BMW factory DTM driver Martin Tomczyk can scarcely be accused of not walking the talk. On Sundays he hurtles around the racetracks of Europe in the BMW M Performance Accessories M3 DTM - and his streetcar is an M6 Gran Coupé, customised just the way he wants it using the new M collection of performance accessories for the M5 and M6 model ranges, now available in packages developed specifically for each model.
Tomczyk borrowed some workshop space at BMW's Munich plant, and transformed his M6 into a one-of-a-kind custom car, starting with an all-titanium Akrapovic exhaust system. Titanium is, of course, the metallic equivalent of carbon fibre - corrosion-resistant, strong and light - in this case 10kg lighter than the standard steel plumbing.
This authoritative sports exhaust system, developed as a joint effort by M GmbH and the Czech bike exhaust specialists, is available for all M5 and M6 models - and, with its perforated tailpipe inners, it's also instantly recognisable, as are the carbon-fibre rear spoiler and diffuser.
BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL
THE 2011 DTM champion’s car is finished in a special-order colour called Frozen Black Metallic, with a gloss black grille, carbon-fibre side mirror housings and M Performance front and rear go-fast stripes.
And for track days (talk about a busman's holiday - does this man actually have a life outside of driving powerful cars very, very fast?) the Tomczyk Gran Coupé has an M steering wheel trimmed in alcantara synthetic suede with a telemetry display built into the top centre of its rim that displays and stores (among other things) gear-shift information as well as lateral and longitudinal acceleration, and lap times in minutes, seconds and hundredths of a second.
THE LIGHT STUFF
Cockpit bling includes a carbon-fibre trim for the selector switch of the car's dual-clutch transmission, carbon-fibre trim elements, stainless-steel pedals and specially branded floor mats.
But the single most important aftermarket performance accessory on Tomczyk's car is its carbon-ceramic brake system, previously available only ex-works.
While fitting the ultra-high-performance kit is beyond the scope of most DIY buffs, your local BMW dealer can now install the 410mm front and 396mm rear carbon discs, along with gold-finished six-pot opposed piston front and lightweight single-piston floating rear callipers, and special 20” M forged alloy rims, on your favourite M5 or M6, reducing the car's unsprung weight by a significant 19kg.