My FH5 Log: Check-M8

A long time ago, when BMW revived the 6-Series, they brought the ultra-powerful M6 which is basically a coupe equivalent of the M5 F10 that comes with the same turbocharged V8 and the double clutch gearbox and when I first played in the original Forza Horizon, I nearly fell in love with it.

In the pursuit of more grandness out of BMW's only grand tourer, the now-classic M6 has turned...

You're looking at the first-ever BMW M8, which is part of Forza Horizon 5's DLC car catalog. The old M6 the world knew has turned into something greater than itself.

Ah, yes. The BMW M8. Ever since BMW revived the 8-Series, it's not what it seems because it's basically the coupe equivalent of the BMW 5-Series G30, not the 7-Series that its predecessor dons. So, the M8, what's it all about?

It's basically the coupe version of the BMW M5 F90, meaning it still packs the same 4.4L V8 turbo engine and the 8-speed automatic. In its Competition spec, it produces 625PS of power and 750Nm of torque, sprinting through 0 to 100kph in up to 3.2 seconds and electronically limited to 250kph or with an optional extra where it can be raised to 305kph. Like the M5 F90, the M8 comes with an M xDrive all-wheel-drive system with M Dynamic mode that allows it to behave like a rear-wheel-drive car.

Having been satisfied with the way the M8 performs, which is somewhat reminiscent of the M5 F90 a long time ago, it's time to see how much progress the M8 has compared to its M6 predecessor and with the streets of Guanajuato became my laboratory, it's time to compare these two turbocharged grand tourers just to find out if the M8's turbocharged engine and its all-wheel-drive magic truly work. VTR start!

And now the results...

M6 - 0m59.493s

M8 - 0m57.624s

So, it's a nearly two-second gap between them, meaning the M8's turbocharged V8 and M xDrive truly worked. Touche.

I got to admit, the M8 truly is shaping up to be the only BMW grand tourer worth driving despite running on M5 mechanicals similar to its M6 predecessor. Like its M5 F90 equivalent, the M8 rewrote the reality of BMW's high-performance grand tourer because of its turbocharged V8 engine and M xDrive, but still, it's worth enjoyable to drive full-stop.

Having fallen in love with the M8, it's time to give it a final exam to prove my point but first...

Oh, yes. This is what the BMW M8 is made for. Miichiru-sama be praised! Wait, what...?

Anyway, enough worshipping, as the boys with toys gathered around at Guanajuato for some after-hours, it's time to turn them into worshippers with a leisurely street race through the Guanajuato tunnels. Let's get cracking.

Kneel before her, boys!

Mission accomplished for the BMW M8. Although it's no longer active in the world of motor racing because it was replaced by its smaller and hideous-looking BMW M4 G82, it's still proved its worth as the only grand tourer the Germans are proud of. Although its time is almost up because of the new normal, the M8 is still worth worshipping until the endgame.

Dingolfing sends its regards.

BMW M6 Gran Coupe

The current generation V8-powered M6, in coupe and cabriolet guise, is all about being bad wolves in sheep's clothing. It may look as subtle as a premium gran tourer but overall, its dynamic driving feel really gets the best of us, literally. It maybe mild but it's tangy when it comes to driving the M6. Now that the 4-door version ironically called the Gran Coupe came out last year, it seems that the M6 version is not absent to the Gran Coupe range. Let's find out...

2014 BMW M6 Gran Coupe

Annoyingly, it seems the grand touring machine has added two extra doors and still call it a Gran Coupe. Excuse me but 4-door coupe? I thought coupes were made to be two-door cars and how come there's such thing as a 4-door coupe? What's next? 4-door supercar? Oh wait, there's an analogy for that. It was in the Aston Martin Rapide, Maserati Quattroporte, and the Porsche Panamera, I think. Anyway, for this terribly confusing version of the M6, does it still have the same grand touring dynamism of the normal M6 now with extra doors?

Well, yes. It is still fast. Zero to hundred in less than four and a half seconds and it's electronically locked in 255kph (305 km/h/189 mph if the optional M Driver's Package is specified). With 4.2 seconds of 100kph time, that's about the same as its equivalent rival from Mercedes-Benz, the CLS63 AMG 4-door coupe even though they both have the same power output from their V8 engines but unlike the CLS63 which has the nastiest vocal cords, the BMW M6's polar-bear friendly V8 seems to have its silence fallen. Get it? Silence has fallen. Anyway, forget about that, let's talk more about the new M6 Gran Coupe.

