether the roof itself is open or closed, thus providing a pleasant, draught-free supply of air whenever required. The roof itself opens and closes electrically either by remote control or by pressing a button in the instrument panel, the entire process in each case taking less than 25 seconds. The interior: sports car character with proud style and noblesse Within its interior, the BMW M6 Convertible again boasts a wide range of beautiful, stylish and highly practical features. Quite openly, it displays all the noblesse rightly expected by the connoisseur of an exclusive convertible ranging from generous seats and spaciousness all the way to a complete range of highly attractive comfort features. A particular highlight is the tasteful combination of the most exclusive materials, with the entire design of the interior reflecting the car's sporting and elegant style. Perfect seats for sports motoring The front seats have been optimised especially for the BMW M6 Convertible, offering above all supreme driving dynamics and excellent support. For a convertible, the space available for the rear-seat passengers is by all means comfortable and, indeed, generous. Like in all M Cars, the battery and tyre repair system are housed in the luggage compartment offering an unusually spacious volume of 300-350 litres (10.5-12.3 cubic feet). This accommodates one large and one small hard shell case or a medium-sized hard shell case plus two 46-inch golf bags. The V10 Convertible: an open pledge to power and performance Boosting a 373 kW/507 hp V10 power unit, the BMW M6 Convertible is quite literally an open pledge to power and performance. Even so, however, the sheer power of the engine alone is not everything. Rather, the fascinating experience of driving the car results from its outstanding acceleration and development of power at all engine and road speeds. In the BMW M6 Convertible, this ideal combination of torque and the overall transmission ratio translates into truly impressive power on the drive wheels in all situations and under all circumstances. The supreme performance of the fast-revving V10 power unit in the BMW M6 Convertible forms a perfect match with the optimum gear and final drive ratios, thus ensuring perfectly dosed transmission of engine power to the drive wheels at the rear. High-speed power unit and seven-gear SMG The high-speed power unit offers supreme output in all situations and under all conditions. And since fast acceleration also calls for a fast and precise gearshift, the BMW M6 Convertible comes as standard with BMW's Sequential M Gearbox (SMG) complete with Drivelogic. Seven-speed SMG conveys the power of the engine to the rear wheels ideally via the drivetrain, offering the driver the option to shift gears manually, if required with an extremely fast and efficient gearshift. At the same time the automated Drive function makes rapid but smooth cruising a particular experience in motoring comfort. SMG is activated either via the selector lever or through gearshift paddles on the steering wheel. Both in the manual and automated mode, the interruption of power flowing to the drive wheels when shifting gears is reduced to an absolute minimum. "M" for maximum muscle Perfect interaction of the V10 power unit and seven-speed SMG gives the driver maximum pleasure at the wheel: Acceleration from 0-100 km/h comes in 4.8 seconds and the BMW M6 Convertible completes the standing-start kilometre in 22.9 seconds. This supreme performance continues all the way to the car's top speed limited electronically to 250 km/h or 155 mph. Variable M Differential Lock and DSC with M Dynamic Mode The variable, speed-sensing M Differential Lock gives the M6 Convertible supreme driving stability and optimum traction especially when accelerating out of a bend. Even in the most demanding situations, therefore, the differential provides a decisive edge in traction, for example with the drive wheels running on surfaces varying extremely in their frictional coefficient. In such a case the M Differential Lock immediately builds up growing locking force with an increasing difference in speed between the two drive wheels, thus maintaining the car's traction and pulling force at all times. The BMW M6 Convertible proudly features the new generation of BMW Dynamic Stability Control (DSC). While the first stage of DSC is designed for maximum driving safety, the M Dynamic Mode is appreciated above all by the sporting driver. And it almost goes without saying that the driver is able to switch off DSC completely if he wishes. Electronic Damper Control (EDC) also offers freedom of choice, no less than three control programs enabling the driver to set the suspension to different modes ranging from really sporting and firm all the way to relatively comfortable. Clearly, the driver does not always need all the power of the V10 in every situation. In city traffic or when cruising through the countryside, for example, the comfort-oriented P400 performance program is the ideal choice. P400 is automatically activated as soon as the driver starts the engine and, as the name indicates, immediately offers 400 hp output. Then all the driver has to do is press the Power Button in order to call up the full power and dynamism of the ten-cylinder, with this extra power offering a significantly more spontaneous and dynamic response. Photos: BMW (June 20, 2006)
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