The article was originally produced on October 18, 2012, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

BMW M6

The journey down to the Nürburgring goes via Malmö and the ferry to Travemünde. An unpretentious truck ferry that takes you to Germany overnight. Clean sheets and towels, cheap beer in the bar and a relatively low price make the ferry the perfect way to cross over to the continent. Many advocate the bridge and Rødby-Puttgarden, but Cars Collection recommends the ferry from Malmö as you don't have to drive across Denmark and you also get a good night's sleep on board. Arrival in Germany at seven in the morning which turns the last fifty five miles down into child's play

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The journey down to the Nürburgring goes via Malmö and the ferry to Travemünde. An unpretentious truck ferry that takes you to Germany overnight. Clean sheets and towels, cheap beer in the bar and a relatively low price make the ferry the perfect way to cross over to the continent. Many advocate the bridge and Rødby-Puttgarden, but Voyage recommends the ferry from Malmö as you don't have to drive across Denmark and you also get a good night's sleep on board. Arrival in Germany at seven in the morning which turns the last fifty five miles down into child's play.

When the M6 is allowed to stretch out on the Autobahn, it really shows where the cabinet should be. The engine, which is a 4.4 liter V8 with twin turbo units, 560 horsepower and 680 Nm, is the right weapon for the German highways. All power delivered to the rear wheels via a reptilian dual-clutch gearbox. When the first freeway sign appears, the gas pedal is pressed down to the bottom position. The M6 shoots off like a missile and nothing seems to stand in its way. Suddenly it's like running into an invisible wall. The car has achieved the electronic speed limiter that kicks in at 250 km/h. If you think this is not enough for a speed experience, you can order an M Drivers package where the limit is raised to 305 km/h. The question remains how fast the M6 really is if there was no speed limiter? The 0-100 sprint is now so fast that the numbers are almost more interesting for how long it takes to reach 200 km/h. In the new BMW M6, it takes 12.6 seconds from 0-200. A speed that normal cars need to get to 100 and which the M6 has completed in just 4.2 seconds.

To drive on the Nürburgring, you must pay a toll fee to use the track for one lap. The cost of one lap is €22. To be able to drive to the maximum, one of the events organized during the year is recommended. One of these, when free driving prevails, is Gran Turismo Events, which organizes several trips to various tracks around Europe. Their Nürburgring event has been very popular with around 150 sports cars on each occasion.

When driving on the track, the car has to endure stresses beyond what is normal. If the car is driven correctly, the Nürburgring is kinder than normal tracks as they have tighter turns and harder braking. To be on the safe side, there are a few things that should always be checked on the car before and after driving. The tire pressure must be correct, when driving on the track the tires heat up and the air expands, contributing to higher air pressure and poorer grip. The second is to run cool-down laps for the brakes and tires to cool down. By keeping track of these two things, unnecessary wear and tear is significantly minimized.

The M6 is a car with a brutal excess of power, the weight of 1890 kilos is almost never reminded because there is always power. At the exit of each curve, the M6 shoots away and before you have time to react it is time to brake for the next curve. The M6 can be configured through a number of buttons that control the suspension, steering, throttle response and gearbox. With all set to Sport Plus, the car's chassis and steering become stiff and hard, while the throttle and gearbox become super quick.

Considering how dangerous the Nürburgring can be if something goes wrong, it is recommended to leave the assistance systems that the car has on. In the case of the M6 and the 560 horses on the rear tires, the option to disconnect the anti-skid system is asking for trouble. But after only a few laps the brakes start to behave strangely, the pedal goes all the way to the bottom despite proper cooling. This behavior is a sign that the brake fluid has boiled and not well. The reason why this happened is most likely that the auxiliary systems kicked in for most of the lap and slowed down the insane effect to the rear wheels. This by slowing down the wheels instead of throttling the power from the engine. The natural consequence is that the brakes have to work constantly and are thus overloaded. That it happened so quickly is a bit underwhelming, but the M6 is a heavy car, which does not improve the situation. So in this case the assistance systems became more trouble than good. But driving without the systems was never an option in the first place. For those who intend to use this power machine lap after lap, carbon fiber ceramic brakes are available as an option. These can handle much more but cost accordingly.

The journey home from Germany is devoted to eco-driving, with the AC turned off and the cruise control set exactly at all speed limits. The average consumption is then reduced from the 2.5 liters per mile the M6 consumed on the Nürburgring to 0.8 liters per mile. Amazing for such a big, heavy and powerful wagon. With a pair of ceramic brakes, this should be among the most optimal for a quick and comfortable trip down to the world's best racetrack and back home again.