New BMW M6 packs 441kW/700Nm

BMW has raised the stakes of the German power war with its updated M6.

Available in Coupe, Convertible or four-door Gran Coupe guises, the facelifted M6 has just landed in Australia.

All three variants can be optioned with the Competition Package, with lifts outputs from the 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 to a whopping 441kW/700Nm.

It's an engine that was first seen in the BMW M5 '30 Jahre' special edition, and it's likely to be no less ferocious in the M6, particularly in the stiffer, sportier Coupe.

The 0-100km/h sprint is now claimed to take just 3.9sec for the Coupe (4.0sec for the heavier Convertible and Gran Coupe), but even more impressive is the 0-200km/h time of just 11.8sec, a 0.6sec improvement over the previous M6 Competition Package.

Top speed is limited to 250km/h, but the optional M Driver's Package lifts this to 305km/h.

The suspension is also revised, with stiffer settings for the springs, dampers and anti-roll bars; the steering receives more direct mapping, the M Dynamic setting for the DSC system is further relaxed and the electronic M differential benefits from its own control unit.

No pricing has yet been set for the revised M6, but we'll be driving it in a few weeks' time. Can it take the fight to AMG's excellent new GT?

Get your free weekly report from the world of fast cars - subscribe to the MOTOR newsletter!