M6 Cabrio's A Raining Champ

Officially, BMW claims the M6 convertible doesn't exist yet - but the magazine's spies caught it on a shakedown test around a drenched Nürburgring circuit in Germany.

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Ben Whitworth

06th April 2005

The 2+2 cabrio will use the same mighty 5.0-litre V10 as found in the standard M6 and the M5. This all-alloy engine develops 507bhp and 521Nm of torque, driving the rear wheels through a seven-speed sequential gearbox.

That's enough to propel the car from 0-60mph in less than five seconds, and on to an electronically limited top speed of 155mph. Derestricted, the M6 cabrio would easily hit 200mph - performance that helps it claim the honour of fastest BMW drop-top of all-time.

Under the skin, the newcomer is identical to the already launched 6-Series convertible, sharing its reinforced side sills to maintain chassis stiffness, as well as the stylish 'buttressed' fabric roof. Yet despite its luxurious image, the M6 cabrio will be every inch an M-car.

To offset the weight of the convertible's extra bracing, the front wings are plastic, while the doors and bonnet are aluminium. The BMW gets the coup΃©'s muscular bodykit - note the ground-hugging front air intake, sculpted side sills, quad exhausts and 19-inch alloys.

The newcomer will also borrow the luxurious cabin, complete with leather sports seats, a head-up display and a multifunction steering wheel. It's due for a showroom debut in time for summer 2007, but there's no word on pricing yet. However, as the M6 coup΃© is likely to cost about ΂£72,000 when it goes on sale at the end of this year, expect the more exclusive cabrio to be at least ΂£80,000.