CorpusCallosum

BMW X6: first drive of new 4WD ‘coupe’



Is it a sports coupe? Is it an off-roader? Drive tries to put its finger on the X6 at the new BMW’s launch drive in America. By JAEDENE HUDSON.

BMW’s X5 set the benchmark for 4WD handling back in 1999, and its new X6 aims to take softroader dynamics to yet another, higher level.
But is the X6 a “revolution” as BMW claims?

The X6 is effectively an X5 with coupe-like sheetmetal – most notably the dramatically sloping rear roofline unseen on any previous off-roader.
A key mechanical addition to the X6, however, is what BMW calls Dynamic Performance Control (DPC) – a rear differential in the all-wheel-drive system that can direct up to 80 per cent of the engine’s torque to the individual rear wheel that has the most grip. The system is designed to give the X6 better drive through and out of corners.

While we didn’t get any fancy performance figures from our overseas launch drive in South Carolina, America, BMW tested the X6 at Europe’s infamous Nurburgring race track with and without the system. BMW claims a DPC-equipped X6 was 14 seconds quicker around the track than an X6 without the trick rear diff.

It works wonders, too. Through the wet-skidpan exercises on BMW's drive program (that included a double lane change, a slalom and other handling exercises), the X6 maintained its composure under duress.

Out on the road, the X6 feels more like a car than a soft-roader. It doesn’t feel top heavy in corners like most 4WDs, and the steering is well weighted and delivers good feedback from the road.

The suspension is firm and noisy but not uncomfortable, although the roads around Spartanburg – where BMW builds the X5 and X6 – were relatively smooth. We’ll find out in August whether the X6’s road manners remain polite on Australia’s pot-holed roads and coarse bitumen.

To further distinguish the X6 from the X5 on which it’s based, the sportier off-roader is offered with higher-performance engines.

We tested the V8 petrol (X6 xDrive50i) and six-cylinder diesel engines (X6 xDrive35d), both of which feature twin turbochargers. Australia will also get a twin-turbo petrol engine for the xDrive35i model.

Performance from the 300kW 4.4-litre V8 is effortless. Power delivery is smooth and the engine note is something special. The deep rumble resonates throughout the car at lower revs and builds to a rich, V8 tone you would expect from a sports sedan from 3500 revs through to the redline at 6500 rpm.

The six-speed automatic transmission is smooth and intuitive, and the drive can also change gears manually using the paddles on the steering wheel – particularly handy during cornering on a twisty section of road.

On paper, the average fuel economy figures seem quite impressive when considering the performance of the two engines, although our test drive revealed real-world economy higher than expected.

The claimed economy of the V8 is 12.5L/100 km but we averaged 16.9L/100 km on our 300km road loop, most of which was spent cruising at speeds of 80km/h. This figure would indicate that in the city (where most X6s will spend their lives), consumption would be up about the 18-20L/100km mark.
The diesel didn’t do much better when compared with its claimed average consumption of 8.3L/100 km, with a real-world consumption of 11.6L/100 km.
The X6’s coupe design doesn’t do wonders for practicality despite dimensions (4877mm long, 1979mm wide) that are bigger than the X5.

Rear visibility is poor through the small, acutely raked rear window. Even with large side mirrors and a rear camera, the X6 is still unnecessarily difficult to reverse.

Large side mirrors also contribute to excessive wind noise at speeds above 80 km/h. It was so noisy we checked to see if a window was slightly open.
The sharply sloping roofline caused many journalists on the launch to knock their heads getting in and out of the X6’s rear seats, and entry and egress to the back isn’t helped by the small rear-door aperture, hard side bolstering on the rear seats, and the vehicle’s high ride height.

The combination of high rear door sills and small windows induces feelings of claustrophobia. Young children would find it difficult to see out of the X6’s back seat.

The rear load height is quite high and even a few of the men on the drive test admitted they would struggle to lift heavy items into the boot –– especially one of the standard 19-inch alloy wheels.

The X6 is certainly not what you’d call family-friendly, although it’s still more practical than a BMW 6-Series with up to 1,450 litres of luggage space with the rear seats folded down. There’s no ski port, though.

Rear headroom is also tight for tall passengers, though BMW argues that the X6 is better in this respect than the Mercedes-Benz CLS. Legroom and footspace under the front seats are decent, however.

BMW says it put only two seats in the back so the rear passengers could enjoy spirited driving without being thrown around the back seat. We tested this theory around the track with two people sitting in the rear and found it was still not the most comfortable place to be. Space is generous for the driver and front passenger, and their seats are comfortable and supportive

The interior presentation of the X6 is typical BMW, with quality materials throughout the cabin. Cubbyholes and storage places are still sparse but there is a dedicated spot for the mobile phone and two good-sized cup/bottle holders in the front.

