German Car Zone

Uggh, guys my point wasn't if 911 or GTR or ZR1 is better/faster. But that a lesser than an outright sports car with comparable accommodation to the X6/GTS and things would be very tight.

ps. I am pretty sure ZR1 is $100k+ and in completely different league.

Yes, it actually is ($106,000) but then again, everything is so damn cheap in the states.

I agree that the ZR1 is one cracker of a car.

911 for me please...though the X6 and Cayenne GTS are my favorite suvs.

M

Ugh - Sunny's right - it's about the 911 being the benchmark. Perennially. Many fine machines are just flashes in the pan. The whole context of the article's comparison centred around BMW's own ascertion that the X6 "handles like a 911". I mean really, logically, were they going to say "handles like a ZR-1"? Of course not.

This is a very clever, yet divisive demonstration that not even the very best handling SUV's can come close to matching a proper sports car in handling terms.

I'm very interested in the fact that the X6 went into limp mode. Look, it was 37 degrees on a track but even so... I mentioned it elsewhere that having those two turbos so close together in the Vee was going to cause problems with heat build up. More so because they're shrouded under a grotty plastic cover. Hmm, I wonder if BMW will revise the cover with louvering or remove it altogether for M versions.

We've never had a turbo'd Subaru go into limp mode at Gerotek (1600m above sea-level, 35+ degrees in summer) even after dozens of laps at full whack.

I think M will put a scope on the M5 - not a traditional scope but a hidden one in the front.

Turbo Subarus have traditionally had small engines (less than 2 litres). Hence, less heat and less risk of overheating. Furthermore, this just goes to show that these SUV:s should not be driven hard on track, they are more suited for boulevard cruising.

^ I think you mean less than 3 litres, Dr D. All of the Subaru's being run were 2.5 litre models which is quite large for a 4 cylinder engine.

But yes, the volumetric flow and heat generation would be less in the Subaru. Then again - even if it's half, this would suggest that the Scoobs would go into limp mode after 3 laps. Like I've said, even after prolonged runs on very hot days, I've not seen a single car go into limp mode in 5 years of product tests and demos. Limp mode is a seriously yucky consequence of turbo'd engines when some ECU parameter is exceeded.

On the other hand, much rather a limp mode than blown gaskets.

Point is, BMW have not solved this issue yet and if they intend to use FI on the real M-cars then they must be aware that things like limp mode after a couple of medium-hot laps are not acceptable.

Yes of course. I agree with you on all accounts.

Still, limp-mode is such a bitch when you're having fun

Such a kill-joy!

It is a good system, but one that should never need to come in use.

Can some one explain limp mode ? Is it the famous "power reduced" due to overheating thing ?