Tuesday 6th January 2009

Video: BMW X6 M

The school run has never looked so exciting...

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The X6 is one of those vehicles we all love to hate. It’s big, pointless and annoyingly good to drive.

So what happens when you give it even more power, rear-wheel drive handling characteristics and slap the letter ‘M’ on its boot? Well, whether we like it or not, we are soon going to find out.

As you can see from the video below BMW has been busy testing its new X6 M, a niche performance version of its niche off-road coupe niche. Bernd Limmer from M GmbH talks us through the car and explains how he ‘inspired soul’.

The car’s V8 is fitted with twin scroll turbochargers and the four-wheel drive system is more ‘rear-concentrated’, with less torque at the front axle. This means it understeers less and presumably becomes more tail-happy.

The torque is also split from left to right giving more power to the faster wheel, which BMW says will create more cornering speed and better stability. Be afraid Fido, be very afraid…

[jon-]

"The torque is also split from left to right giving more power to the faster wheel, which BMW says will create more cornering speed and better stability."

Novel

[Ollieb7]

'M' for Masterbator! A fast one at that too!

[spoonoff]

Still one deepy ugly machine.

[Bizzle]

Well,
I really like it but then again, i liked the original X6.

[sleepersix]

Aaaargh! I can't believe BMW have canned the M3 CSL in order to build this!

Even if it drives/handles amazingly, this is still a waste of effort, just to pander to wealthy russians.

Give us what we want. CSL and 1 series tii, please!

[slayaz]

FUGLY!

And pointless.

[kikiturbo]

jon- said:

"The torque is also split from left to right giving more power to the faster wheel, which BMW says will create more cornering speed and better stability."

Novel

this has been an integral part of mitsubishi EVO's active yaw control for years..

[Jaz300CE]

great for the swarms of uber-agressive, oakley-wearing knob-jockeys to tailgate anyone in sight - now bored of their RR Sports and Caymans. "Groan"

[Poverty]

jon- said:

"The torque is also split from left to right giving more power to the faster wheel, which BMW says will create more cornering speed and better stability."

Novel

The new audi S4 does this already.

[Pugsey]

slayaz said:

pointless.

No more so than 90% of cars and probably 99% of all cars owned by PHers. After all, all you need is four seats, a bit of luggage space and small engine capable of getting you from a to b and maybe up to 70mph. Anything beyond a small hatchback is 'pointless' then.

Sorry feeling picky today!

[waynepixel]

Why bother, its' a X6 for god sake.

Edited by waynepixel on Tuesday 6th January 14:53

[Bobdenero]

Pile of cack !

[shalmaneser]

Theres a lot of references in the video to 'on track' performance. Who in their right mind is going to take a two ton SUV on track?!

BMW are loosing their focus, sure cars like this might sell well in the short term (or looked like they were going to when the concept was conceived) but will damage the brand in the long run.

[Wolfsbait]

Tw*tmobile to the power of infinity...

Tells you more about the driver than if it were vinyled up to resemble a 2 tonne bell-end.

I've had the misfortune to drive a standard X6...spent the entire drive wishing I was in the back, where at least the 'pimp tints' shield you from the laughter outside!

Edited by Wolfsbait on Tuesday 6th January 15:40

[Warick Hunt]

Wolfsbait you are so right the car screams 'dhead' plus it looks like a Rover 600 on stilts. Vile just vile.

[Remagel2507]

I think BMW have really used their heads lately. They have obviously picked up on the fact that all SUV drivers attend track days and now they are building a machine just for the job.

[Obiwonkeyblokey]

Too right, I think im missing a trick here, and will take my Z4M around the nearest 4x4 course tomorrow.

I'll let you know how I get on.....

[dpbird90]

I don't know why, and I don't want to, but I like the X6. And in response to an earlier post, the "M" will not stand for masturbator in this case, it's more like mental. I hope it has at least 500bhp and throws out more CO2 than any other car. Because no matter how weird, ugly or plain st a car is, if it annoys eco hippy vegetablists in sandals then it deserves kudos

[scotia_steve74]

What's the point!

[190E Matt]

scotia_steve74 said:

What's the point!

The point in making a car faster?!