First drive: BMW M6 Convertible – on sale now

This top-of-the-range convertible has an engine management system that is capable of 200million calculations per second, offers the driver the choice of 11 gear change options, can change gear in 50milliseconds, has 279 possible combinations of driving modes, has found a cure for all cancers and can end world poverty.

OK, the last two are a lie. But the M6 can still do some wonderful things.

Of course, the whole point of a convertible is to drive with the top down, and even at the highest speeds tested, my hair stayed put without being tied back and conversations could be had easily. And the sound! Awesome.

BMW reckons that 95% of the M6 Convertible’s buyers will be men – but the ‘hair’ experience alone should make it highly desirable for women with rather large bank balances. The only benefit you get from driving with the roof up is 20-litres of extra boot space.

The M6 Convertible has already forward sold until next spring. BMW expects to sell 150 M6 Convertibles per year, plus 350 of the Coupé version.

In normal mode you have a ‘mere’ 400bhp at your disposal, but with the press of a button 400bhp turns into a whopping 500bhp – and why would you go back to 400bhp after experiencing the thrills of that? Unless a petrol station is more than 50 miles away, of course.

Price: £86,400
Engines: 5.0-litre V10, 501bhp @ 7,750rpm, 383lb ft @ 6,100rpm
Performance: 0-62mph 4.8sec; top speed 155mph (electronically limited)
Transmission: Seven-speed sequential manual gearbox with Drivelogic
Efficiency: 18.6mpg, 366g/km CO2
CAP RV 3yr/30k: £39,400 (46%)
Rivals: Jaguar XKR, M-B CL55 AMG
Strengths: Exclusivity thanks to price
Weaknesses: Bad for the environment
Opportunity: Limited
Threat: BMW’s own £20k-cheaper M5
USP: BMW’s most expensive production car