The BMW X5 M has been a personal favorite of mine since I had the chance to take a lap around Pocono Raceway with it and needless to say, I was excited to see what correspondent Steve Hammes had to say about the 2010 X6 M. After a short time with the 2010 BMW X6 M, Steve came to the conclusion that it was one of the sexiest vehicle debuts in a long time.
The addition of the M to the X6 (dictating the BMW Motorsport division) does not disappoint, producing more power than most SUV drivers probably need with 555 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque. The X6 M features a direct-injection, twin-turbo 4.4L V8 engine paired to a quick-shifting six-speed automatic transmission. Off the line, the X6 M can do 0-60 in 4.5 seconds, making you hard to beat for parking spots at the grocery store or at the school pick-up/drop-off line. Other additions to the X6 with the M moniker is the M-tuned XDrive AWD and M-tuned sport suspension.
With all of the pros of the X6 M, you still have to take the bad in the same package. The main downside here is the fuel economy as the premium fuel gets gobbled up, averaging 12 mpg city and 17 mpg highway. The price tag may also deter some buyers, but most enthusiasts who have been in a BMW M vehicle know they’ll love the vehicle enough to warrant the $95k+ as-tested price.
Want a green alternative to the X6 M? Check out the video review of the BMW X6 ActiveHybrid.
We recently took the 2009 BMW X6 xDrive50i for a test drive in the Blue Ridge Mountains while visiting BMW’s Spartanburg manufacturing plant. Our Publisher, Charlie Romero, was quite impressed with this new segment, saying that the X6 could be the best-handling SUV from BMW. He even went so far as to say it handled better than a standard 5 Series.
The X6’s great handling may have something to do with BMW’s intelligent xDrive all-wheel-drive technology, which is a standard feature. The 2009 X6 is also the first vehicle in the world to offer Dynamic Performance Control for unique agility, tracking stability, precision, and traction abilities. Dynamic Performance Control allows the engine to apply torque to each of the wheels as needed, with a gauge in the front dash to show how the power is being applied and distributed.
The new X6 is very quick, coming with two gasoline engine choices. The xDrive35i is powered by the inline-six cylinder with twin turbo technology that produces 300 horsepower at 5,800-6,250 rpm and 300 lb-ft of torque at 1,400-5,000 rpm. We tested the X6 xDrive50i that has the V8 with twin turbo and direct injection. This brand-new engine produces 407 horsepower at 5,500-6,400 rpm and 442 lb-ft of torque at 1,800-4,500 rpm. Both engines are mated to the same 6-speed tranny that is in the X5. Paddle shifters, in addition to the electronic shifter, are standard in conjunction with the 6-speed automatic transmission. These shifters, however, are dual action paddle shifters, meaning that you can downshift or upshift on either side.
The X6 has the same wheelbase as the X5, though the exterior design is a bit deceiving, giving the illusion that the X6 is shorter than the X5. This wheelbase has a very sharp turning radius making ingress and egress from parking spaces an easy task. The exterior design of the new X6 is meant to maximize on aerodynamics but that design does not hinder the very aggressive styling. The X6 has a sporty stance thanks to the muscular wheel arches and bulging fenders at the front and rear of the vehicle, making up some of the unique proportions and lines that are clearly visible from the side view of this SAC. Function, in addition to aggressive styling, was also taken into consideration when designing the X6. Numerous air intakes are built into the front fascia, with every styling feature having a purpose like cooling the turbochargers.
The interior of the X6 is clean and futuristic, leaving out unnecessary fluff. It is crafted with high-quality materials like the dark wood-grain in our tester and double-stitched leather on the dash. The cockpit of the X6 has a seating position more like that found in a sports coupe while the rest of the vehicle keeps the unique utility features of a SUV. Like most SUVs today, the rear hatch closes with the touch of a button. The storage area is already outfitted with hooks to secure cargo, giving the driver typical trunk capacity by today’s standards. The backseat passengers each have separate seats and climate controls, unlike the X5’s SAV’s bench seating. Even Charlie, at 6’3”, fit in the back with enough space for comfort during a day’s-long road trip.
For those who are looking to customize their purchase, the X6 has numerous upgrade options from HD radio, Satellite radio, Nappa leather, dark wood or bamboo trim, navigation, and running boards to name a few. The package options include: rear climate, premium sound, cold weather, active ventilated seats, sport, and technology. However, be prepared for those options to add up. Base price will start around $63,900, hopefully topping out in the ballpark of $75,000 with the addition various options.
If the estimated fuel economy ratings of 13 mpg in the city and18 mpg on the highway is not that appealing you can wait for the hybrid drive, which will be available in 2009.
We’ve been covering the X6 since it was just a concept but we recently traveled to the BMW Spartanburg, SC plant to get seat time in the all-new 2009 X6.
For those who aren’t familiar with the 2009 X6, the Sports Activity Coupe (SAC) is the latest offering from BMW, a brand new vehicle fitted with new technologies. BMW’s intelligent xDrive all-wheel drive technology comes standard and is the first vehicle to offer Dynamic Performance Control for unique agility, tracking stability, precision and traction in every situation by distributing drive power between the two rear wheels, left and right, in addition to xDrive’s movement between front and rear axle.
The newly-developed V8 with Twin Turbo technology and High Precision Injection is the world’s first 8-cylinder gasoline engine with the turbo-charger and catalytic converters housed in the V-section between the two rows of cylinders. Powering the X6 xDrive50i, the V8 produces a maximum 400 horsepower from 5,500-6,400 rpm and max torque of 450 lb-ft from 1,750-4,500 rpm. The inline-six with Twin Turbo technology is in the X6 xDrive35i, producing 300 horsepower at 5,800-6,250 rpm and 300 lb-ft of torque from 1,400-5,000 rpm. Top speed for both models are limited to 130 mph, unless you opt for the sport package that knocks the top speed up to 150 mph for the xDrive35i and 155 mph for the xDrive50i.
