BMW M6 Gran Coupe due in 2012

• BMW M6 Gran Coupe due
• Full-length carbonfibre roof
• Twin-turbo V8 engine

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The BMW M6 Gran Coupe is expected to hit showrooms later this year.

At the launch of the M6 Coupe, BMW insiders revealed to What Car? that a four-door version – based on the 6 Series Gran Coupe is due.

It will get a similar makeover to the M6 Coupe's, with flared wheelarches, bespoke alloy wheels and door mirrors, and more aggressive-looking bumpers. The M6 Gran Coupe will have a full-length carbonfibre roof, to save weight.

The new M6 Gran Coupe will use the same 4.4-litre, twin-turbo V8 engine as the M5 and M6; it develops 552bhp and 501 lb/ft of torque. Expect a 0-60mph time of around four seconds and a top speed that's just shy of 190mph.

The M6 Gran Coupe also gets a seven-speed M DCT twin-clutch gearbox, stiffer front suspension struts, a bespoke limited-slip differential and a rear subframe bolted directly to the body.

Additionally, there'll be a hydraulic steering rack, instead of the electro-mechanical steering used by lesser 6 Series Gran Coupe models. The price is yet to be confirmed, but we estimate it will cost around £105,000.

BMW sources also confirmed that the next M3 – due in early 2014 – will be considerably lighter than the current car and come with a carbonfibre roof. It'll also have a twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, in place of the current M3's V8.

Pete Tullin