2006 BMW M6 Preview

M to the Sixth Power

BMW's 6 Series coupe gets the M treatment with a 500-hp V10 and other go-fast upgrades.

Did You Know?

An M6 model was last sold in very limited numbers (1,767 in North America) during the 1980s, ceasing production after the 1989 model year. Its V8 engine generated 256 hp, which was a lofty output at the time, but roughly half that of the current model's V10 engine.

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The M6 is built exclusively at BMW’s German Dingolfing Plant, the largest of the automaker’s production facilities, which is also home to the 5, 6 and 7 Series models.

BMW first brought high-performance M-branded vehicles into the U.S. in 1988 with the original M3, which was essentially a racing version of the 3 Series coupe that had been modestly tamed for street use. It was quick but intensely harsh, even by performance-car standards, and was sold only to a select few enthusiasts and weekend racers.

The second-generation M3, released in 1995, was considerably more civilized and sophisticated and set the tone for high-performance M variants that would later be derived from the 5 Series sedan, the Z4 roadster and coupe and, eventually, the 6 Series coupe.