It’s the dawn of a new age at M. Or depending on how you look at it, a return to form (a la the M535i). Either way these new diesels touched by the magic of M look and sounds fantastic. Perhaps more importantly, the numbers look extraordinary; 381 hp and 546 lb-ft from a triple turbocharged inline six. Power is driven through an eight speed automatic gearbox and put down to the pavement via a revised xDrive system. The results as impressive as expected – 0-60 should fall somewhere in the mid four second range.
But all that aside, it’s the engine’s technology that has our mouths watering.
First came the rumor. Then came the official admission. Now comes the debut. Today BMW M takes the wraps off of its first products with diesel engines. No they aren’t M cars in the classic sense but they are a new breed of cars created by M to bridge the gap between full M products and “Series” cars.
However being that these first products are diesel, they will not be coming to the US. With diesel certification an extraordinarily pricey affair for the US market, projected sales don’t justify the investment. Forbidden fruit or not, the numbers look extraordinary; 381 hp and 546 lb-ft from a triple turbocharged inline six. Power is driven through an eight speed automatic gearbox and put down to the pavement via a revised xDrive system. The results as impressive as expected – 0-60 should fall somewhere in the mid four second range.
Numbers aside it’s the engine that has us most interested. This is BMW’s first application of a triple turbo set-up and one of the first in the automotive industry. The size, arrangement and interplay of the turbos are designed to guarantee maximum power across the power range. The system comprises two smaller and one larger turbo. According to the driving situation, the low moment of inertia of the small turbochargers is exploited to the full to deliver razor-sharp responses, while the link-up with the large turbo is maximised to generate as much charge pressure as possible.
You can read more via the official press release below and the full gallery after the break. And if you still can’t get enough you can download the entire full (and lengthy) press release after the break.
Official Release: BMW today revealed the first images and information about the newly updated 2013 BMW X6 Sports Activity Coupe which arrives in US BMW Centers this spring. The world’s first ever Sports Activity Coupe stills offers a unique combination of sporty dynamics, versatility and unmatched character. Select design updates and innovative features further hone the profile of the new BMW X6 as a distinctive model within the premium segment of all-wheel-drive vehicles. Its ongoing popularity is due to both its highly expressive design, which combines the athletic and elegant lines of a coupe with the unique character of a BMW X model, and the outstanding driving experience provided by two powerful engines featuring BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology and xDrive, the intelligent all-wheel-drive system. The BMW X6 continues to offer Dynamic Performance Control which gives the Sports Activity Coupe unparalleled agility for a vehicle in this segment.
Over the past six months we’ve heard rumors of several “near” M cars that have been undergoing testing. Today we have our first official confirmation from M themselves. “The BMW M Performance Automobiles” will span the range from the X6 and 6 Series Gran coupe all the way down to the much rumored M135i. The idea is simple, bring near M levels of performance to cars with better every day drive-ability. Sounds a little like the E46 ZHP doesn’t it?
NAIAS has just begun in Detroit, the press is there in full force, yet we are excited to tell you about what we expect in Geneva. The first week of March along the shores of Lake Geneva is something car fans would normally refrain from doing as per the weather but when the world’s best auto manufacturers are to roll out some of their finest wears auto aficianados make the trip. Mind you nothing has been made official about what is going to be shown, but we thought we would air out the laundry a bit. This year’s Geneva show, we’ve heard from varying sources, is where BMW will show its next generation of diesel engines in addition to the Gran Coupe, the M6 drop top, the X6 (X6 M as well) and 7 Series refreshes, the BMW Performance 3 Series Studie as well as a surprise guest (we are thinking X4 or MINI Space Box in prototype form).
BMW M has been teasing its monster X6 diesel (not destined in any form for US consumption) for the past several months as we’ve reported on and it is the biggest round in the BMW Group diesel arsenal but the oil burners aren’t stopping there. It makes perfect sense from a marketing perspective to have the pinnacle of BMW diesels to debut in a refreshed product and to be the halo of a new diesel family being debuted.Sources point that BMW will show several diesel powered models in Geneva with new engines.
That is fine and all but what is most interesting to us is that our source states that some of these new engines will be available stateside with tweaks for US emissions.
It’s been rumored for months and now it’s being officially teased ahead of its world debut. The M550d power plant will be M’s first foray into diesel engines and one of the very view times M has powered a non-M product.
It’s been rumored for months and now it’s being officially teased ahead of its world debut. The M550d power plant will be M’s first foray into diesel engines and one of the very view times M has powered a non-M product.
The following story has been corrected to indicate that the X6 Active Hybrid will not be sold in the US as a 2012 model, it has not been confirmed to end production for other markets at this time. The original story stated that production had ended.
The X6 Active Hybrid was BMW’s first foray into hybrids- a joint development with Daimler, Chrysler and General Motors. Entering foreign ground and jumping into an increasingly competitive hybrid market, BMW set about making a vehicle that was more powerful and just slightly more efficient. This created an even more limited client base than the base X6 was targeted at. The original price for the X6 Active Hybrid at launch in late December 2009 (2010 model) was just shy of ninety-thousand dollars. One of the most expensive vehicles in the BMW lineup. Sales were limited to say the least. And as of today, the era of BMW’s lone two mode, nickel metal hydride hybrid has come to a quiet and abrupt end in the US.
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Sections: //M\\ Diesels, E70 X5, E71 X6, F10 5 Series, F11 5 Series Wagon, Video Jan 26th, 2012 6 Comments 