2014 BMW M6 Gran Coupe

Even with the added doors on the side, it still feels like an M6. It still has the thrill of a grand tourer while delivering the comfort of a premium sedan. If you're not in a mood for fun and games, the M6 Gran Coupe really is majestic and if you've been chauffeured in one of those, rest assured that you have a sparkle on your reputation by the time you got out for school studies. Imagine if a rich schoolgirl riding in one of those... Anyway, in the whole "fun and game" stuff, it's not that quite bad at all. You can hoon all day long in here until the tires get burst at the end of the day as long as there's no one bothering your whole fun and games for the day. For the braking, it's not to shabby too because unlike most other cars equipped with the high-performance compound braking system, the M6 Gran Coupe comes served with the optional carbon-ceramic brakes made from a new type of carbon-fiber compound which generates greater resistance to heat, lower weight and exceptional resistance to wear.

It's tamed, it has a double-clutch gearbox, a V8 turbo engine, some sporting credentials as expected from the normal M6, this Gran Coupe version sure knows where's it heading. It tries to be more of a sensual 4-door coupe built for high-performance fun while retaining the comfort of an executive premium sedan that will keep your Sir Chief impressed for more. Think of it as your university professor in size zero hot pants but one thing you'll notice is its pricing and with the starting price of 128,800 Euros, it will take years for you to save some cash unless you win the lottery to get one for keeps. Go ahead, unless you said "Shut up and take my money", you won't get it but good luck for those looking for one of these then.

Available colors: Alpinweiss uni, Saphirschwarz metallic, Havanna metallic, Silverstone II metallic, Spacegrau metallic, Imperialblau Brillanteffekt metallic, Singapur Grau Metallic Sakhir Orange, and San Marino Blau.

Photo: BMW

Forza Horizon: This is the all new BMW M6. Period.

A grand tourer made for the well-sophisticated bachelor

So, here I am, playing a game of Forza Horizon, talking about the all new BMW M6 (F13) that was featured on this game. Yep, this is the first time they've featured this latest M6! No one bravely does. This is the only video game in the world for you to taste the all new BMW M6 F13 Coupe.

Anyway, about the all new BMW M6, this new model is getting a bit more tamed than wild because for starters, the glorious V10 engine was been thrown away and replaced by a 4.4L twin-turbo V8 engine from the BMW M5 F10. It seems that downsizing is now a trend of today because of strict emission regulations but despite that, all that downsizing leads to bigger power. The old V10 of the M6 E63 has almost 500HP of power, this 4.4L V8 engine with turbos on the new M6 F13 though, has 552HP of power. That's a lot of power and more torques. A lot more torques. And it's quick!

With all that new features, especially the carbon-fiber roof, is the all new BMW M6 compromised some of its thrills in favor of being a well-mannered grand tourer in running shoes? I think it's a big no because even though it's a grand tourer, the new BMW M6 sure knows how to dance. It maybe challenging at first but when you get the hang of it, my oh my, it's a deserving one.

Nice job on that treasure hunt!

I like this one better than the new Bentley Continental GT or the Jaguar XKR-S but I think it's better than almost anyone. It's a soon-to-be-a-classic BMW in the making, turning the heads of almost any driver who sets foot on this one and it's impossible to think what's next to this new model. I've been waited for this moment to come.

Forza Motorsport 4: 1986 BMW M635CSi

This car has a fraternal twin, the M5

Introduced at the 1983 Frankfurt Motor Show and based on the E24 6-Series, the M635CSI (called M6 in the USA) uses the improved version of the six-cylinder engine that powered the BMW M1. It generates 286 PS (210 kW; 282 hp) of power and it was mated with a Getrag 280/5 five-speed manual gearbox.

In America, the M635CSi, or better known as the M6 back then, uses a catalyzed S38B35 motor engine which produces 256bhp of power, less than the Euro-spec ones to comply with North American emissions regulations.

This car was produced at BMW's Dingolfing plant from 1983 to 1989 with body shells sourced from Osnabruck-based Karmann works. Different versions of the M635CSi or M6 includes Two non-catalyst models for the European market (left-hand drive and right-hand drive), and three distinct catalyst versions for Europe, North America and Japan (all left-hand drive).

Forza Motorsport 4: 2010 BMW M6

Much like taking a break at the Isle of Man

Based on the E63 6-Series, the M6 uses the same V10 engine from the M5 E60, which in the highest setting generates about 500HP of power and 380lb-ft of torque although the top speed is limited to 155mph. It was mated either a 7-speed single-clutch SMG or a 6-speed manual.

Like the E60 M5, the E63 M6 comes with a power button where from ignition it generates 400HP of power but hitting the M button generates the whole 500HP of power.

With carbon fiber reinforced plastic roof as well as thermoplastic front wings, aluminum doors and bonnet and compound boot lid, it weighs 1710kg (3770lbs).

