Ralfd

First X6 Test Drive : Title 'Testdrive with BMW X6 : Dancing Elephant'

Here is a link to an article in the German 'Spiegel Online' :
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The author seems to be impressed by the quality of the DPC system '....handles like a 3 series...' .The picture shows the new display of the DPC function (variable power distribution to the 4 wheels)

Seems like the author was 'less impresssed' by the rear headroom, as he bumped his head a few times. No additional 'hard info', just speculation on the possible choice of engines .

Probably by tomorrow we can read a similar test drive in autocar.co.uk

Tycoon

Handles like a 3 series? If that's the 1st impression about X6' handling i can only imagine M version...

Thanks, Ralf.

Just_me

if it handles like a 3er, bring on X6 M

Foxfire

This, unfortunately, sounds too good to be true... a half ton heavier, 20 cm higher and 30 cm longer vehicle handles as good as a 3 series? Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of X6, but I think this journalist is just a bit over eager and hardly pushed the car to its limits.

E38_E30

The cars still were duck-taped but BMW forgot to remove/cover the tire-pressure stickers at the b-pillar reading: "X6 3.5i" seems to be the entry model?

Another link w/ couple of pics: - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

vedjo01

Bloody hell,this car will rock automotive world if this claims about handling are correct..I mean,big SAV with 4x4 drivetrain and handling of mid sized salon car..cool..

Centurion

Yeah it sounds too good to be true unless BMW has come up with a way to defy the laws of physics and gravity. But lets wait for more reviews.

S'Pimp

Info AMW (german)
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Premiere at NAIAS

EnI

These systems are very good. SH-AWD - a similar system to DPC - was praised much but failed to deliver what it was designed to: an excellent driving dynamics. Not due the system failure - but due not good enough Honda / Acura chassis - especially the suspension (too soft).

BMW got all the things right ... A perfect match: Dynamic xDrive (DPC), superb chassis, stiff body, matching suspension setup, great engine & gearbox.

Now imagine this system in a lighter & smaller car ...

According to my info new 7er & PAS are the next cars in line to get the PDC ... other models will follow.

Ralfd

You are probably right...
Maybe I was overly enthusiastic too, when posting the quick and dirty translation of the article...
First, it seems the journalists did not drive the X6 themselves, instead they were driven as passengers by BMW test engineers .

Here is the original quote from the article :
'Als hätte ein guter Geist dem Wagen etwas von seinen zwei Tonnen, seinen 4,88 Metern Länge und 1,70 Metern Höhe genommen, flutscht das Auto in engen Radien durch den Slalom-Parcours und über die Handling-Strecke wie ein etwas groß geratener 3er BMW.'

Translation :
'As if a good ghost took away something from the 2 ton weight of the car, its 4.88 m length and 1.7 m height, the car rushes through the tight curves of the slalom parcour and over the handling course like a slightly bigger 3 series BMW'

We have to wait a little bit longer, until we get first hand experiences, but it still sound exciting to me...