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Subtler design makes the big M two-door more of a sleeper than show off.

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The new BMW M6 Coupe and Convertible follow a similar evolutionary path to their saloon sibling, the M5.

Basically they have a more efficient engine to keep the carbon police from throwing their Muesli around in a fit of rage and a more subtle design to quieten the Bangle bashers.

Of course, Chris Bangle is long departed and the latest design chief Adrian van Hooydonk has brushed a much softer design stroke on bigger Beemers like the 6 Series. Even with its obligatory M Division bumpers, mirrors, wheels and spoilers, this latest M6 is still more sleeper than show off.

The carbon fibre-reinforced plastic roof on the Coupe is a nice touch, however.

The softer attitude also applies to the engine acoustics, where despite BMW referring to it as high-revving, the new 4.4-litre TwinPower turbo V8 that it shares with the M5 only winds up to 7200rpm.

It's not all soft though - M6 still takes another step up the performance ladder with 10 percent more power and 30 percent more torque than the higher-revving V10 it replaces, the V8 having 412kW on tap from 6000rpm and 680Nm from 1500.

BMW M6 Convertible offers a 412kW hairdo.

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BMW boasts that the new M6 Coupe will need just 4.2 seconds to blast from standstill to 100km/h and 12.6 secs to get to the 200 mark. On standard M6 models the top speed nanny kicks in at the usual 250km/h, but opt for the M Driver's Package and a 305km/h autobahn blitz is possible.

Far less believable, given the level of self control that will be needed, is the Coupe's claimed combined consumption figure of 9.9 litres per 100km, making it 30 percent more efficient than the V10 screamer that came before it. Besides two less cylinders, a whole raft of technologies, including direct fuel injection and an idle stop system, contribute to this saving.

Power is channelled to the back wheels, as always, by a seven-speed M Double Clutch gearbox, which also has launch control for those racing moods and 'Low Speed Assistance' for slogging through traffic to the mall.

When life throws twistier stretches of asphalt at you, an M-specific chassis with M-specific front and rear axle kinetics ensures it remains as much an athlete as it possibly could given its considerable size and weight. Its bespoke wheels measure 19 inches in diameter and buyers can also opt for 20-inch rims for a little extra.

Furthermore, an Active M Differential is in place to further sharpen M6's cornering talent by allowing the distribution of drive between the rear wheels to be fully variable.

Anchorage is via a lightweight compound high-performance braking system but you'll have to pay more if you want the lighter and more durable M carbon-ceramic brakes.

Inside the M6 you'll find a newly designed M double-spoke leather steering wheel, M gear selector, Merino-leather-covered sports seats and bespoke carbon fibre trim strips among other M-specific visual propaganda and typically there's also an abundance of ConnectedDrive driver assistance systems.

More importantly to you enthusiasts, the M6 also comes with two buttons on the steering wheel that'll allow you to choose and store your personal settings for the engine responsiveness, steering, gearbox, suspension damping, stability control and the info shown on the head-up display.

Given that's it's quicker, more elegant and packed with technology, this latest M6 looks ready to master its role as a large and luxurious, but ultra-quick, touring coupe. Look out for the new M6 Convertible in South Africa in June this year, with the Coupe following in October.

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