Through various sources it’s become clear that M has plans to expand it’s line-up from the traditional 3-4 products. Crucial to this are the X5 and X6 M twins. With the Chinese, Russian and Brazilian markets showing dramatic appetite for big M cars, it’s clear that there’s a lot of market share to gain and profit to be hand. For instance China’s M sales grew 355% alone last year. That kind of number doesn’t go unnoticed in Munich.
Because of this M is likely looking to add another M SAV to the mix. However whether that’s an X3, the forthcoming X4 and even a hot version of the X1 is still up in the air. There’s even talk of a X1 iS has to help bridge the gap. But the future story of M is also about getting back to its basics and not forgetting about the enthusiasts that they’ve traditionally relied on.
BMW will now allow you to put three people in the back of an X6 (comfort not included).
Official Release: Superior handling, commanding traction and characteristic styling are key contributors to the stand-out position the BMW X5 and BMW X6 models enjoy among the premium all-wheel-drive vehicles of their segment. Spring 2011 sees the introduction of specific additions to the range of special options to ratchet up the appeal even further.
Portions of the article below are taken from the official release.
BMW M GmbH is reporting some impressive figures for 2010 despite the M5 and M6 being discontinued for the year. Despite this, the number of BMW M car sales rose by 14.2 percent to 16,967 units. Overall, worldwide growth in demand for high-performance sports cars, M Sport packages, exclusive special options from BMW Individual as well as driving experience training courses contributed to this positive development. Considerable growth impulses are also anticipated for 2011 thanks to an extended M Sport package and BMW Individual product range and the launch of the BMW 1 Series M Coupé, which takes the company into a new vehicle segment. Beyond this, the development of special task and security vehicles based on current BMW production models will also fall within the remit of BMW M GmbH in future.
We all know that the X6 ///M has a lot of power thanks to the 555hp twin-turbo V8 under the hood but it really is a vehicle that is greater than the sum of its visible parts. The engineering in the engine is astonishing as we learned here last year but the rest of the drivetrain is also exceptional as this video shows. BMW beefed up the drivetrain and invented the technology of cylinder deactivation between shifts to lessen the blow to the transmission, differential and all wheel drive system. Without the deactivation (which creates the strange sounding exhaust notes) the torque and overall dead weight of 5,000+lbs would break something before the massive tires would spin free.
The ///M engineers also spent a lot of time working on the shift algorithms in Sport Mode so that it would shift at the right time and do so with near the speed of a DCT. In my time with the engineers last year it was even noted that a driver can’t be as quick or as precise as the algorithms in most instances, just slap the stick to the left and let it do its job we were told- from my experience as a passenger with Bernd Limmer (Technical Designer and BMW test driver) there was no need to use the paddles.
We usually do not promote videos like that above as BMWs are not designed for drag racing but I found it great that such a large vehicle could move so quick and knowing all that went into designing the driveline package gave me a big smile as only BMW can.
Official Release: Additional equipment options are also available for the models BMW X5 M and BMW X6 M as of spring 2010. The two top sports cars in the segment of the BMW X models can now be fitted with such features as the driver assistance systems Side View and Speed Limit Info. The Side View system comprises two cameras integrated in the side of the front bumpers, which means that intersecting traffic can be observed. The images from these cameras are shown on the Control Display of the operating system iDrive, providing an advance view of the road situation to the left and right of the vehicle when coming out of blind exits such as narrow driveways or multi-storey car parks, for example. Speed Limit Info gives the driver the possibility of finding out about speed restrictions on the current route. Here, a camera is installed on the windscreen in the area of the interior mirror which permanently monitors signs at the roadside as well as the variable displays on overhead gantries on motorways, comparing this information with the data from the navigation system. The figure thus obtained is displayed by means of a symbol on the instrument panel or in the Head-Up Display, as required.
As you may have picked up from our recently posts, BMW is being very aggressive with changing to relatively new models across the range this spring. So aggressive in fact that they’ve decided to begin 2011 model year starting with Spring production of most models. Some highlights:
The M3 Competition Package is real and includes 10 mm lower suspension, 19” M3 GTS wheels, remapped Electronic Damping Control and Dynamic Stability Control systems.
X5 now comes with the N55 single turbo inline six
BMW has introduced value packages to the aging 1 and 3 series models
Most models equipped with the twin turbo N54 inline six will be transitioning to the N55 single turbo for 2011.
Most vehicles receive minor changes for MY2011 in the form of options and new or revised packages, but some models are either all-new (for example, the new BMW 5 Series sedan and BMW ALPINA B7) or substantially updated (3 Series Coupe and Convertible). For existing models, what will not change for the start of the MY2011 are base Manufacturer Suggested Retail Prices. You can get all the details for the entire range in the official release below:
With Michael’s review of the X6 M fresh in our minds let’s take a closer look at the X6 M on the track. Above is official video of the car SAV in Road Atlanta earlier this week. While it’s not quite like getting behind the wheel you can see several things. First off the X6 M (when pushed) is relatively neutral for a 5000+ lbs vehicle. Secondly the exhaust note leaves a little to be desired – let’s hope that M work on that for the M5 and M6 variants of this engine. Finally there’s little question the X6 M is fast. With 550 hp on tap and a trick torque transferring AWD system on board the X6 M can clearly get out of it’s own way.
We’ll have more on the X6 M and the X5 M in the coming days and weeks.
BMW is shooting for the niche within a niche with the latest creation from the wizards at ///M. The X6 ///M is destined to be a low volume seller (anticipated at under a thousand per year world wide) and with a base model price point just shy of 90 grand it will play the roll as a halo vehicle to showcase the newest performance technologies. It openly screams: Hey, look what we can do with a 5+ thousand pound truck! All while being the fastest ///M vehicle to date with 0-60, coming in at 4.5 seconds. Packing the twin turbo 4.4l (555 hp and 500 ft/lbs) V8 under the hood it is fast and a whole lot more.
The X6 is a large vehicle in every notable dimension, but when BMW applied some serious M (for Magic and NOT Marketing) it seemingly forgot its size and of course the enthusiasts main sticking point; weight. What if I said that those aforementioned dimensions had no impact on the performance, that the ///M magic made this rendition of the X6 feel much smaller than its weight and size would make you think? You more than likely would tell me I was lying or I must have drank some tainted German Kool-Aid while at the track.
Is it sacrilege to say that it truly is an amazing vehicle? I surely hope not, because it is. From throttle response and power delivery to braking it is a fine piece of performance machinery. There is no perceivable turbo lag (CCM) and if the driver has any sense of PROPER braking techniques for the track there is minimal brake fade, and certainly none on the street.
Most of you were probably expecting my opinion to be that ///M has become nothing more than a status badge and some bolt on parts like AMG is now for Benz and that this is the end of what we have all known and loved. That just is not going to happen this go around. Are there still flaws? Sure there are, but what vehicle is perfect?
Having completed 40+ hot laps myself and 4 stints with Bernd Limmer, Technical Designer and test driver for ///M, at the wheel here at Road Atlanta I feel confident in saying that this vehicle can truly be badged an ///M. It is willing and capable of doing what you ask of it and a whole lot more.
Over the next few days you can expect some more in-depth commentary from Atlanta and South Carolina. That’s it for now but if you are not familiar with the new ///M Motor in this X6 you can learn more about it from our past exclusive coverage.
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Sections: //1M\\, //M3 GTS, //M3\\, //M5\\, //M6\\, //M\\, //X5 M\\, //X6 M\\, Rumor May 1st, 2011 5 Comments 
