X6 First Drive
 

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What is it?

Nothing less than a whole new genre of car, according to BMW. The german car-maker refers to this, its new X6, as a Sports Activity Coupe, or SAC. Others call it a crossover 4x4. And we’re the first to drive it.
Given our brief stint behind the wheel of a validation prototype on Michelin’s test track in South Carolina this week, it is clear BMW is taking a big risk with its latest model. The radical new X6 attempts to blend the inherent sportiness of an upmarket coupe with the go-anywhere ability and toughened styling of a luxury four-wheel drive. The result is a car quite unlike anything else on the road today.
It’s difficult describing the way this car looks to those who’ve never seen it in the metal. Imagine the arched roofline of a 6-series sat on the high-sided body of an X5 and you’ll begin to get some idea of what BMW has created here. It likes to refer to the car as a coupe, but with four doors and a huge one-piece liftback that opens up to reveal an enormous boot, it’s a coupe unlike any other you’ve seen.
The production version of the X6 is little changed to the concept revealed at the Frankfurt motor show back in September. The basic styling, with its taut surfacing and heavy creases, is highly reminiscent of the X5, although BMW says each body panel is unique. As with its more practical sibling, the body is a combination of steel, aluminium and plastic. No kerbweight figure has been put forward just yet, but you can bank on it being over 2000kg in base trim.
What’s new?

Photographs tend to mask the X6’s real size; it’s actually both longer and wider than an X5. Thanks to its more acutely raked windshield and shallower side glass, though, the X6's roof is around 60mm lower.
Practicality has clearly been a secondary consideration, with entry to the rear severely restricted by the intrusion of the large rear wheel arches into the door apertures, and rear seat headroom compromised by the heavy curvature of the roof. In an odd move, BMW has also decided to equip it with just four seats – a move that’s clearly aimed at separating it from the X5, which now comes with the option of a third seat row to boost its seat count to seven in total.
Based on the same four-wheel drive underpinnings as the second-generation X5, the X6 receives new driveline components that add to its dynamic prowess. Central among them is DPC (Dynamic Performance Control) – an advanced new torque vectoring system which allows the engine’s reserves to be apportioned not only between the front and rear axles dependant upon grip, but also between the individual rear wheels, in a process that is claimed to provide more neutral handling.
The idea is to direct drive to where it can be used most effectively, in an operation not dissimilar to that of a traditional locking differential on a rear-wheel-drive car. Unlike similar systems developed by its rivals, DPC operates both under load and on the overrun, meaning the X6 continues to be stabilized even when the driver steps off the throttle mid-corner.
During understeer, it automatically directs the majority of drive to the rear wheels and loads up the outside rear wheel, providing additional turning momentum beyond that generated by the steering. During oversteer, it essentially reverses the action, sending the majority of drive to the front wheels and loading the inside rear wheel.
Other changes over the X5 include a 60mm stretch in rear track. The ride height also drops by 10mm, reducing the X6’s ground clearance to just 202mm. The lower roof also helps reduce the car’s centre of gravity by around 30mm, according to Hans Krausche, head of BMW’s chassis development.
We can’t tell you much about the engine line-up just yet. BMW would only admit that the prototypes we drove ran developments of its twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines. The German car-maker is tight-lipped on the actual outputs of each unit, although it does hint that power will be extended beyond the 306bhp and 286bhp seen in other BMW models.
Also planned to head into the X6, but yet to be made official, is a turbocharged version of BMW’s 4.8-litre V8 with around 410bhp. There will also be a hybrid version.

