What's the news?

The Gran Coupé has been given to M, fettled with a new engine, revised suspension, bigger brakes, loads more equipment and a thumping big V8 with BMW's TwinPower turbocharging to give it 560hp. A heady cocktail indeed, particularly given the Gran Coupé's fine looks. This M version gives you even more reason to go all weak at the knees with its M specific styling and quad exhausts burbling away around the back.

Exterior

Already a bit of a looker the BMW Gran Coupé's appeal only increases with M division's makeover. A deeper front bumper with large openings manages airflow and feeds cooling air to the M6's big V8, while larger 20-inch light alloy wheels are specified - behind which sit bigger M specific brakes. A new rear apron, within which BMW M division's signature quad tailpipes are situated, also features, but the single biggest change over its non-M Gran Coupé brethren is the fitting of a carbon-fibre reinforced plastic roof.

Interior

The interior gets a smattering of the motorsport-derived carbon weave, while deeper, more supportive sports seats with integrated belt guides, plentiful M badging, Alcantara roof lining with a split level recess and leather trim throughout set it apart.

Mechanicals

Sharing its 4.4-litre TwinPower Turbo V8 engine with its M5 and M6 relations, the M6 Gran Coupé's output is 560hp, while maximum torque of 680Nm developed between 1,500- and 5,750rpm. That V8 drives the rear wheels via a seven-speed M Double Clutch Transmission and the Active M Differential. As with all M's product there's ample opportunity to fiddle with the car's make up via the variable damper settings, M Servotronic steering modes and shift programs on the automatic gearbox. Two M buttons allow owners to pre-program preferred settings and access them quickly via a single push.

Anything else?

We could make a list, but suffice to say the standard equipment is extensive, and there's an opportunity to tick a few boxes to add to the list price if you desire. One such option includes the Driver's Package, which raises the electronic speed limiter from 155- to 189mph, though the 0-62mph time stays pegged at 4.2 seconds - comfortably quicker than the M5. There's stop-start for economy, the official combined figure of 28.5mpg pretty remarkable given the performance. You'll not get anywhere near it in reality, though. Prices? They've yet to be confirmed, but don't expect to pay less than six figures for it when it reaches UK showrooms next summer.

Kyle Fortune - 13 Dec 2012