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By
EWAN KENNEDY in Munich
8 September 2008
A new variant of the BMW X6, called the xDrive 50i, is coming to
Australia late in 2008 and we have had an opportunity to undertake
a preliminary test drive in Germany. The BMW X6 is an interesting
vehicle. Viewed from the front, it looks like a large SUV; yet in
profile it has coupe like lines particularly in the sloping back
end; from the rear it appears to be a somewhat oversized
hatchback. The X6 is built on the same 4WD underpinnings as the X5
but has a completely new body and interior.
The
big BMW X6 has created a completely new niche, one the company
likes to call an SAV, or Sports Activity Coupe. There really are
no other vehicles quite like this one, though BMW sees the Porsche
Cayenne GTS and Range Rover Sport as being the closest thing it
has to competitors. However, both of these really do look like
SUVs, whereas the X6 looks like nothing you have ever seen before.
The
new engine is a masterpiece from a company that has won more Best
Engine awards than any other. A V8 displacing 4.4 litres it has
twin turbochargers to boost efficiency. The two turbochargers, one
smaller than the other, operate together. With the smaller one
developing additional power and torque at low speeds. As engine
speed increases the larger turbo joins in, and then at higher
revolutions the smaller turbo closes down leaving the larger one
to operate on its own.
Producing
a neat 300 kilowatts, the new V8 has torque of a hefty 600 Nm
between 1750 and 4500 rpm. The overall effect is to provide prompt
and smooth acceleration with a minimum of turbo lag. Torque feels
endless as the great majority of driving will be done with the
engine developing that full 600 Nm all the time.
Zero to 100 km/h
acceleration is accomplished in just 5.4 seconds, an impressive
figures for such a large vehicle and one that would have required
a full-on, low-slung sportscar only a few years ago. This large
BMW coupe/SUV uses 13.8 litres per hundred kilometres, an
impressive result of the performance it provides in a 2.2 tonne
vehicle, though in overall terms it’s on the thirsty side and
produces 329 grams of carbon dioxide each kilometre it travels.
This
is the first, and at this stage the only, application for the new
V8 engine. Other V8 models in the BMW range will keep their
existing older-generation engines for the time being. Though
it’s likely the other BMW V8s will be upgraded to the new unit
at the next model change.
This
powerful engine really does give the X5 the sort of performance
you would expect from a car with looks like this. The engine
drives all four wheels through six-speed automatic transmission
and an intelligent electronic system. The latter carefully
measures how much power should be sent to each of the wheels, thus
ensuring maximum stability and safety. Not to mention cornering
grip and sheer driving pleasure that’s amazingly good for a
vehicle of this type. Larger brakes have been installed in the V8
than in the recently-released six-cylinder petrol and turbo-diesel
models.
The
BMW X6 is a large vehicle and has plenty of front headroom. Rear
seat legroom is good, but taller passengers could have a problem
due to the coupe-like roofline. Try it for yourself, my 192 cm
frame fitted with a few centimetres to spare.
Interestingly,
this big coupe is a four-, rather than five-seater, with the
individual rear seats separated by a console, thus creating two
spacious in-cabin areas rather than the more usual single area
with a bench seat behind. It works nicely and the rear seats
provide a pleasant ambiance that’s just right for your favourite
adult couple to travel in.
The
boot is a good size, but the floor is a long way off the ground,
add a rather tall loading lip to the equation and the result is a
luggage area that requires a fair bit of effort to load heavy
items.
The
BMW X6 xDrive 50i will arrive in Australia late in 2008 – just
the thing for a Christmas present for the one you love, if you
have a budget of $145,000 (plus on-road costs) for that lucky
person.
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Marque Publishing Company
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