First Drive
2007 BMW M6 Convertible
Nice work if you can get itA true performance enthusiast will say he or she can't warm to a convertible. The debut of the M6 Convertible, (with a 5.0-liter, 507 bhp V10 sporting engine-of-the-year status) is the drop-top to win hearts and minds. In sheer power alone, it lives up to the usual standard of performance in an M car. Then add the element of a two-plus-two, open-air set-up. Here, the M DNA is folded into the comfort and elegance of the 6 Series convertible-it's a sports car with a blast of wind in your face. Or it's an elegant convertible with a seedy sporting side. In any case, it's a whole new experience.
Overall length is up two inches from the 'plain' model, as a result of aerodynamic styling and contours of the rear air dam, giving it a sleeker appearance. Wide wheelarches contribute to a lower stance. The most notable feature looks and sounds good-at rear are four exhaust tailpipes emerging from the airdam. Tearing down the roads outside Nice, the aggressive exhaust note clearly identifies the car for what it is-a cue to the incredible power, and an announcement that turns heads.
With the top down and a look this lovely, it's an M to be seen in. The soft top has a fin-roof design, giving the car the same contours as its coupe sibling. It's made in three layers, with a heat and noise-insulating layer in the middle. The whole thing folds down in 25 seconds, leaving a generous amount of trunk space. This is due to the vertically-positioned rear window that opens and closes electronically and allows for a little open air even with the top up. The seats are made from special leather that resists infrared heat, so under the glare of the sun, the ladies in skirts need not fear getting scalded.
The M6 Convertible comes standard with the seven-speed Sequential M Gearbox with Drivelogic, allowing for a wide array of choices in shifting and power. With Drivelogic, you get 11 different shift modes, six for the manual S-mode and five from the automatic D-mode, from either the paddle shifters or the center console shift lever. Depending on driving situations and shift choices, you can go from posing stylishly to speeding indulgently at 60 mph in 4.8 seconds.
Of course, when you want to be seen and not just noticed, cruising down a boulevard does not require all the V10's strength. The P400 setting automatically activates at the start of the engine, requiring only a touch of the button to bring the car from 400 bhp to its full potential.
What's even better, the MDrive function puts a plethora of driving styles at the driver's fingertips. Set in advance in iDrive, the driver can press a button and call up various pre-selected settings from Power, SMG Drivelogic, DSC Dynamic Stability Control, EDC Electronic Damper Control, and Heads-Up Display.
With true depth in everything from styling and comfort to performance and safety, the M6 Convertible deserves its place in the M stable.