SPARTANBURG, N.C. — Last September, in Frankfurt, Germany, BMW presented its newest addition in the SUV segment: the X6. Although it still was a concept, it gave away what we could expect to see in Detroit. BMW also categorizes the X6 as a Sports Activity Coupe, or SAC. With that the Germans immediately generate a controversy, as the big car is no coupe, in my opinion and that of many of my colleagues.
When asked what a sports coupe is, one of the BMW officials at a driving event in Spartanburg spontaneously said: “a sporty two door model with a sloping roof line.”
Hmm. The X6 has four doors, hasn’t it? It also sits high on its wheels, like the X5 SUV?
Well, that is exactly why the BMW is not a sports coupe, but an SAC, creating a new niche within the SUV segment.
When I drove the X6 for the first time, I immediately remembered my interview with Joel Piaskowski, chief designer of Hyundai’s Californian design studio. He was responsible for the HCD9 Talus, a concept car that the Korean manufacturer unveiled in Detroit in 2006.
He said: “Young people have grown up with the practical qualities of the SUVs of their parents. They appreciate those, but they would love to have a sports coupe. We have combined them in this four door design…”
Will Hyundai follow up with a production version, now that BMW has paved the way? Probably. If so, it will most likely not be a premium model, but a more affordable one than the BMW X6.
The X6 is built on the chassis of the X5 on the same line in the Spartanburg, N.C., plant where BMW also builds the Z4. For now, the new SAC comes with a choice of two gas engines. But a hybrid will be coming — it’s just a question of when.
I expect that BMW will also start offering a diesel engine in the not too distant future. There is already such a version, the xDrive35d, available for the European and other markets.
In North America, the 2008 X6 will be offered as xDrive35i for $53,275 and xDrive50i for $63,775 (both prices including destination). Not cheap, but you get a whole lot of car in return. To be specific: a length of 192 inches of steel, aluminum (for the hood) and glass. The width of the X6 is 78.1 inches and the height 66.5 inches. Underneath the elegant ’shell’ there is not only a lot of luxury, but new technology too. All added up to a curb weight of around 5,000 pounds.
The xDrive35i uses the inline 3.0-liter twin turbo six cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and 300 pounds-feet of torque, while the xDrive50i gets the all new 4.4-liter V-8 with 400 horsepower and 450 pounds-feet of torque.
The V-8 has a couple of firsts: it’s the first time an 8-cylinder petrol engine gets twin turbo technology and the other innovation is that the turbochargers and catalytic converters are arranged in the V-section between the two cylinder banks.
Both power plants are teamed to a standard six-speed automatic transmission with paddle-shift and sports mode. Power is on all four wheels through xDrive, BMW’s all-wheel-drive system, known from the X5.
But there is more: BMW is especially proud of its new Dynamic Performance Control (PDC). While xDrive divides the torque between the front and rear axle, depending on the need for grip. In addition, the PDC divides the torque between the left and right rear wheel in on- and off throttle situations. This should minimize the understeer that’s normally present in most all-wheel drive SUVs. PDC allows the rear wheels to turn at different speeds, when needed. During cornering the outside wheel can accelerate and compensate for the understeer and also helps control the vehicle’s yaw movement.
How the torque is divided can be seen on the little display between the two main gauges in the instrument panel.
DPC is now part of the Integrated Chassis Management, that controls xDrive, dynamic stability control, electronic damper control, dynamic drive and active steering. Of course, that makes you looking forward to the opportunity to drive the X6. It was arranged at Michelin’s proving ground in Laurens, SC. I was not surprised DPC works well, especially on the wet track, were we drove a couple of sweeping turns on slippery pavement of a different grade. In less than an eye wink the system adjusts the torque to the outer rear wheel when you expect the front of the car to start living a life of its own. Steering was always good and you did not loose control. If you are really steering too fast into a corner, the stability control takes over with braking and kills the gas flow to the engine.
On the roads of the mellow countryside north of Spartanburg, the V-8 proved to be a healthy torque engine, never lacking power and always providing fun.
The DPC proves its qualities. It’s no doubt that you know you are on the road with a heavy SUV, but the X6 is very obedient and heads wherever you want it to go, even if you go to extremes.
Being in the European wave of journalists to attend the driving event for the X6, I did not experience the qualities of the I-6 engine in the xDrive35i, but I did drive the 35 diesel. In Europe we cherish diesel engines — they are quiet, torquey and sophisticated. Which also is the case with the 286 horsepower strong 3.0-liter diesel engine that is under the hood of the xDrive35d and is used for the X5, 3- and 5 series in the European (and other) market(s).
The BMW common rail diesel plant has 434 pounds-feet of torque and I am convinced that once Americans get the feel of a good diesel engine you will love it too. No low sulphur diesel is available throughout the country it should not take too long before BMW will come up with a diesel model, but maybe the X5 will be the first.
The X6 has an interior in the style that you may expect from a premium car and it’s roomy — for rear passengers less than six feet tall that is.
There are two seats in the rear, due to weight reduction, as an extra seat would require an extra structure because of safety regulations. It would also obstruct the drivers’ view through the rear window. It’s already minimal due to the low sweeping roof line.
Inside the cockpit you feel comfortable and at ease because of the high seating position. Standard equipment includes cruise control with brake function, automatic airco, electromechanical parking brake, park distance control and an entertainment system with MP3-capable CD drive and Aux-in socket. A slew of options include an automatic open and close function for the doors for low-noise closing, a soft close function for the tailgate and a glass slide/tilt roof. The safety equipment includes six airbags and a system of roll-over sensors. Also, dual bi-xenon headlamps are standard.
The X6 will arrive at North American dealerships by the end of May.
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