The new 2012 BMW 6-Series Coupe and Convertible is not ready to arrive in showrooms till the earliest of the next year as the current model was only given its mid-cycle facelift a little over two years ago.

However, the prototypes of the new car are already being tested in Europe and several shots have been captured by spy photographers on several occasions testing near BMW’s headquarters in Munich or around the Nurburgring circuit.

With the comparison between the spy shots of the Coupe and the latest shots of the Convertible, several clear differences can be noted out. The rear side windows are a different shape on the two cars, the roof profile is also slightly different and the rear window on the Coupe is slightly wider than the one on the Convertible as well.

According to this, BMW is preparing two separate 6-Series models unlike what it did for the latest Z4 Roadster, which now only comes with a folding hard-top roof. BMW will sell both a 6-Series Coupe and a 6-Series Convertible with a conventional soft-top roof.

And the current 6-Series has proven to be a sales success, with numbers averaging just on 20,000 units per year. The spy shots reveal a much sleeker look and a wider, more purposeful stance.

Interior, the new 6-Series will feature plenty of luxury appointments as well as an eight-speed automatic gearbox with paddle-shifters. The current engine lineup is expected to carry over relatively unchanged, but there’s chance that the range-topping M6 model may not be replaced as BMW is planning a new standalone high-end sports car to fill that segment.