By: Denis Droppa
Austin, Texas - A few months after the second-generation X6 made its world debut at the Paris motor show, BMW has launched the muscled-up M version.
Hustling this super-SUV along is a twin turbo 4.4-litre V8 which feeds 423kW and 750Nm to all four wheels via an eight-speed M Steptronic transmission.
Increased from the 408kW and 680Nm of the previous-generation X6 M, these new outputs are as beefy as the cowboy-sized steaks the restaurants serve in Texas where the vehicle’s international media launch was held last week.
The power injection gives the new X6 M – which is being launched at the same time as the mechanically-identical X5 M – the ability to romp to 100km/h in just 4.2 seconds, which is half-a-second quicker than its predecessor, and onto an electronically-governed 250km/h. At the same time there’s claimed to be a 20% improvement in fuel consumption for a town/freeway average of 11.1 litres per 100km.
REAR WHEEL BIAS
As before the power’s fed through an xDrive system which varies torque distribution between the front and rear wheels as grip conditions demand, but is by default rear-biased in the interests of defeating understeer. The M version rides 10mm lower than a regular X6 and its handling’s enhanced by a Dynamic Drive active roll stabilisation system, along with Dynamic Damper Control offering three suspension stiffness modes.
A high-performance cooling system and newly-developed compound brakes work hand in hand with the upgraded engine to ensure all-weather high performance for BMW’s big SUV, even on a racetrack.
Driving at the speed limit on US public roads, the X6 M wafts along comfortably and the stiffened suspension does a worthy job of filtering out bumps on its non-runflat tyres (20” rubber is standard but my test car wore the optional 21” lower-profiles).
Despite the M badge this is still a very civilised road tool, with all the necessary creature comforts in its deluxe leather-bedecked cabin, which comes with an M specific instrument cluster. Externally, the Bavarian brute is easily identified as the top-dog of the X6 range with its enlarged air intakes, quartet of tailpipes and blue brake callipers.
As comfy as it is on a public road, the fast German SUV feels restrained and chomps at the bit for some lebensraum.
NOT BAD ON THE TRACK
This was provided at the Circuit of the Americas racetrack in Austin, where the US Formula One Grand Prix is annually held. On this twisty and technical track, with its rollercoaster-like elevation changes, I could stretch the legs of this German blitz-mobile without falling foul of the law.
The exercise proved that the X6 M isn’t the first chice of Beemer to hustle around a racetrack; there are other lower and lighter BMWs more M-powered to do the job. But for a 2.2 ton tank that ostensibly began life with an offroading mission, it isn’t half bad. A vehicle with a 195mm ground clearance in theory has no business tackling the same piece of tar where Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel do battle in F1 cars, and on the face of it the X6 M is neither fish nor fowl: its low-profile tyres are compromised offroad, while its high ground clearance isn’t made for the track.
But such compromises tend to get swept away in a turbocharged V8 rush when you thrust the throttle. Despite its bulk and weight BMW’s corpulent coupé blasted its way around the circuit in a rampant flurry of g-forces, delivered with a vocal V8 rasp and a lot less body roll than such a behemoth has any right to.
The big brakes held out without overheating – perhaps helped along by the very chilly winter weather on the day. And none of the dreaded understeer; the rear-biased xDrive system allows some tail-sliding action when the electronic nannies are either completely switched off (which calls for a blend of driver bravery and skill) or switched to a reduced-intervention setting which still allows some drifting but steps in to save your hide.
When they go on sale in South Africa in April, the X5 M will be priced at R1 657 158 and the X6 M at R1 690 658.
Star Motoring