What's the news?
BMW has revealed its LA Auto Show hand, and along with US debuts for the X6 and 2 Series Convertible, it's world premiere time for the 575hp X5 M and X6 M twins.
Exterior
The new BMW X5 M and X6 M take the presence of the M Sport models and turns it up to 11. Huge air intakes up front set the tone, while the aerodynamics update includes the company's 'Air Breathers' in the side gill - also housing the none-too-subtle 'X5 M' or 'X6 M' badging. The 'twin stalk' door mirrors echo the design of the BMW M4's and of course there are four prominent exhaust pipes at the rear. The X6 M also gains a new lip spoiler above the rear lights, while both cars come as standard with 20-inch alloy wheels. Of course BMW will sell you 21-inch items for a wad more cash. The cars pictured here are painted in new M paint finishes - Long Beach Blue metallic for the X6 M and Donington Grey metallic for the X5 M.
Interior
As expected, the luxurious interiors of the X5 and X6 are suitably spruced up with M trinkets, including the instruments, leather steering wheel with alloy gearshift paddles, the usual M gear lever and an M driver's footrest. The sports leather front seats are electrically adjusted and we expect a very high level of standard equipment. The head-up display includes M-specific readouts too.
Mechanicals
At the heart of any M car is an astounding engine, and the SUVs are no exception. Apparently the 4.4-litre V8 engine is 'the most powerful unit ever developed by BMW for an all-wheel drive vehicle.' It features two 'TwinScroll' turbochargers, direct injection and loads of other tech to produce an incredible 575hp - from 6,000- to 6,500rpm. Torque output is up to 750Nm at 2,200- to 5,000rpm. These are increases of about four- and ten per cent over the first generation X5 M and X6 M, though BMW has managed this with an increase of efficiency of 20 per cent. Not that many buyers will actually care, but the official combined economy and emissions figures are 25.5mpg (11.1 litres/100km) and 258g/km respectively. Of more interest is the barely believable 0-100km/h time of 4.2 seconds. Top speed is, as ever, limited to 250km/h.
Anything else?
Despite the presence of tactile gearchange paddles behind the steering wheel, and the same stubby M gear lever in the centre console, the X5 M and X6 M don't use the M DCT dual-clutch transmission employed by most of the BMW M cars. Instead they feature a more conventional eight-speed automatic, referred to by BMW as 'M Steptronic with Drivelogic'.
BMW Ireland has announced that pricing for the X5 M will start from €166,790 with the X6 M coming in at €172,240.