BMW X5 M and X6 M

[michaeldorian]

I don't know how I feel about this.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/05/b...-code-reveals/

"The teaser site's tag line reads, "M. Welcome to the next chapter." The now official X5 M and X6 M will certainly be something we've never read in the book of BMW high performance vehicles. Recent chapters have featured high-horsepower, rear-wheel-drive cars like the M3, M5 and M6 as their main protagonist, but these new Ms will be big, weigh over 5,000 lbs apiece and use all-wheel drive. In addition to the new teaser site that rounds up all available info on the two newest Ms, BMW has released a first official teaser video in which the M division's Bernd Limmer reveals that the X5 M and X6 M will be powered by versions of the existing twin-turbo 4.4L V8, likely tuned to around 500 horsepower. Being an M car has always required more than just high horses, however, and we can expect the X vehicles to feature heavily tuned suspensions and all-wheel-drive systems with a rear bias for better handling. Throw in better brakes, bigger wheels and tires and subtly revised styling, and consider the next chapter of M read until the official reveal takes place in early April. Follow the jump to watch BMW's official teaser for the X5 M and X6 M.

UPDATE: Jalopnik noticed that the source code of the minisite revealed a tag cloud with such interesting tags as "550 bhp", "Twin Scroll Twin Turbo", "V8" and, our favorite, "gills"."

[Year's_End]

Meh. If they sell then good. Haven't won my respect yet.

[graider]

I don't think it would be a bad idea for a daily car as long as they make them look more exclusive and aggressive compare to the regular x5/x6. I would rock one because with the high clearance and thicker tires, I don't have to worry about curb, pot holes, etc.

[footie]

Our clever confederates at Jalopnik.com have had a look at the source code of BMW's new micro-site for the X5 M and X6 M launch and found a few tid-bits of info BMW may not have wanted to make public right away.

So it seems the X5 and X6 M versions will come with a V8 with twin-scroll turbochargers and 550 hp.

One of the tags the designers put into the page hoping to generate as much traffic as possible included the following:

"eight-cylinder engine, V8, Twin Scroll Twin Turbo, 550 bhp,all-wheel, Adaptive Drive, HUD, Head Up Display"

It's a forgivable slip and it's likely BMW is happy with the attention the site will get from this "reveal." Quotation marks meant to convey skepticism, yes.

The intrepid souls at Jalopnik used a feature in the Firefox web browser that allows one to look at the source code for any website they are currently on. Now, maybe they can find a tool that opens up that container and shows us what's in there.

This is on the Worldcarfans site.

With 550hp it will be quicker than the Cayenne Turbo S because of the weight difference but based on my experience of the X6 35d I doubt it will be half the car of the Porsche and by this I don't mean handling or track ability as I reckon the X6M will be better, it's just that the Cayenne handles, goes and stops better than any other SUV on the market but also rides better than all of them with the exception of LandRovers.

The brother's X6 rides worse than my M3 and if BMW are to make the X6M handle the 550hp and corner as well or better than the Cayenne then this will only make the already poor ride quality worse.

BMW's continuing insistance to resist using some form of adaptive suspension is the problem their SUVs don't ride as well as they handle, I hope the X6M and X5M don't fall into the same trap.

[alpineweissM3]

Not a fan of the watering down of the ///M brand.

I guess I'm too traditional.

[Robin_NL]

This 'next chapter' of //M is a chapter I won't read. I know the marketing bs and that's what 'the world' wants, but not in my book thank you very much.

[footie]

Originally Posted by Robin Hood

This 'next chapter' of //M is a chapter I won't read. I know the marketing bs and that's what 'the world' wants, but not in my book thank you very much.

Porsche fans didn't want the Cayenne but without it the future sportscar they make wouldn't have been as advanced or have the amount of funding available to develop them.

Don't knock these models as they will put pennies in the M-Division pockets for future 'normal' M cars.

[Robin_NL]

I know footie, but I don't even have/want a truck driving licence.

[artur777!]

550 bhp seems to put X6M in the 4.7 seconds range for 0-100

[dcstep]

When I was at the Performance Center a few weeks back I saw both what appeared to be M-X5 and M-X6s being flogged around the test track. They had camouflage, but the wheels, exhaust notes and large intakes gave them away. The particular testing I saw seemed to be high speed handling, with lots of tire noise and aggressive driving.

Dave

[!Xoible]

yep BMW M division has gone kookoo. no rev engines for M's, then M's on SUV's. might as well go to merc now. at least they're not confused about what they're selling

[Sticky]

Originally Posted by footie

This is on the Worldcarfans site.

With 550hp it will be quicker than the Cayenne Turbo S because of the weight difference but based on my experience of the X6 35d I doubt it will be half the car of the Porsche and by this I don't mean handling or track ability as I reckon the X6M will be better, it's just that the Cayenne handles, goes and stops better than any other SUV on the market but also rides better than all of them with the exception of LandRovers.

The brother's X6 rides worse than my M3 and if BMW are to make the X6M handle the 550hp and corner as well or better than the Cayenne then this will only make the already poor ride quality worse.

BMW's continuing insistance to resist using some form of adaptive suspension is the problem their SUVs don't ride as well as they handle, I hope the X6M and X5M don't fall into the same trap.

I have a Cayenne S and at the same time I had an X3. The X3 was clearly the better handler, and I have the turbo suspension.

The Cayenne is a great SUV, but these will be on a whole different level. The Cayenne's platform is a little long in tooth, the X6 M is going to stomp it from a pure performance perspective and handle much better.

The Cayenne is fun, but it is HEAVY, and it feels heavy, and it understeers badly. My M3 also rides better than the cayenne on its softest suspension setting.

If these came out earlier, I might have one instead of the M3. I might pick one up anyway.

[Sticky]

Originally Posted by artur777!

550 bhp seems to put X6M in the 4.7 seconds range for 0-100

I think you are going to see low 4's.

[MrHarris]

I say 4.4 to 60

[gorun]

Originally Posted by footie

This is on the Worldcarfans site.

With 550hp it will be quicker than the Cayenne Turbo S because of the weight difference but based on my experience of the X6 35d I doubt it will be half the car of the Porsche and by this I don't mean handling or track ability as I reckon the X6M will be better, it's just that the Cayenne handles, goes and stops better than any other SUV on the market but also rides better than all of them with the exception of LandRovers.

The brother's X6 rides worse than my M3 and if BMW are to make the X6M handle the 550hp and corner as well or better than the Cayenne then this will only make the already poor ride quality worse.

BMW's continuing insistance to resist using some form of adaptive suspension is the problem their SUVs don't ride as well as they handle, I hope the X6M and X5M don't fall into the same trap.

The problem with the X5, X6 and almost all other BMWs is called run flat tyres. I switched my former 535d and current X5 4.8 on to regulars and miracles happened in the ride department. Turn-in, however, ceases to be as quick or as crisp...

[Dascamel]

Originally Posted by gorun

The problem with the X5, X6 and almost all other BMWs is called run flat tyres. I switched my former 535d and current X5 4.8 on to regulars and miracles happened in the ride department. Turn-in, however, ceases to be as quick or as crisp...

Same issue on the 335. The suspension is designed to go along with the stiff sidewall of the run flats.

High cost, poor ride, I have to give the run flats a big thumbs down for BMW. Wonder if they will shy away from rfts on the the SUV M's.

[04S]

If it gives the M division more money to develop our 'normal' Ms then that is a great thing.