Why it matters

In life, there are occasions when skill, personality, or status can make up for a case of the uglies. Likewise, cars can often compensate for unpleasant styling with functionality, efficiency, aggressive pricing, or in the case of the BMW M6 convertible, lotsa power. Indeed, that's the name of the game, as well-to-do shoppers looking for a new performance convertible can choose from models such as the 420-horsepower Jaguar XKR, the Mercedes-Benz CLK63 AMG and SL550, and 355-horsepower Porsche 911 Carrera 4 S among others. To attract buyers seeking such premium rides, BMW needs to offer a drop-top like the 500-horsepower M6 convertible, offering top-notch materials and a 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds.