Will X6 reign supreme?
GREENVILLE, S.C. You can be forgiven if you don't immediately recognize BMW's newest offering for what it is. After all, it looks like a crossover, albeit a sculptural, athletic-looking crossover.
But what it is, at least in BMW parlance, is the world's first Sports Activity Coupé. Yes, coupe-ay with an accent aigu, thank you very much.
The press bumpf says it's the most sporting and dynamic rendition of a BMW X Model. And, at least from an exterior design perspective, the word rendition is a well chosen one it is artful. Large air intakes, low greenhouse, design emphasis square on the wheels with aggressively convex-concave surfaces raking the hood and sides, fastback styling sweeping from the roof into the rear end it's all rather more striking than most BMWs except perhaps the gorgeous Z4.
Usually, Bimmers don't make their full impact until you get behind the wheel, but the X6 the X arising from BMW's intelligent xDrive all-wheel-drive system hits you just sitting parked.
Two iterations will hit the streets at the beginning of May 2008: a 3.0-litre twin turbo, inline-six-driven xDrive35i, which puts out 300 hp from 5,800 to 6,250 rpm and 300 lb.-ft. of torque from 1,400 to 5,000 rpm, and the 4.4-litre twin turbo V8-driven xDrive50i, which puts out 400 hp from 5,500 to 6,400 rpm and 450 lb.-ft. from 1,800 to 4,500 rpm.
The V8 is a newly developed High Precision Injection unit making its world debut; its turbo-charger and catalytic converters' location in the V-section between the cylinder rows keeps its dimensions compact. It's impressive, on track or off, with 0 to 100 times of 5.6 seconds, little turbo lag, smooth power delivery, and max torque available through a good swath of the rev range. Turbo lag is more noticeable in the six-cylinder, but really, both engines are excellent.
Both engines are coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission with gearshift paddles on the steering wheel as standard. The paddles are well placed and nicely contoured to make them easily accessible by thumb-power. Only on the hilliest terrain should you need them.
Inside are contoured coupé seats for four, with a range of entertainment and convenience options: BMW's some-call-it-maddening iDrive with personalized favourite buttons (which I find a little convoluted, but certainly comprehensive), MP3-compatible CD player, aux input, USB audio integration, rear DVD entertainment system, four-zone automatic air conditioning, ventilated seats, rearview camera, nav system, BMW Assist and wireless Bluetooth Technology.
This being my first experience with the company's electronic gear selector, it took me a few tries to get used to it, but once acclimated, I liked it. Sort of pointlessly Jetsonian, but at least it isn't one of those technologies that make a simple manual procedure a complicated automated one.
I liked the head-up display too, which could be configured easily while driving to display a variety of things, the most useful of which are probably speed and nav info.
The emphasis the company is putting on the X6 falls squarely on its handling, with a dizzying array of technologically advanced features that sound so comprehensive, you wonder if a driver is needed at all. (But what would be the fun in that?)
Complementing its xDrive technology, offered here as standard for the first time is Dynamic Performance Control, which distributes drive force between the two rear wheels for improved traction and stability.
The xDrive all-wheel-drive system variably distributes drive power between the front and rear axles. Under normal conditions, the split is 40:60 (front:rear); sensors continually measure wheel slip and make adjustments.
Integrated Chassis Management allows the interaction of the drivetrain and suspension systems. Thanks to all that stuff, Dynamic Stability Control cuts in to apply brakes on the appropriate wheel or wheels only under the most extreme limits of driving physics, according to the press material.
Optional Active Steering offers direct steering behaviour at speeds up to about 90 km/h and enhanced comfort at higher speeds. When applying brakes on different surfaces simultaneously (when one side is on gravel, say), Active Steering discreetly countersteers.
Adaptive Drive monitors and calculates road data, including speed, steering angle, longitudinal and lateral acceleration, body and wheel speed, ride and damper height, then acts on the antiroll bar swivel motors and damper valves to eliminate body roll; you can choose either a comfort or a sport setting at the touch of a button.
All of these sophisticated technologies are meant to act invisibly to the driver, so it's not like you're going to get a feeling of, Oh, there goes the Active Steering! or, Hey, there, Adaptive Drive! It all behaves seamlessly all you're aware of is that what could potentially have been a bad situation is quickly corrected.
On the wet track at the nearby Laurens Proving Grounds, it didn't take much speed or much turning to get it to slide out. Its handling strength is in its confidence-inspiring, very quick recovery.
The X6 interior is typical of the brand and from the B-pillar forward, pretty much an X5. Materials are uniformly elegant and of high quality. Calling attention to its sporty intentions, there are upholstered kneepads on either side of the centre console. Shorties such as I won't need them except in the most extreme driving (such as on track), but leggier folk will appreciate them.
The rear seat, which is strictly for two because a centre position that might allow a fifth occupant is taken up by a storage console (which looks a bit tacked-on), is roomy, comfortable, and easily accessed.
Its elevated seating position will appeal to SUV fans, although its rearward visibility is not as good as expected.
Cabin storage is ample, and most of it discreetly hidden behind roll-top lids when not stuffed full. Cargo capacity goes from 20 cu. ft. to 51 cu. ft., depending whether the rearseat backrests are folded. The load floor is SUV-high, which seems awkward on a hatchback; the hatch features a two-stage spring feature so you don't have to worry about whacking the ceiling in your underground parking lot.
In reference to the V8 engine specifically, BMW says, Supremacy is the most important feature. I think the company used the word supremacy a few times in the press material, which certainly gives you a hint at where the vehicle is aimed I'm just not sure at whom.
Will a market that in recent years hatched a plethora of seven-seaters make room for a vehicle that seats only four? Will BMW cannibalize its own X5 buyers? Is it a truck-y car or a car-y truck?
A diesel version is available to overseas markets; we'll see a hybrid version here next year.
Summary:
Strong Points
Weak Points
- - styling
- - comfort
- - two great engines
- - seats four
- - high load floor
Editors Rating:
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