Pic of DPC
http://www.autocar.co.uk/contentImag...2117744346.jpg
What’s it like

For a big and heavy SUV, the X6 possesses a healthy turn of speed and is remarkably agile through tricky combinations of corners.
A new eight-speed automatic gearbox provides a wide spread of ratios that help make the most of the engine’s strong torque characteristics. For the most part, it shifts smoothly, but can prove indecisive with an odd pause between shifts when you’re really hauling along. Paddles behind the steering wheel allow you to shift manually, as does the electronic shift lever.
BMW’s not making any official performance claims just yet, but expect the twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol-powered X6 to hit 60mph in under 7.0sec, on the way to an electronically limited 155mph top speed. It’s all helped by a standard brake energy regeneration system that decouples the alternator under acceleration and uses energy created under braking to recharge the battery.
Granted, we’ve only driven it on a circuit and under controlled conditions but there’s no getting away from the fact that the X6’s handling sets new, lofty standards for a car this size. Perhaps more importantly given the badge sitting up front in the middle of its kidney grille, it’s a very entertaining car from behind the steering wheel.
The effectiveness of DPC is immediately obvious; the X6 prototypes we drove were noticeably sharper in their actions than the standard X5 that was on hand for comparison purposes. By varying the degree of drive to either the left- or right-hand side rear wheels, it cornered in a more neutral fashion and with greater purchase from its big Dunlop SP Sport Max tyres. The system is seamless and fast-acting. You don’t notice it transferring the drive, but you do feel the benefit.
The new BMW boasts superb levels of body control, loads of traction and a heightened level of grip. Comparisons with the Porsche Cayenne will have to wait a few months, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see the BMW X6 shoot straight to the top of its class on dynamic prowess when it is launched early next year.
As well as providing more neutral handling, DPC also serves to cut the amount of steering input required. It was noticeably reduced during lane change manoeuvres and more challenging skid pan tests laid on by BMW. When mated with BMW’s active steering system, it provides the X6 with a highly direct steering feel. Turn-in is miraculously sharp for such a hefty lump of four-wheel drive, yet stability remains rock solid at higher speeds.
Should I buy one?

It’s too early to be sure; our drive of the X6 was way too short to indicate with any certainty just how it will perform on the road. We don’t know enough about its mechanical specification or its projected price to recommend it, either. Rest assured, though, that if you’ve placed an order on one in the hope of taking delivery of the finest-handling SUV on the market, you’re exceedingly unlikely to be disappointed.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/...ncepts/229146/

Cool. It's starting to look decent from certain angles. And I suppose the begging question is, how much better this will be than a E70 equipped with DPC.

Keep the info coming LeMans :thumbup:

http://www.automobilwoche.de/apps/pb...711120322/1060

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http://www.spiegel.de/auto/aktuell/0...516795,00.html

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8 speed auto???

Whaaaaaaaaaat?

Wasn't the 6 speed JUST released in the X5?

The new 7-series(coming fall 2008) also has the same bi-turbo with 8-speed.

Another test Drive coverage by Motor Trend

http://images.motortrend.com/feature...W_X6+water.jpg

Great Dig Out, LM!
You Are the Man!
BR,mD

This is going to be a very expensive car. More advanced drivetrain, advanced gearbox, engines in a higher state of tune....plus the "coupe" premium. I don't know what the anticipated cost is but in the UK I reckon it will be at least £5k more than the X5.

Here's from Car and Driver

http://www.caranddriver.com/assets/i...1725468082.jpg

From Winding Road's test drive:

BMW’s new X6, according to company spokesflacks, is a Sports Activity Coupe. Never mind that counting the doors produces the number four. Five if you count the easy-opening hatchback.

Details are sketchy where the engines are concerned, but there will be two, the larger of which will be a V-8 with more horsepower than the unit in the X5, which is not a coupe.

The body, however, is there to see now. It has a more steeply raked windshield, and the door tops are closer together, giving it a lean aspect when viewed from the front.

Driving the X6 is an enlightening experience. BMW’s ultimate driving engineers have taken X-drive to new levels of handling stability. The system is unique in that the wheels’ individual responses to road surface and to dynamic forces are independent from torque input. Which is to say that the magic box controlling yaw, braking, traction, and fore-to-aft torque split, makes decisions that have nothing to do with input from your right foot.

