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Motor Authority - blog Tag: X6

  • 2010 BMW ActiveHybrid X6 Preview

    2010 BMW ActiveHybrid X6 Preview October 12th, 2009 By Nelson Ireson Nelson Ireson, Author, October 12th, 2009 Nelson Ireson 7 Comments

    2010 BMW ActiveHybrid X6 Preview

    Unlike the mainstream market where hybrid technology is used to maximize fuel efficiency, luxury automakers have employed hybrid systems as a way to maintain or improve performance while making concessions to efficiency. The 2010 BMW ActiveHybrid X6, on display at last month's 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show this week and due out for retail sale this December, is a prime example.

    Rated at a combined output of 478-horsepower and 575-pound-feet of torque, the big SUV uses a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 engine and a nickel-metal hydride hybrid powerpack to claim the title of the world's most powerful gasoline-electric hybrid passenger vehicle. That's no...

    Unlike the mainstream market where hybrid technology is used to maximize fuel efficiency, luxury automakers have employed hybrid systems as a way to maintain or improve performance while making concessions to efficiency. The 2010 BMW ActiveHybrid X6, on display at last month's 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show this week and due out for retail sale this December, is a prime example. Rated at a combined output of 478-horsepower and 575-pound-feet of torque, the big SUV uses a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 engine and a nickel-metal hydride hybrid powerpack to claim the title of the world's most powerful gasoline-electric hybrid passenger vehicle. That's no mean feat, with contenders like Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and Cadillac in the space. The two electric synchronous motors contribute 91-horsepower/192-pound-feet and 86-horsepower/206-pound-feet, respectively. Accordingly, it's no wimp at the stoplight strip, sprinting to 60 mph in just 5.4 seconds, and on to an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph. And it does it all while eeking out 22.8 mpg in the European combined cycle, about 20% better than the standard V-8's ratings. The improvement is due largely to the hybrid system's ability to run on electricity alone up to 37 mph, though the hybrid-specifc automatic stop-start function also helps reduce wasted fuel at idle. The EPA rates the six-cylinder X6 at 16 mpg city / 20 mpg highway, and the European ActiveHybrid X6 achieves 22.8 mpg on the European test cycle. Like its big, brawny brother the X6 M (read our first drive of the X6 M here), however, the ActiveHybrid X6's main problem is a very American one--weight. Racking up 400-pounds for the hybrid drivetrain in addition to the standard vehicle's 5,000-pound curb weight, it's impressive that the X6 Hybrid gets the fuel efficiency it does. Prototypes of the vehicle were spotted frequently throughout its development sporting a huge domed hood where the electronics and diagnostics equipment lived. That's been mosltly solved for the retail version, with BMW packaging it all away tidily, though you'll still know the hybrid version from a distance. The hybrid system employed by the ActiveHybrid X6 is a version of the Daimler-Chrysler-GM Two-Mode system that uses twin electric motors that can alternately provide extra power, charge the batteries at a 50kW regeneration rate, or trade power between each other as necessary. Tying the electrical side to the gasoline engine is a two-mode active transmission based on an electrical CVT and a standard seven-speed automatic transmission. The two-mode active transmission provides the ideal combination of the two sources of drive power required for an even higher level of both efficiency and driving dynamics. Through the two electric motors, three planetary gearsets and four multiple-plate clutches, drive power is conveyed in the same way as with a seven-speed automatic transmission. Standard xDrive all-wheel-drive spreads out the power of the engine variably between the front and rear wheels. The electric motors draw their energy from an NiMH high-performance battery fitted beneath the floor of the luggage compartment and supplying electric power also to the car’s on-board network. When applying the brakes or taking back the throttle, kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy and saved in the high-performance battery. Read More

  • New M-Sport package for BMW X6 will come with power upgrades

    New M-Sport package for BMW X6 will come with power upgrades July 9th, 2009 By Viknesh Vijayenthiran Viknesh Vijayenthiran, Author, July 9th, 2009 Viknesh Vijayenthiran 0 Comments

    New M-Sport package for BMW X6 will come with power upgrades Just weeks after the unveiling of the new M-Sport package for the new 7-series saloon comes news that BMW will be releasing a similar range of upgrades for its sporty X6 crossover as well as some power mods.

    The X6 xDrive35d and xDrive50i will be gifted with a few extra horsepower, with the 306hp (225kW) turbodiesel six-cylinder of the recently-launched 740d being transplanted into the xDrive35d and the twin-turbocharged V8 of the xDrive50i getting boosted to 442hp (330kW).

    That puts the xDrive35d M-Sport 20hp (15kW) ahead of the regular model, while the xDrive50i with the M Sport package winds up 42hp (30kW) in front of the standard... Just weeks after the unveiling of the new M-Sport package for the new 7-series saloon comes news that BMW will be releasing a similar range of upgrades for its sporty X6 crossover as well as some power mods. The X6 xDrive35d and xDrive50i will be gifted with a few extra horsepower, with the 306hp (225kW) turbodiesel six-cylinder of the recently-launched 740d being transplanted into the xDrive35d and the twin-turbocharged V8 of the xDrive50i getting boosted to 442hp (330kW). That puts the xDrive35d M-Sport 20hp (15kW) ahead of the regular model, while the xDrive50i with the M Sport package winds up 42hp (30kW) in front of the standard xDrive50i. Torque is up too, with the six-cylinder xDrive35d producing 332lb-ft (450Nm) in M-Sport trim and the V8 gaining an as yet unspecified amount of twist. A sporty bodykit, 20in wheels and custom interior trim will mark out the M-Sport-equipped X6s as being the mid-range models in the X6 lineup, however, don’t expect it to look quite as brutish as the range-topping X6 M. Expect to see items such as an M shifter, M steering wheel and M footrest. Carbon-fiber trim is also expected to be available. The new range of accessories should be available before the end of the year. Read More

  • First drive: 2010 BMW X6 M

    First drive: 2010 BMW X6 M July 7th, 2009 By Nelson Ireson Nelson Ireson, Author, July 7th, 2009 Nelson Ireson 7 Comments

    First drive: 2010 BMW X6 M Hurtling along at a cool 143mph (230km/h) in BMW's 2010 X6 M at Road Atlanta just before you shut it down hard for turn 10A, there's a brief moment where you wonder if it's even physically possible for the 5,324lb (2,415kg) missile you're now a part of to slow down enough to make the turn and avoid surfing the sand into the runoff area. But the moment passes and soon enough you're throwing the car into a four-wheel drift and pegging the throttle as you confidently accelerate up the hill to start a new lap.

    That, in a nutshell, is all you need to know about the X6 M. Our time with the car was limited to just a few hours on the road and 20... Hurtling along at a cool 143mph (230km/h) in BMW's 2010 X6 M at Road Atlanta just before you shut it down hard for turn 10A, there's a brief moment where you wonder if it's even physically possible for the 5,324lb (2,415kg) missile you're now a part of to slow down enough to make the turn and avoid surfing the sand into the runoff area. But the moment passes and soon enough you're throwing the car into a four-wheel drift and pegging the throttle as you confidently accelerate up the hill to start a new lap. That, in a nutshell, is all you need to know about the X6 M. Our time with the car was limited to just a few hours on the road and 20 laps of Road Atlanta at today's BMW-sponsored press event, but that time has given us a clear image of what the X6 M is - and isn't. It's an SUV (or SAV - Sport Activity Vehicle, according to BMW) that you can actually take to the track and not only safely negotiate the corners with but actually have fun exploring the outer limits of the chassis, brakes and tires. And those limits are very high indeed - with a solid exit from turn 7 there's a real possibility of seeing the vehicle's electronically limited top speed of 155mph (250km/h). At speed, the car seems to shrink around you, contrary to its large street presence. Turn-in rewards good technique - crisp and precise if you're off the brakes, but tending toward understeer with trail braking. Get back on the throttle at the apex and you can steer with your right foot - assuming you've switched off traction control - with the car sending at least 60% of its power to the rear wheels, and a full 100% at speeds over 111.8mph (180km/h). Straightaways flash by in a blink with the 555hp (408kW) twin-turbo V8 screaming to its 7,000rpm redline without once running out of breath - a trait it owes to its unique cross-tuned manifold and twin-turbo setup. Stand on the four-piston, 15in brakes and the 275/40/20 front and 315/35/20 rear tires will perform miracles of deceleration with confidence-inspiring feedback. Behind the wheel, the X6 M not only feels small, it feels almost - almost - light. It certainly doesn't feel like a 5,300lb behemoth. Steering is light but offers decent feedback, the brake pedal is firm with a long stroke and the accelerator is responsive but never jerky, even at low speeds. For many drivers the X6 M's six-speed automatic transmission will either be a draw or a sore spot, but in practice the unit does admirably in automatic mode, though to extract the most from the vehicle, you'll need to tap the wheel-mounted paddles yourself. Take a step back from the heady rush of the track, and the X6 M begins to raise some questions. The first: who would buy this? It is, after all, a four-seater, four-door SUV/crossover with an understandably portly curb weight. Inside, the M is even more luxurious and well-appointed than the standard X6, with stitched leather and carbon-fiber-like materials throughout the cabin. The vehicle is intended to be a sort of automotive Swiss Army knife, capable of doing it all, but like the cutlery, in the end, it doesn't really do any of them as well as a specialist tool. And that's traditionally what the M Division has made - scalpels, not Swiss Army knives. That said, it is a very pleasing and fun track-day toy, and even though the average X6 M owner will likely never see a closed course, it's the possibility that will entice many. Just as most SUVs will never leave the comfort of paved suburbia, so too is the X6 M as much about potential as it is about practice. Driving the standard X6 from Road Atlanta to Spartanburg after our time with the X6 M was somewhat anti-climactic, but it served to highlight the comfort, ease of driving and perfectly capable acceleration of the standard V8 vehicle. Driven back to back on the city streets, the differences between the standard and M versions might not be readily apparent to the average driver, though the M's aggressive exterior leaves no doubt as to which is which. Perhaps BMW's own engineers summed the X6 M up best at the press conference when they compared it to a sunny spot in a sea of gloomy news, brought in to brighten up the automotive world when it needs it most. And that it certainly does. The question is whether its on-track potential will translate into real-world sales at its $89,725 price point - but we'll have to wait at least until sales start in October to learn if the M Division has hit all the right marks with its latest sport-activity sports car.2010 BMW X6 M2010 BMW X6 M First Drive Read More

  • Hartge adds more aggression to BMW’s X6 with new styling pack

    Hartge adds more aggression to BMW’s X6 with new styling pack June 4th, 2009 ByAlex Kaufmann Alex Kaufmann, Author, June 4th, 2009 Alex Kaufmann 3 Comments

    Hartge adds more aggression to BMW’s X6 with new styling pack There’s no shortage of tuners offering upgrades for the new BMW X6, and to add to this specialist BMW tuner Hartge has just unveiled its new aerodynamic kit for the sporty crossover. For those of you that have seen pictures of the high-performance X6 M and felt underwhelmed by the crossover’s rather mundane appearance, then Hartge’s latest kit may just be one of the best alternatives we've seen to BMW M's own styling.

    The actual kit itself consists of a number of aerodynamic pieces, including an aggressive front spoiler, a custom rear skirt and side sills for both sides of the car. Meanwhile, there are also wheel arch... There’s no shortage of tuners offering upgrades for the new BMW X6, and to add to this specialist BMW tuner Hartge has just unveiled its new aerodynamic kit for the sporty crossover. For those of you that have seen pictures of the high-performance X6 M and felt underwhelmed by the crossover’s rather mundane appearance, then Hartge’s latest kit may just be one of the best alternatives we've seen to BMW M's own styling. The actual kit itself consists of a number of aerodynamic pieces, including an aggressive front spoiler, a custom rear skirt and side sills for both sides of the car. Meanwhile, there are also wheel arch extensions with air intakes at the front, and wheel arch extensions at the rear as well. These modifications must be had in conjunction with Hartge's stainless steel tail pieces that accommodate four tailpipes, and also include a solid rear diffuser. Other mods available for the X6 include carbon-fiber exterior mirror casings and Hartge emblems to replace the BMW-badges on the bonnet and at the rear. Overall, the Hartge kit looks much more impressive than the X6 M SUV, although the kit is only designed for the xDrive30d, xDrive35d, xDrive35i and xDrive50i models. We previously admonished a similar Hartge kit for the X6, but the new pictures taken in the studio setting really give it an aggressive appearance without appearing too desperate for attention.Hartge BMW X6 styling pack Read More

  • BMW reveals U.S. pricing for X5 M and X6 M performance SUVs

    BMW reveals U.S. pricing for X5 M and X6 M performance SUVs April 24th, 2009 ByJames Martinez James Martinez, Author, April 24th, 2009 James Martinez 0 Comments

    BMW reveals U.S. pricing for X5 M and X6 M performance SUVs We bet there are still thousands of BMW M fans out there reeling from the fact that the performance division is launching its first ever SUV model, and a turbocharged one at that. Those fans better get used to it fast as BMW has just revealed pricing for the new X5 M and X6 M SUVs, which will start at $86,225 and $89,725 (including $825 Destination & Handling), respectively, when they go on sale in the U.S. in the second half of the year. Full pricing and options, as well as pre-order sales, will be available from next month onwards.

