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BMW M6 Coupe and Convertible (2012) first pictures

By Tim Pollard

First Official Pictures

13 February 2012 00:01

BMW has unveiled the new 2012 M6 – a two-door M5, in essence. The 552bhp super-coupe will be one of the highlights of the brand's stand at the 2012 Geneva motor show.
The M6 will be sold as a coupe or convertible, and Munich has unveiled both this weekend.

BMW M6 (2012): the lowdown

That M5 comparison is valid. The 6-series is a slinkier, two-door 5-series after all. So the M6 takes the same bi-turbo 4.4-litre V8, blown to produce a stout 552bhp at 5750rpm and 502lb ft at just  1500rpm.
Yes, that means the high-revving shriek of the old V10 M6 is banished, but on our first acquaintance of our long-term test M5 that's no bad thing. This V8 is high on performance, if lacking in some of the fizz of the old V10.
To give you some idea of much faster the new M6 is, that power figure is up 10%, maximum torque by a third!

So how fast is the new BMW M6?

The coupe passes 62mph in just 4.2 seconds and 124mph (200kph) in 12.6 seconds. Top speed is governed to 155mph, although the M Driver's Package will up that to 189mph.
It's more than just a stonking big engine though. The new M6 has a carbonfibre reinforced plastic roof to lower the centre of gravity. BMW first introduced this tech on the M3 CSL, and it's keen to fly the flag for cabonfibre ahead of the forthcoming composite i cars.
BMW claims the new M6 is a third less thirsty than before, quoting a 28.5mpg combined economy figure. The leggy seven-speed twin-clutch transmission helps there, of course.
Niceties such as switchable dampers are standard and you get the M5's Active M Differential as standard too. To simplify the multiple choice of which electronic modes to select, you can pre-programme your favourite settings in two M buttons on the steering wheel.

How can I spot the new 2012 M6?

BMW is making it easier to spot its M cars in future. Design chief Adrian van Hooydonk told CAR that the discreet M6 badge on the front grille will become an M mainstay. If you like subtlety, Munich appears to be upping the show-off factor.
Blue brake callipers will be standard-fit on all new M cars, too, and if you spec the optional 19kg lighter carbon brakes there'll be further telltales: those anchors will take on a golden hue.
All future M cars will adopt the M6's bespoke three-spoke steering wheel, too. In the past, they've never had a fully individual design, just retrimmed versions of existing wheels. And there's more M blue piping inside too.
It's all part of a concerted effort to increase sales of M cars. The halo models will remain very focused affairs, but BMW is pushing the halfway house M models, such as the recently unveiled tri-turbo diesel versions of the 5-series and X6.

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Infiniti Emerg-e concept car (2012): leaked patent drawings

By Tim Pollard

First Official Pictures

14 February 2012 09:26

Looks like this is the Infiniti Emerg-e concept car bound for the 2012 Geneva motor show. These leaked images from an Italian blog, filed at the European patent office, have surfaced overnight, blowing the planned embargo on Infiniti's range-extender hybrid sports car concept.
Infiniti has only issued a couple of teaser photos and confirmed the name of the Infiniti Emerg-e and had hoped to keep the styling under wraps until 6 March 2012.

Infiniti Emerg-e: what we know so far

Details remain sketchy about the Emerg-e so far. We know it's a 'range-extender' hybrid and will run on zero-emissions electric mode for substantial periods. It's the first Infiniti to feature this powertrain.
Infiniti has also confirmed this Evora-alike design packages the range-extender hybrid hardware amidships.
An earlier announcement said: 'Mid-ship layout for optimal weight distribution, at the same time facilitating a change in vocabulary for Infiniti’s design language.' So take note of the kinked C-pillar and body surfacing of these leaked Emerg-e design sketches. They may indeed point to future styling directions for Infiniti.
Early dripfeed teasers also claim the car is very lightweight.

Infiniti and its sports car hopes

We wouldn't expect the Emerg-e to, ahem, emerge from Geneva with a production future. The brand has so far committed to launching a new electric car based around Nissan Leaf technology in 2014 and a crucial C-segment hatchback in the vein of the Lexus CT200h and BMW 1-series - due in 2015 and based loosely on the Ehterea concept car.
The fledgling brand is still establishing a foothold in Europe and needs to concentrate on bread-and-butter cars before it can think about icing on the cake like sports cars. It must also refresh its existing range of sports saloons and crossovers and the tie-up with Daimler will bring four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines in the G and M ranges, hugely extending their appeal.

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Audi RS4 Avant (2012) first official pictures

By Ben Pulman

First Official Pictures

15 February 2012 08:00

This is the Audi RS4 Avant, a 444bhp super-estate. It's the Mk3 RS4 Avant, and it will only be available as an Avant (the first RS4 was an estate-only twin-turbo V6, the second a brilliant V8-engined rival for the M3 and available in saloon and Avant guises).

Important things first – how much space does the Audi RS4 Avant have for my Labrador and luggage?

There’s up to 1430 litres of boot space. Moving on…
The RS4 Avant is effectively a five-door version of the RS5 Coupe. On the one hand that’s a good thing: there’s a high-revving 4.2-litre V8, four-wheel drive, and a clever seven-speed dual-clutch S-tronic gearbox. That means 444bhp produced at 8250rpm, plus a chunky 317lb ft from 4000 to 6000rpm. 0-62mph is dispatched in a dog-slammed-against-the-rear-window 4.7 seconds, top speed is limited to 155mph, and if you give Audi a little more cash, that limit can be raised to 174mph. Official fuel consumption is 25.7mpg.

So what’s the bad news?

The bad news is that the RS5 Coupe wasn’t much cop. Quality levels are superb, as is the high-speed stability, and you can go quickly with the minimum of fuss. But it’s not entertaining. We’re not talking about sideways slides that are irrelevant to 99% of the population either, rather the lumpy ride and leaden steering that made even tackling a roundabout unexciting.
The R8 supercar aside, the last RS4 was Audi’s best car for generations, so this third-gen über-wagon has a lot to live up to.

What else do we know about the new Audi RS4 Avant?

Quattro four-wheel drive is, of course, standard, with a crown-gear centre differential sporting a standard 40:60 front-to-rear power split, but with the ability to send 70% of torque to the front or 85% to the rear. And there’s torque vectoring too, with the electronics braking the inside wheels to reduce slip, while the optional Sport differential can distribute power between the rear wheels.
Chassis-wise the RS4 Avant sits 20mm lower than a regular A4 Avant, and it’s also 20mm longer and 24mm wider thanks to the RS4-specific bodykit. Silver wing mirrors and twin oval exhaust also mark out this RS model. Forged ten-spoke 19in aluminium wheels are standard, with 20in rims as an option. There’s a brake upgrade too (365mm front discs) with 380mm front carbon-ceramic discs a costly extra.
Audi’s Drive Select system is standard-fit and offers Comfort, Auto and Dynamic modes for the steering, S-tronic ‘box and throttle, while Dynamic Ride Control (DRC) is an option and features diagonally linked shock absorbers to aid stability during cornering.
The interior features a host of RS upgrades, from sports seats to carbon trim, a smattering of RS4 badges, while chunky bucket seats are an optional extra.
Audi UK has yet to announced prices, but reckon on £55k-£60k when the new RS4 Avant arrives on our shores later in 2012.