The X6 seats four, which tells you that the third-row seat is now a trunk. And a big one. Getting in and out of the rear seat is not easy for a large person due to the lower roof line and lower seating position.

There are two tire setups. One, presumably for the V-8, has 275/40R20s up front and giant 315/30R20s in back. The other set-up had 255/50R19 Michelins all around.

As noted, the X6 will help you avoid mistakes. We drove it at speed, through slalom and handling courses, and on greasy wet blacktop without losing control once. Yet the stability system is unintrusive, and the overall driving experience is just what we’ve long since come to expect from BMW.

The X6 will be introduced at the NAIAS in January and will go on sale about mid-2008. The sporty, non-Soccer Mom X6 will be priced above the X5, so we’ll predict a price range from $52,000 to $62,000. That gets you what can rightly be called leading edge tech in a distinctive BMW package.

Thank you, LeMansX5!!!

I'm getting excited :D. I spoke to BMWFS today and they will extend me upto 6 months. Catch is they want a production number to do so. They said a deposit might work. :popcorn:

I can't wait for the Honda fanboys to say that SH-AWD pioneered this whole splitting power between the rear wheels thing. :rolleyes:

who did?

I don't like the side profile I think it looks like an old Skoda rapid!!

BMW did. The SH-AWD system appears to be reactive, responding to slippage. The BMW system DPC not only works like xDrive, making adjustments before the driver even knows of a dangerous situation, but the article also states it can work even when the driver gets off the throttle midcorner. That sounds like a heckuva lotta fun.

I wanna drive an X6 just to see how brilliant it works, even if I don't like the concept behind it. xDrive is already brilliant.........this should be even more fun.

Uhh..no. BMW didn't pioneer this concept with PDC, and neither did SH-AWD. Honda did in the late 80s, early 90s: AWD application. The Prelude SH was the production debut of the concept. Off-throttle function and all..and I know I considering drive one every day.

Go read the SAE articles instead of spitting back marketing info in a magazine that's already in this thread.

You know what it reminds me of. Did anyone here ever see that show Viper? An old Knight Rider type of show. That Viper could change into an SUV. It looks similar to me. At least in spirit.

It looks like an X5 had a threesome with an old saab 9-3 and a mercedes CLS.
That said, I am quite fond of both of those :thumbup:

regular two-day school ahoy! (in june) (then again, we drove everything but m5's at the teenager one)

OWNED!!!!:rofl: :rofl:

AzNMpower32....you have been OFFICIALLY smacked down. :thumbup: It happens to the best of us.

From Auto Express:
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carrevi...15/bmw_x6.html

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/images/...o_230685_5.jpg

One of the pics in the Auto Express review shows the dial cluster - I am not sure but it looks like BMW have finally listened and replaced the Feul Consumption needle with an Engine Temp!!!!

Thank you LeMansX5!!! Seems really great!!! I have to be patient... :driver:

I want it to be a 5 seater:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

... please just give it enough space to fit 3 kids in the back;)

:iagree: but anyway I am going for it... Last week I was in BMWWelt, information about X6 is ZERO!!! That is concept and no more comments... It will be great to see interior!!!

I have a feeling the interior will be almost identical to the X5 - not a bad thing at all btw, its a gorgeous interior.

I hope BMW does something where you can at least fold a center seat if need be, even if it isn't the most comfy, its a little ridiculous to have a car that big that can't fit 5!

any idea when the interior pictures will be out?

Sorry Ajogu, it ain't happening. The rear is two seats separated by a console type thing.

Damn, damn, damn:banghead:
I was really hoping the MB CLS type console thingy wasn't there:bawling: Gotta re-think getting an E70 then.

Let's wait little bit until official information and pics of rear seats...

you're smoking crack... where do you come up with this stuff??:confused:

BTW in addition to Vig's comment, Nissan's ATESSA-ETS-pro in the GT-R and also the Porsche 959 did exactly the same thing on distributing power/torque to the inner wheel.

oh wait.. you wouldn't know since you weren't even born yet..