M6 Officially Launched

[komodo]

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/defa...?storyId=12357

Super-coupé officially launches this month

BMW officially launched the 205mph, V10-powered M6 this week, and sent us some pics.

Packed with F1-inspired technology, BMW described the car as the first production BMW to compete with cars "from Newport Pagnell, Maranello or Sant’ Agata, while taking the challenge once again to the best that Stuttgart has to offer".

Engine technology

Under the aluminium bonnet is the high-revving 5-litre V10 with a max torque figure of 383lb-ft at 6,100rpm and a red line of 8,250rpm. It completes the dash to 62mph in 4.6 seconds and its 507bhp figure gives it a specific power output of 101.4hp per litre.

BMW explained the link with its F1 engines: "The V10 is not, of course, directly related to the F1 racing car’s unit– it has 5.0 litres and the F1 engine is 3.0 litres – but apart from sharing the V10 layout it is a high revving engine, like the F1 unit, and much of the inspiration for the electronics and engine design was drawn from F1 experience.

"The high-speed nature of the engine is a case in point. The new ‘ten-cylinder’ has broken the 8,000rpm barrier and reaches a maximum of 8,250rpm. At 8,000rpm each piston covers 20 metres a second. At 18,000rpm the pistons of the F1 engine move at 25 metres a second. The difference is that the M engine must last for a ‘lifetime’ while the F1 engine only has to travel 500 miles or so."

BMW went on to talk about the "Formula 1-inspired bedplate design for the crankcase that provides a compact and extremely stiff configuration to withstand the very high engine speeds, combustion pressures and high temperatures. Another motorsport-inspired technology is that each of the ten cylinders has its own throttle butterfly and each cylinder bank is served by its own activator."

Stuttgart talked too about the weight-savings it made in the 240Kg engine, including the 21.8Kg six-bearing, forged steel crankshaft and the 481.7 gramme pistons. Overall moving masses in the valve train have been reduced by 17.5 per cent when compared with the new M5’s predecessor, the E39 V8 powerplant, according to BMW.

Other changes

Engine aside, key elements in the car's design include a seven-speed sequential gearbox and carbon fibre roof that's bonded to the body and contributes to a 45Kg weight reduction over a standard steel car. This lowers the centre of gravity by 60mm, helping to improve handling and performance. BMW said that its F1 experience helped its engineers bond carbon fibre into the M6 on both the roof and front and rear bumper supports.

Chassis changes over the 6-Series include stiffening the front subframe and changing the bearings at the front while at the rear additional supports, links and joints add mean more precise handling. The final drive casing is made of aluminium and finned to reduce weight and improve cooling. Lightweight but stiff tubular drive shafts keep moving masses low.

Other details are available on BMW's Web site.

Only 400 cars will be available in the UK in 2006 and BMW reckoned that the waiting list already covers that allocation. It costs £80,755.

Still not what you'd call a handsome car though, is it?

However you better get comfortable if you're waiting for it.

Buyers of the new BMW M6 could have to wait up to a year and a half to get their hands on the car, if they don't already have one on order.

The first examples of the £80,000 coupe were delivered to customers late last month, but every one of the 400 cars due to arrive in the UK next year is spoken for. BMW says that customers ordering an M6 today would not get their car until the first half of 2007.

The situation is even worse for prospective owners of the M5 super-saloon, with waiting lists of up to two years.

Meanwhile, BMW has confirmed that it has developed prototype versions of the M6 convertible and M5 Touring estate models, but has no plans to put them into production. An insider told What Car? that even if these cars got the green light for production, they wouldn't go on sale for at least a year.

[Rooz]

:Rock

Ok, someone please by me one for my B-day on the 22nd

[komodo]

Originally Posted by Rooz

:Rock

Ok, someone please by me one for my B-day on the 22nd

Ok, someone please buy me one for my B-day today.

[DEATH2000]

^^ sure, would u take one in 1:64 scale?

[dinanM6]

^^ I would but only if it came with some sort of experimental enlarger ray

[B_w.]

m6 is way hotter than the m5