news

2020 BMW X5 M, X6 M revealed

BMW M has unveiled the latest addition to its range of fire-breathing SUVs, whipping the covers from the X5 M, X6 M and their aggressive 'Competition' counterparts.


Power in the biggest M SUVs comes from a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine outputting 441kW and 750Nm, while Competition variants employ the same engine but bump peak power to 460kW. For reference, the outgoing Mercedes-AMG GLE63 S offered 430kW.

Australia will only be getting the Competition, so don't worry about the lower output version too much...

BMW says the car's sports exhaust delivers an "emotionally stirring soundtrack", so expect plenty of histrionics from the quad pipes down back.

It's mated with an eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission, just like in the related M5 and M8. Power is put to the road through a variable M all-wheel drive system, albeit without the ability to send 100 per cent of the engine's power to the rear axle.

Instead, flicking the car into 4WD Sport delivers a more rear-biased torque split without totally removing the front axle from the equation. There's an active M Differential on the rear axle to help put the power to the road, too.

The 100km/h sprint takes 3.8 seconds in Competition variants, and 3.9 seconds in the 'regular' X5 M and X6 M.

With stiffer bodies, adaptive suspension setups specific to the X5 M and X6 M, active anti-roll bars, and a unique steering setup, BMW says its latest M SUVs move the handling game forward for large performance crossovers.

The X5 and X6 M Competition will ride on 21-inch front and 22-inch rear wheels, behind which hide bigger brake discs and calipers.

Externally, you'll be able to tell the M Competition crossovers from their more mundane brethren by their blacked-out grilles, extended arches, more aggressive rear bumper inserts, and gaping front air intakes. The bigger wheels are also a dead giveaway.

Inside, the standard X5 and X6 interiors have been updated in a very similar fashion to the X3 M and X4 M. That means there's racier bucket seats, an M steering wheel with M1/M2 custom mode buttons, and carbon-fibre trim on the dash, transmission tunnel, and doors.

The BMW OS7.0 driver display is furnished with unique displays, as is the head-up display, while the details on the start button and gearstick are M-specific.

 

Australia

The new X5 and X6 M Competition will be on sale in the second quarter of 2020, with more details about pricing and specifications to be revealed closer to launch. Only the Competition will come Down Under.

Chat with us!







Chat with Agent