The E63 M6 was the last model to be fitted with the BMW 5.0L V10 engine as production of the E63 M6 as well as its V10 engine ended in 2010 and about 14,152 M6 cars have been built since 2005.

In Top Gear Season 7 opener, the BMW M6 E63 was featured as well as the Porsche 911 Carrera S (997) and the Aston Martin V8 Vantage when Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May compared these three at the Isle of Man.

BMW M6 Cabrio (F12) and Coupe (F13)

2013 BMW M6

So, the latest version of the BMW M6, in coupe and cabrio versions...It may have went for some downsizing issues such as replacing the V10 engine from the old model in favor of twin-turbo V8 that powered the M5 F10 but can this new model bested the old M6 even though in its newly regenerated look?

First of all, it does look like the latest incarnation on the BMW 6-Series that we saw last year but with this powerful version, it's getting a bit too shouty. Look closely at the kidney grilles, did you see the M6 badge on the right side of the kidney grille? Yes, we know it's an M6 but why would they put the M6 badge on one side of the kidney grille? Those BMW M models I know doesn't have that but for this new M6? Hello? We can distinguish it by its signature body kit and quad exhausts, as well as the M6 badge on the back. It's unnecessary to put the M6 badge on the kidney grille because...that's a lot of nonsense. Yep, that's a lot of nonsense.

2013 BMW M6 Coupe

Whatever, let's forget the shouty exterior look of the all new M6 but anyway, because the engine's downgraded from V10 to twin-turbo V8 engine, do we think that they downgraded the power? I'm afraid not because unlike the old V10 it replaces, the twin-turbo V8 engine that powered the BMW M5 F10 generates about 560PS of power - that's about 10 more than the Jaguar XKR-S! But seriously, how does the new M6 stack up against the XKR-S?!

Well in terms of crucial areas, not well. When the new BMW M6's 4.4L twin turbo V8 engine generates 10PS more than the Jaguar XKR-S' 5.0L Supercharged V8 engine, putting these two on the benchmark is a disaster. While the XKR-S' 0-100kph time is 4 seconds, the new M6's 0-100kph time is...let's say 4.2 seconds. Just .2 seconds slower than the XKR-S.

Then there was the top speed; while the M6 is limited to 250 km/h (155 mph), the XKR-S is limited to 300 km/h (186 mph), meaning that while in the Autobahn, the XKR-S can easily overtake the new M6 to the max.

So what about the weight? While the XKR-S Coupe's curb weight is 1,800kg and the XKR-S Convertible's curb weight is 1,850kg, the new BMW M6 Coupe's curb weight is 1,924kg and 2,056 kg for the Convertible. There has to be some simple reason why this new M6 weighs more than the Jaguar XKR-S is because of several features added on the new M6, especially the new 7-speed double clutch transmission, which the XKR-S doesn't have because it's a 6-speed AT that finds it a bit difficult.

But wait! If you think the M6 is a bit slower than the XKR-S in terms of limited top speed, think again because for the new M6, you can have the optional M Driver's Package that pushes the M6's top speed up to 305 km/h (189 mph)! 305kph? That's about...5kph more than the XKR-S! That's staggering but I still don't know if I have to appreciate this new M6 more than my favorite Jag?

Unlike the Jaguar XKR-S, the new M6 comes with the idling stop system that shuts the engine off when stopped and then start again when the foot's on the pedal - to save petrol.

Handling wise, the new M6 is a bit too twitchy to drive than the Jaguar XKR-S because the M6's heavier than the XKR-S, as I said. Handling the XKR-S is as delicate as a piano but its as harsh as...drinking whiskey for some commercial shooting that drive the producer very angry. Did I said that line? Anyway, the new M6 though, it takes some skill to master the handling even though this new guy comes M-specific chassis technology, Dynamic Damper Control, M Servotronic, and DSC with M Dynamic Mode. You can think of it like sonic screw-driving a very complicated giant safe that contains two people freezing themselves to death. Hey! Ralph called! (vomitting)

Available colors for the all new BMW M6 are; Saphirschwarz, Havanna, Silverstone, Spacegrau, Imperialblau Brllanteffekt, Singapur Grau, Sakhir Orange, San Marino Blau, and Alpinweiß.

2013 BMW M6 Cabrio

My comment:

Choosing between those two cars is not easy. Surely the Jaguar XKR-S is a bit too delicate from its looks but wild on performance while the BMW M6 is all too shouty even though for the first time I saw a badge placed on its trademark kidney grille. Sure, the BMW M6 and the Jaguar XKR-S may have some flaws on it but when you compare these two, you'll never know which stacks up either on the track, on the streets, or Amy Pond's eyes but for me, on balance, I would choose the shouty German sports car instead...

Photo: BMW A.G.