The X6 still uses the frustrating iDrive system but at least gains the helpful Favourites buttons for things you use often. BMW is now betting on the X6 becoming a favourite with buyers of sporty 4WDs.

The X5 on which the X6 is based has been successful because it is a family carrier with street cred – a stylish-looking vehicle that could be driven enthusiastically while also offering everyday practicality.

The X6 is even better to drive, but it loses much of a soft-roader’s flexibility and practicality.

Many a car has failed by trying to be all things to all people, but only time will tell whether people buy into BMW’s sports-car-***-off-roader “revolution”.

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BMW X6 - does the world need a four-wheel-drive coupe?

BMW says it has created a new niche by crossing a 4WD with a four-seat sports coupe. But has form hampered function? By JAEDENE HUDSON.

German car maker BMW believes the next big thing in four-wheel-drives is a four-seater, four-door coupe.

It's called the X6 and is due on sale in Australia in August, with a premium price, but industry pundits worldwide are already asking if it will be a huge hit - or a flop.

The motoring website German Car Zone says it is: "quite unlike anything else on the road today. Practicality has clearly been a secondary consideration."

Meanwhile, the British motoring magazine Autocar says: "Whether you love or loathe the concept behind it, the X6 promises to be another roaring success."

The X6 is based on the highly regarded BMW X5 soft-roader wagon and is built in the same factory in Spartanburg, South Carolina. But it is smaller, has only four seats and has less room for cargo.

And it's dearer than the X5.

It is widely accepted that part of the reason soft-roaders are so popular is because of their practicality and space.

But BMW reckons there is a market for a coupe-like four-seater that can go off-road. It cites figures which show global sales of luxury four-wheel-drives are increasing at a greater rate than any other segment of the new-car market and believes there is a new niche to be filled. If customers warm to the BMW X6 concept, it will have the market to itself. If they don't, it will go down in automotive history as a very expensive experiment.

BMW hasn't got many cars wrong in the past decade but it has been known to stretch the boundaries of public acceptance with bold styling and technology that is either not always user-friendly - or ahead of its time.

"We introduced the X5 in 1999 and everyone has tried to copy it. It was a niche model which then created a new segment," says BMW's US marketing manager, Clemens Zimmermann. "So in 2004-2005 we thought, 'We are no longer in front, let's start another revolution, let's do something even more sporty.'

"We believe we will be copied but we are not sure who will do it first. Porsche would have the technology for the dynamics to do it, but they are doing their new Cayenne." With four doors, the X6 is not a traditional coupe but, Zimmermann says: "We believe a car is classified a coupe by its design, performance and agility - not the number of doors."

The X6 starts from $111,500 for the twin-turbo six-cylinder petrol version and $117,000 for the twin-turbo six-cylinder diesel model (the same engine was recently added to the X5 range). The price of the flagship V8 model has not been announced but is expected to be about $145,000. In comparison, the X5 range starts from $85,000 and stretches to $118,300.

It will be available with the choice of two engines - a twin-turbo 3.0-litre (225kW, 400Nm) six-cylinder petrol engine and a twin-turbo 3.0-litre (210kW, 580Nm) six-cylinder diesel engine. The flagship twin-turbo 4.4-litre (300kW, 600Nm) V8 petrol engine will follow around December.

BMW expects the twin-turbo six-cylinder petrol engine to be the most popular engine. This model accelerates to 100kmh in 6.7 seconds, has a claimed average fuel economy of 10.9L/100km and C02 emissions of 262g/km. It weighs 2070kg.

The twin-turbo diesel is fractionally slower to reach 100kmh (6.9 seconds), has a claimed average fuel economy of 8.3L/100km and C02 emissions of 220g/km. It weighs 2110kg.

Despite weighing 2190kg, the twin-turbo V8 model accelerates to 100kmh in 5.4 seconds, faster than Porsche's soft roader, the Cayenne GTS (6.1 seconds). BMW claims average fuel economy of 12.5L/100km and C02 emissions of 299g/km.

While the X6 has no direct competitors, BMW expects buyers will also look at the Porsche Cayenne S ($134,500) and the Range Rover Supercharged V8 ($139,990).

Other performance soft roaders include the Audi Q7 4.2-litre V8, Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG and the Volkswagen Touareg 5.0-litre V10 diesel.

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Monster

I was going to mention about this earlier, but got no time. GCZ made it to the newspaper for the 2nd time I think. So journalists do go through car forums to gauge the public reaction of new cars. If Jaedene Hudson is reading this post now, hello

Just_me

I wonder who said it? Merc or Eni?

Tycoon

Lol, probably Eni...