    BMW admits that it would like to draw customers away from vehicles like the Mercedes Benz ML63 AMG and ... We bet there are still thousands of BMW M fans out there reeling from the fact that the performance division is launching its first ever SUV model, and a turbocharged one at that. Those fans better get used to it fast as BMW has just revealed pricing for the new X5 M and X6 M SUVs, which will start at $86,225 and $89,725 (including $825 Destination & Handling), respectively, when they go on sale in the U.S. in the second half of the year. Full pricing and options, as well as pre-order sales, will be available from next month onwards. BMW admits that it would like to draw customers away from vehicles like the Mercedes Benz ML63 AMG and Porsche Cayenne, and in an effort to make its M SUVs more appealing has fitted the pair with standard 20in wheels, sports seats, red needle gauges, and Merino leather trim. Both models are powered by a newly-developed 4.4L V8 M engine delivering 555hp (412kW) at 6,000rpm and 500lb-ft (677Nm) of torque from a low 1,500 to 5,650rpm - enough to send the vehicles from 0-60mph in just 4.5 seconds. The vehicles also have a reworked chassis, with new M-specific adaptive suspension, an uprated intelligent xDrive AWD system, and newly-developed Servotronic power steering. Finally, they are offered with a six-speed automatic transmission with an electronic selector on the center console offering three different driving modes – Drive, Sport and M Manual modes for absolute control of gear selection. For more information about either the X5 M or X6 M, check out our previous story by clicking here.2010 BMW X6 M2010 BMW X5 M Read More

  • Hartge takes the diesel X6 to new highs - and lows

    Hartge takes the diesel X6 to new highs - and lows April 16th, 2009 ByAlex Kaufmann Alex Kaufmann, Author, April 16th, 2009 Alex Kaufmann 2 Comments

    Hartge takes the diesel X6 to new highs - and lows Style is undoubtedly a subjective thing, but sometimes agreement is nearly universal. The Mona Lisa has been revered through the ages, while the bowl-cut hair style is a perpetual laughing stock. Somewhere toward the latter end of the spectrum lie creations like Hartge's latest X6 variant, sporting a beefy diesel powerplant and a face only a mother (or father) could love.

    It's an unfortunate combination, not just because the hot diesel crossover was pre-emptively one-upped in both performance and aesthetics by the X6 M at last week's New York Auto Show. The otherwise very attractive combination of a twin-turbo 3.0L diesel rated at 323hp... Style is undoubtedly a subjective thing, but sometimes agreement is nearly universal. The Mona Lisa has been revered through the ages, while the bowl-cut hair style is a perpetual laughing stock. Somewhere toward the latter end of the spectrum lie creations like Hartge's latest X6 variant, sporting a beefy diesel powerplant and a face only a mother (or father) could love. It's an unfortunate combination, not just because the hot diesel crossover was pre-emptively one-upped in both performance and aesthetics by the X6 M at last week's New York Auto Show. The otherwise very attractive combination of a twin-turbo 3.0L diesel rated at 323hp (241kW) and 499lb-ft (675Nm) of torque is made repulsive by the Mad Max front end. The rear diffuser area is equally disturbing, though decidedly less busy, and the rather innocuous side skirts neither add nor detract from the curiosity. Huge 22in wheels take some of the attention back from the odd aero pieces, but even with a shiny polished finish and a 30mm lower suspension treatment, they're not enough to keep the eyes off the catastrophic front end for long. Which in the end is probably a good thing considering it will cost you €29,353.94 ($38,735) (VAT included) to put this kit on your unsuspecting X6 xDrive35d. For a somewhat less appalling Hartge SUV, check out the X5 Hunter. Perhaps the company would be better served sticking to brilliant mechanical mods like the M5-powered V10 BMW Z4 M.Hartge BMW X6 Read More

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