BMW X6

2015 BMW X6M Review

It is only when the world had come to terms with the correct definition of shapes of different types of vehicle, BMW shattered them all with an X6; a car that made a unique statement with its unconventionally styled exterior. The German manufacturer also coined a new term – Sports Activity Coupe for the X6 to position it in the most distinct way possible.

With its muscular haunches and an athletic stance, the X6 already looked the part of a sporty beefed up being but then the M Motorsport division at BMW weren’t satisfied with all of that. Instead, they wrapped it with an angrier looking face, machined alloy wheels and also made the interiors look different than that of the standard model. But the main change was done under the hood with an M powered engine.

For the new iteration, the 2015 BMW X6M features a brand new 4.4-litre V8 TwinTurbo engine that makes an impressive 575hp of power and 750Nm of mind numbing torque powering all four wheels. It is also said to be the most powerful all-wheel drive unit ever made by BMW. Only one place can reveal its true potential. A proper race track and we just did that to get our hands on this re-booted beast. Here is our first impression report.

Outlandish is the first world that your brain churns when you see the new BMW X6M. The grand proportions of muscles and contours flowing all over this jacked up coupe inspired vehicle ditch the conventionally boring straights and squares of an orthodox SUV design.

Bold and brash is the front profile with large headlights further accentuating its menacing presence. The larger kidney grille gets a bright surround and also features vertical slats along with a camera nicely slotted under the model label. The long and contoured hood features character lines that drop a hint of the beasty of a motor underneath it. The front bumper looks interestingly complicated with multiple scoops and fog lamps. These air pockets lend a visual appeal for sure as they look capable of swallowing a hatchback but also offer functional value to help cool the motor inside.

While the front face is similar to that of the X5M, the X6M is a tad wider in profile. However, the similarities end at the face itself because when you see the X6M along its length, it looks like no other vehicle with its sloping roofline which flows in an angular way from the front before merging with the shot and butch rear. The shoulder line remains strong as it climbs all the way to the rear.

It being a vehicle of larger dimensions doesn’t look bulky at all. The contrasting combination of a SUVish car with a sedan like window line gives it an amazing silhouette. Also, adding an important touch to the rear half is a strong profile line which highlights the rear wheel arch, breaking the mono flow on the wedge line running along the shoulder.

This one too runs on M special 20-inch wheels with Pirelli PZero tyres; they look absolutely smashing especially with the five spoke machined finish on the alloys. The rocker molding on the lower half are placed lower on the M models and blend well with the side skirts.

Pitched at the connoisseurs of performance and luxury, the zesty interiors of the BMW X6M, with its premium quality leather and equipment, look simply amazing. Yes, it still feels as understated as a typical BMW car because the entire focus is not make you doze off with dollops of luxury but keep you engaged with the dynamics of the cabin.

It comes with standard leather seats with Alcantara draped front dashboard. The impressive quality of finishing and stitches make it feel very premium and different. Happily, there is not much left to choose in terms of features and options as BMW offers almost everything as standard on this hulky beast of a car.

Get yourself snuggled in the seats inside the BMW X6M and the first thing that you would notice is the large 10.25-inch infotainment iDrive screen. Its high resolution and lucid display of features and options along with the dial jog to operate make it very convenient to use. This screen lets you pair phones, play music, access vehicle settings, activate alerts and caution messages and also alter the suspension and transmission settings.

The 360-degree parking camera gives a complete view of the surrounding and makes it easy to park and drive around in narrow lanes diminishing the demerits of its large dimensions. Even the navigation function is extremely useful as it properly displays routed with all the necessary information around the destination point.

While some might argue that the X6M is not a practical car considering its odd ball shaped sloping roofline, surprisingly, there is enough space for taller occupants as well in the rear. The rear section can comfortable house three average sized adults without much of a tight squeeze. BMW has worked on the positing of the rear seats by lowering the bench point according to the sloping roofline to make it feel airy.

“Can this one do doughnuts on a track?” is what I asked to the trainer, not expecting to see what happened next. Before I narrate my track experience with the new X6M, there is some vital piece of information that you should know. The X6M weighs 2.3-tonnes and is dimensionally larger than many SUVs but at the same time is not a shy character because it makes use of a 4.4-litre TwinTurbo V8 engine.

Yes, our previous review car too features the same motor but the dynamics of X5M and X6M are worlds apart. The former is a well behaved car with a larger heart but the X6M is a totally rebel when it comes to following conventional rules. It just wants an excuse to stop the mundane and let its free spirit take over, leaving you in a state of awe. The acceleration timing of 0 to 100 kmph in 4.2 seconds is a tad lower than a M6 and it is a great deal because the M6 is a sedan designed to cheat air resistance whereas this one is a muscular thorough bred SUV.

Get the motor cranked up and you can just hear an angry rumble of the motor. It is only when you let your foot loose, the motor starts creating symphony from an army of eight cylinders playing in unison to make sure you understand what you are dealing with here. The eight-speed transmission is fantastic at whipping all of that horsepower and channelizes them properly to all the four wheels. It is still not a dual clutch performance spitting gearbox but the Steptronic unit does succeed in mirroring it. There is also a way to alter the shift points in order to make the motor hold on to particular revs for a longer duration before shifting to the next.

Once the beast is rolling, you can’t help but concentrate all your senses on the steering wheel and the road ahead, provided you want to test the true potential of this monster. The steering input is direct and it can be further improved by altering the setting on the console. It drives like a proper performance car on auto settings but it is only when all the M-spec modes are switched on, tweaking the performance characteristics of the X6M, that you understand and feel what this car is capable of doing.

Now that all modes were switched on, even a gentle dash on the throttle pulled me behind completely and then when I put my foot down completely, it seemed like all the wheels conspired to teach me a lesson and started burning the tarmac. Even at initial speeds, the motor offers so much of performance that you need to be careful of the things ahead. Luckily for us, we had the race track as a playground to test the extreme capacities of the X6M.

The V8 of a motor is on its toes all the time and is eager to eat on more and more distance at the smallest possible time. On straight sections, the ride feels extremely planted as the Pirellis do a great job of gripping the tarmac. While everything is good about these sleek tyres, they aren’t the best when it comes to absorbing the roughness of the tarmac as the low profile tyres are meant only to enjoy high speed. The ride quality is equally confident while taking sharp turns at great speeds. Aiding that are the huge multi piston motorsport brakes which offer extreme bite making the vehicle come to a halt as and when required.

The nimble throttle response of the X6M has to be its most impressive trait as it doesn’t matter what engine speed you are on, get on the throttle and the motor will surprise you by squeezing out the last available drop of torque, rescuing you out from a tricky situation. This one can surely hold its stance around the apex like a Boss!

Clearly, the BMW X6M is not meant for everyone as there would be some acting cynical about the way it looks but there exists a sizeable audience who are in love with this spruced up SUV. Call it names like Sports Activity Coupe and what not but the only way to really connect with this car is by referring it as The Hulk. Till the time you don’t tease it, the X6M is calm and will try and act obedient but the moment you manage to get it angry, it unleashed its real self and that is where you realize what 750Nm thrown through all wheels mean.

Kindly do not confuse it for anything else as the X6M will not see much of off-road but more of smooth sailing tarmac. It is that type of a ride which can be a wingman to you when you hit a popular club. Overall, we would definitively recommend this, if you have an appetite for living an outlandish lifestyle.