BMW M6 given the green light

The last time BMW built an M6 was back in 1989, and during its six-odd years on sale, only 5,855 units were built, making it quite the collectors car, even today.

Many BMW loyalists will be pleased to know that in 2005 the M6 will make a comeback, and rumour has it that it could well be the most powerful BMW ever...

The same engine that is rumoured to be making its way into the M5 is now almost certainly coming to the M6, and promises huge amounts of power, but without the added boost of forced induction.

Indeed, while BMW has decided to forego turbo or supercharging, it is instead making use of its Formula One know-how to create one hell of a powerful engine.

Just like an F1 car, the new M6 will be powered by a V10, but this one redlines a little before the maniacal 18,500rpm rev ceiling of the Williams BMW open-wheeler.

The new 5.5-litre V10 that will ship in both the M5 and M6 is still a closely guarded secret, though sources suggest that the new 10-cylinder block will redline @ 9000rpm.

If true, this would suggest that, like an F1 car, it develops peak power very high in the rev range.

Therefore, the car's 375kW (roughly 500bhp) of power will likely hit @ around 7500-8000rpm.

Combine this revvy V10 with FSI direct injection, which is all the rage in Europe at the moment, BMW's Vavletronicand dual VANOS, plus 10 individual throttle butterflies, similar to the M3's, and you have a recipe for an extremely fast and responsive car.

BMW's evolving SMG gearbox will also make the cut in the M6, while some are whispering that a seven-speed version will be on offer.

Interestingly, the last M6 built (the E24 M6, in 1989) featured a 3.5-litre inline six-cylinder mill worth some 213kW @ 6500rpm and 340Nm @ 4500rpm, so the new 375kW beast, in retrospect, is quite a leap forward in terms of raw grunt.

Details are still sketchy on peak torque, but 0-100km/h sprint times are expected to be in the vicinity of a Ferrari-esque 4.5-seconds, and together with a kerb weight of 1700kg, the new M6 will have tremendous amounts of go.

As with most Germanic vehicles nowadays, the BMW super-coupe will be electronically governed to 250km/h, though the rear-wheel driver would be capable of much, much more if derestricted....

While the entire 6-series, and indeed the new M6, share much componentry with the upcoming 5-series (due late 2003), the M6 will get quite a few unique parts.

Furthermore, the M6 will be distinguished from the standard 6-series range by more aggressive bodywork. Flared wheel arches will house massive 19-inch light-alloy wheels, while the front end gets a much larger air dam, needed for supplying the nat-atmo engine with fresh air.

Larger side-skirts will give the M6 a sleek profile, while a sportier rear-end, complete with diffuser, rounds out the visual differences.

As it stands, the upcoming M6 could be the coupe that sends a few shivers up the spines of Mercedes big wigs, and the hype for the both M5 and M6 models is already reaching fever pitch, despite their tentative 2005 release dates.

The M6 will compete for market share with the likes of the Porsche 911 Carrera, the Mercedes SL55 AMG and Aston Martin DB8 to mention a few, though some are suggesting that even some Ferrari's will be humbled by the new V10 powerplant.

It should make for some interesting battles when both cars arrive in 2005, and will give lovers of both two- and four-door performance vehicles something to smile about.