Advantages
Wide range of performance and comfort settings; responsive automated manual transmission; extremely powerful engine.
Disadvantages
Modest rearseat legroom and headroom; feels big and heavy around tight turns.
Introduction
One of the many perks of this job is, not surprisingly, the cars. It’s relatively easy to snag the keys to a vehicle for a special occasion, whether that be for a road trip, tailgating or helping a friend move. And while sometimes the tailgating might happen with Tata Xenon instead of a Range Rover and the road trip might be in a MPV rather than a Mercedes Benz S-Class, occasionally the stars align, and a special vehicle arrives for an equally special time.
That’s exactly how I found myself dressed to the nines and behind the wheel of the 2014 BMW M6 Gran Coupe, a INR1.75 crore rocket ship, en route to a rare multi-wedding weekend to celebrate with two pairs of my closest friends on the biggest day of their lives. Continuing with our nuptial theme, the M mechanicals and 6 Series Gran Coupe body are a match made in heaven. The M6 could be just what the doctor ordered! This sleeker 4-door is outrageously fast and fabulously luxurious, and it’s a delight to drive on most roads.
In addition to its state-of-the-art automanual transmission and massive power, the 2014 BMW M6 Gran Coupe features numerous Motorsport division features; these include rear limited slip differential to help get the power to the ground, intensified interior with extra helpings of simulated suede and leather and standard sport seats. On the outside, you will notice the M car’s more aggressive front fascia with its integrated carbon fiber splitter, along with a prominent roof panel made of the same exotic material.
Whether all these additions are enough to justify the M6 Gran Coupe’s considerable price tag is largely a matter of your personal taste and budget. Sedans such as Porsche Panamera, Mercedes Benz CLS Class and Audi RS 7 are all viable alternatives. Every one of these vehicles is fast and luxurious, but if you are drawn to the M6 Gran Coupe’s character and style, rest assured that it’s a fine choice for an elite 4-seater sport coupe.
Trims and Features
The 2014 BMW M6 Gran Coupe is available in a single, well-equipped trim level, which includes adaptive suspension dampers; 20-inch wheels; adaptive bi-xenon headlights; a rear limited-slip differential; automatic soft-close doors; front and rear parking sensors; front and rear parking sensors and power-folding, auto-dimming and heated side mirrors. It is visually distinguishable from other 6 Series Gran Coupes with its unique front grille and air intakes, aero-contoured carbon-fiber roof, rear bumper with diffuser elements and M-specific side vents.
Inside, you can look forward to standard keyless ignition/entry, four-zone automatic climate control, front-seat heating memory functions, aggressively bolstered 16-way power front seats (with four-way lumbar support), leather upholstery, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, interior ambient lighting, split-folding rear seats and carbon-fiber interior trim. Electronic features include Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity; adaptive cruise control; a rearview camera; BMW’s iDrive interface with a 10.2-inch display and Smartphone app integration; a navigation system; and a 12-speaker surround sound stereo system with satellite radio, USB/iPod integration and a CD player.
Engine
Motivation for the 2014 BMW M6 Gran Coupe comes from the M TwinPower Turbo eight-cylinder petrol engine, which is good for churning out 560 horsepower with 680 newton meters of torque. The M double-clutch 7-speed transmission with Drivelogic leads to high-precision gear shifts in fractions of a second and thus offers inspiring thrust without any loss in traction. The use of intelligent technologies sends driving pleasure soaring and effectively reduces emissions and fuel consumption. In spite of its impressive performance, the M6 Gran Coupe only consumes an average of 9.9 litres per 100 kilometers and is therefore one of the top of its segment. It accelerates from 0 to 100kmph in just 4.2 seconds with the top speed of 250kmph.
Safety
The 2014 BMW M6 Gran Coupe comes standard with traction and stability control, antilock disc brakes, brake fade compensation, cornering brake control, hill launch assist and automatic brake drying. It also gets front seat-mounted side airbags, front airbags, side curtain airbags, knee airbags, parking sensors, active front-seat head restraints and a rearview camera.
Interior
The intimate cabin is decidedly driver-focused and trimmed in an abundance of leather and other high-end materials, including plentiful carbon fiber accents. The unique headliner treatment pairs Alcantara simulated suede with leather in a design, which follows the contours of the carbon-fiber roof. Trunk capacity isn’t exceptional with just 12 cubic feet, but thanks to standard split-folding rear seats, there’s a fair amount of utility when you need it.
A 10.2-inch screen and BMW’s iDrive controller together handle climate, entertainment, phone and navigation functions, in addition to various vehicle settings. There’s a lot of functionality here, and although we advise you to take some time to study the various features before you hit the road, iDrive is one of the best electronics interfaces out there. Graphics are excellent, processing times are quick, and once you’re acclimated you’ll find that the organization of the menus is pretty logical.
Driving Impressions
This car does not follow an example but a philosophy. With technology from motor sports. And with comfort that meets the highest requirements: those of everyday use. The 2014 BMW M6 Gran Coupe: extravagant character and athlete in one. Not built for the mainstream but for the limits of automobile physics. Typical of BMW M. High performance that sets standards in every respect.
With an M TwinPower Turbo V8 engine that knows no equal in terms of performance, torque and efficiency. Supplemented by a seven-speed M double clutch transmission with Drivelogic, which transforms the enormous drive of the high-performance engine into an emphatic forward thrust via two transmissions with separate coupling and no disruption in power. And with a high-performance chassis, which combines razor-sharp precision with outstanding agility.
Are complete control and free personality development mutually exclusive? The freely programmable M Drive vehicle setups in the 2014 BMW M6 Gran Coupe impressively proves that they are not. Even when designing the chassis, the automaker pursued only one aim: the optimum. In every driving condition, the M6 Gran Coupe supplies the proof: mission accomplished. Its sets new benchmarks on asphalt, thanks to its broad track width, unique steering precision, superior handling and perfect road holding.
Select reinforcements and struts maximize stability; innovative technologies optimize the driving characteristics. Even individually programmed vehicle setups ranging from comfortable to ultra sporty can be activated at the press of a button on the steering wheel. As the final consequence: in M Dynamic Mode the regulating tolerance of Dynamic Stability Control operates at the limit – it only intervenes to stabilize in critical situations.
