The 2010 BMW X6 M: X to the power of M
Road Atlanta, Georgia – It wasn’t all that long ago that the directors of BMW’s high-performance vehicle division scoffed at the notion of developing M versions of their SUVs. But it appears that even they can have a change of heart, since the X5 M and X6 M will be hitting the Canadian market this fall. Why the about face? The answer is clear and simple: because Porsche and Mercedes-Benz have already made a fair bit of change with the Cayenne Turbo and the AMG models of the ML.
So, that’s why BMW developed – at little cost – some hotrod versions of its SUVs, which will bear the retail prices of $97,900 for the X5M and $99,000 for the X6M. While these will be the first real M versions of the sport-utility vehicles, you could say that BMW let us in on their intentions as far back as 1999 with the X5 Le Mans, which was powered by a 740-hp V12, and then with the X5 Sportsvan in 2000 and the X6 M concept in 2008.
555 horses and 500 lb.-ft. of torque
Driven by a 555-hp bi-turbo V8, the M versions of the X5 and X6 raise the bar by delivering 5 more horsepower than the Cayenne Turbo S, even though this vehicle still takes the cake in terms of torque (with 553 lbs.ft. compared to the 500 you’ll get from these two new BMWs). The X6 already had a high performance engine, but a new turbo compression technology now helps the 4.4-litre V8 increase its horsepower to 555 and gives this new model a more favourable power-to-weight ratio of 4.2 kilograms per CV.
The only transmission available is a 6-speed automatic featuring simplified wheel-mounted shift paddles, since BMW has finally adopted the same design as most other manufacturers (in which the right paddle is used for upshifting and the left paddle is used for downshifting). Purists may say that having an automatic transmission instead of a manual or dual-clutch is heresy; by according to BMW the automatic is a more effective choice. It comes with an automatic start function, activated in M Dynamic Mode, which triggers 3,000 rpm, jumps the vehicle into action, allows for gear changes at the maximum engine speed, and effectively can take the vehicle from 0-100 km/hr in 4.7 seconds.
A hotrod weighing more than two tonnes
On the Road Atlanta circuit, the only factor that limited X6 M’s cornering speed its weight – more than 2,300 kg. This affected braking distance and the speed at which it could head into curves. Once its trajectory was established, though, the X6 M proved very stable with minimal and easy-to-control rolling. And once past the sliding point, we were able to accelerate almost immediately thanks to the fact that the twin turbo-compressors have a very short response time. We also managed to get some nice drifting thanks to the Dynamic Performance Control system, which allows for remarkably dynamic accelerations when coming out of turns, and thanks to the M Dynamic Mode, which acts on the xDrive AWD and delivers extra torque to the rear wheels. The main weak point we noted while driving on the circuit was the relatively poor performance of the brakes, which heat up quickly with sporty driving, making the pedal rather spongy. I didn’t experience trouble braking, but the fact that the pedal goes further than half-way means you have to have a certain level of confidence. Again, the weight of the vehicle made braking more challenging on the circuit, but on normal roads there really wasn’t a problem. As I drove it around, I found myself thinking that this vehicle should not be able to go so fast, and yet it does! That says a lot about the engineering that went into it and the massive contribution of the electronic steering assistance.
In terms of style, the X6 M is not much sportier than the X6, which already had a fairly aggressive look. But the X6 M does get 20-inch alloy rims, gills on the wings and new front and back bumpers to set it apart. Inside it’s much the same, with only subtle changes.
At the end of the day, the X6 M is all about image and social status for clients whose first priority is to be seen in an SUV and who, above all, won’t balk at the thousands of extra dollars it costs to upgrade from an X6 to an X6 M – even if it’s just to impress the crowds.