BMW M6 Convertible
Bruising M6 loses its lid ... and the plotLaunched: BMW M6 Convertible
Model: BMW M6 Convertible
Engine: 4999cc V10, dohc, 40v
Max Power: 373kW at 7750rpm
Max Torque: 520Nm at 6100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed sequential manual
0-100km/h: 4. 8sec (claimed)
Price: $296,000
On sale: Now
Ultra-high performance convertibles are a bit of an automotive oddity. Open-top Ferraris and Lamborghinis get away with it because, well, they're Ferraris and Lambos. And we're not talking about dedicated roadsters like the Porsche Boxster, either. You see, as a general rule, convertibles aren't as focused as their coupe brethren, so taking a gas-axe to a hardcore hardtop often results in engineering compromises.
Unfortunately, BMW's M6 Convertible isn't immune to such compromises and weighs in at 1930kg, an incredible 220kg heavier than the coupe on which it's based. And lopping the lid off obviously ditches the Coupe's weight-reducing carbonfibre-reinforced roof.
Much of the added bulk is due to the additional bracing required to maintain chassis stiffness, some of which comprises rather crude-looking square steel tubes bolted to the floorpan.
Aesthetics aside, the M6's bracing does an admirable job of sustaining stiffness, but over bumpy or fast roads, it's possible to detect traces of flex in the Apillars. Another downside of this alfresco M6 is steering that lacks crispness.
Some will argue that the ability to enjoy the sunshine in your M6 Convertible is more than enough pay-off for its engineering compromises, and if you've got limitless funds to drop $296,000 on the M6 rag-top, then maybe it‘s worth the spend. However, the $223,000 650i Convertible is hardly lacking in squirt, thanks to its 270kW/490Nm 4.8-litre V8, and offers similar levels of luxury.
Despite the best efforts of the 373kW/520Nm V10 screamer, that extra weight cannot be hidden. BMW claims a 0-100km/h sprint of 4.8 seconds - just 0. 2sec slower than the Coupe - but the Convertible lacks the immediate response of the lighter Coupe. The extra weight means that to make fast progress, you really need to run the engine in 373kW (500hp) power mode, rather than the 298kW (400hp) default setting.
The almost exclusive use of the 373kW mode and its extra weight, saw the M6 Convertible return 18.1L/100km (BMW claims 15.2) over our 400km test loop of highway, back-road and urban driving.
The one benefit of the Convertible, however, is the access it grants to the V10's howling engine and exhaust notes. Above 5000rpm, the V10 is the aural equal of most supercars, and its exhaust pops on downshifts will have you laughing out loud and looking for tunnels.
Like the Coupe, the M6 Convertible is available only with a seven-speed Sequential Manual Gearbox (SMG). The M6's SMG has 11 modes - about seven too many - but a good balance of shift speed and smoothness can be found for most driving situations. It's still best to give a wide berth to the fully auto mode, though.
All of this criticism, however, is probably moot anyway. BMW Australia has an allocation of just eight M6 Convertibles, and they're all spoken for.
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