BMW X6

Wider and significantly longer than a BMW X5 (even though it shares the same platform) the BMW X6 has more stunning road presence than its trailblazing smaller stablemate.

The BMW X6 also boasts one of the largest BMW kidney grilles ever! The SUV name tag is due mainly to its sheer size and height, but this is also coupled with its flamboyant sports car styling.

The immediate thing you notice is the coupe window line which curves down sharply towards the rear along with a high waistband and pinched style centre which gives it an ultra-dynamic appearance. This car oozes bravado and is truly admirable for its sharp personality. While it shows off the largest BMW kidney grille ever its narrow rear windscreen along with an extremely high hatch opening, are most unlikely to appeal to anyone looking for a vehicle for more practical needs

The first time you sit in a BMW X5 straight away you'll get a much different feel to the X5 as well. For starters, there's two sports seats in the rear of the vehicle rather than a standard three seater bench. BMW's marketing blurb says: "this is a car aimed more at motorists looking to take their mates out rather than for tackling the school run". But when it comes down to sheer size and space, the BMW X5 offers a great deal more. The boot gives you 570 litres of usuable space area (just 25 litres less than X5 stablemate) and flatten the rear seats and this space will increase to a whopping 1,450 litres.

Interestingly, although the coupe type styling and the vehicle roof taper there's plenty of available headroom and it's more than adequate for most adults. As a side point: it was a prerequisite of the BMW X5 6 foot 4 inch designer, Mr. Adrian van Hooydonk that he be able to sit comfortably in the rear section of the car. Aside from that, given its refined and sharp outward appearance there truly is a deceptive amount of area to accomondate rear seat passengers.

First Class Driving Position

Sit in a BMW X5 and straight away you'll notice how wonderful the driving position feels. It creates ae feeling of sitting in a premium which gives you a feeling of instant gratification. The standard are way above average and the interior is balanced beautifully. The head-up display (HUD) generates an electronic speedo reading in digital and is directly in the driver's line of vision. Once you have adaptede to you will notice how it reduces the time spent gazing down at the traditional dial.

Dynamic Performance Control

The BMW X6 features a new driving system referred to as "Dynamic Performance Control." Dynamic Performance Control is standard on all four engine configurations of the BMW X6 model range. This list is made-up of of 2 petrol and 2 diesel alternatives, and is very first time that the BMW motor car maker has produced a model of car that consists wholely of turbocharged models that can boast Porsche Boxster-beating performance.

Dynamic Performance Control delivers a lightening fast response that diverts sufficient power and traction control where needed. DPC differs entirely from existing technology by endeavouring to exploit the power generated by the vehicle's outer wheel rather than it focussing on the lesser "hard-working" inner wheel. Traditionally, with 4x4,s understeer is of prime concern becuse these types of vehicles usually require a much heavier steering (than say a rear-wheel drive vehicle would) to corner precisely. This is where the magic of Dynamic Performance Control comes into its own and performs so well.

Virtual Engine Capacity

The BMW X6 with the 286 brake horse power 3-litre diesel model (the BMW X6 xDrive35d) will cover 0-99.78 km/h in just 6.9 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 236.57 km/h. The BMW X6 uses a BMW award winning engine that is also used in the X5. It delivers power smoothly through a six-speed fully automatic gearbox which serves the entire range. Plus, the paddle shifts flanking the steering wheel provide for smoother and quicker gear changes.

The 235bhp version of the same BMW engine (the BMW X6 xDrive30d) has just a single turbocharger unit rather than two but will still cover 0-99.78 km/h in a flat eight seconds, and produce a top speed of 220.48 km/h. There are two petrol engines available: BMW X6 xDrive 35i along with the BMW xDrive50i. They comprise of the 3-litre model that will cover 0-99.78 km/h in just 6.7 seconds with a top speed of 239.79 km/h, and BMW's flagship 4.4 litre, 408 brake horse power engine with new twin-turbochargers. It will cover 0-99.78 km/h in just 5.4 seconds and has an electrically-limited top speed of 249.45 km/h.

The BMW X6's Striking Appearance

Can a true five-door coupe-hatchback-SUV be considered a good looking vehicle? In a single word, yes. The BMW X6 is truly one of the most striking vehicles to come out of the German car makers stable. As a huge vehicle with massive road presence, the BMW X6 takes the pumped-up appearance of its smaller stablemate the BMW X5 SUV and chops the roofline to create the world's very first production SUV-coupe. The sloping roofline mixes beautifully with the rising waistline which sweeps consistingly from the very front of the car through to the high rear end. Plus, the traditional BMW face and grill lends an awesome and intimidating look for such a high-riding vehicle.

cabin Interior

The traditional BMW ergonomics are throughout the cabin area. Simply put, the style and look of the cabin is take pretty much from its smaller stablemate the X5. The cabin trim is put together extremely well and leaves very little to be desired. Even the quality of commercial plastics and the overall fit and finish is also attractive and well done indeed. Everything is within reach and easily accessible. The iDrive is extremely intuitive and one can say "easy to operate", controlling both the GPS navigation, cell phone integration, first class sound selection as well as the television.

The rear of the vehicle area features two sculpted seats with an enormous amount of storage area. BMW has put a lot into this car and you will discover numerous storage pockets dotted about the X6 so that you can hide stuff away. However, the obvious lack of a third space area in the rear of the vehicle may prove a problem to some. But overall, it is a very well equiped and appoint vehicle with plenty of storage room.

Vehicle Practicality

The BMW X6 practicality is realtively good, especially when you consider its prime purpose. The boot area is truly of massive size providing a whopping 570-litres of vehicle storage space. This is more than say the VW Touareg which only gives you a boot area of 555 litre. And when the rear seats are flattened it only opens up to just 1,450 litres.

The high-riding position of this vehicle couple with the excellent front and rear headroom and the beautifully contoured seats all adds up to being a very comfortable and stable cruiser.

Nevertheless, the very high rear-windscreen when added to the X6's enormous bulky size means manoeuvring the X6 around small towns and shopping centre car parks can prove to be a very tricky and difficult excercise. However, this is where the X6 proximity sensors come into play and provide some sort of relief in these circumstances. Interestly, all vision displays on the centrally-mounted screen. There is no doubt however, that any serious reservations you may have about the X6's appearance, its bulky size and/or its intended purpose will completely vanish when you discover a quiet country road

Vehicle Ride & Road Handling

Simply put, the BMW X6 handles extremely well for car with a bulky size and massive presence on the road. To say its handling is beyond belief is a gross understatement. There are no words to truly explain the level of grip the X6 displays on the road. Body-roll has virtually been eliminated and this is especially noticable through windy bends and mountain curves. It's truly amazing stuff!

The X6 sits beautifully while on the road and if you sink your boot into it simply settles into a very controllable driving experience. It has oodles of road holding grip mainly due to its "Dynamic Performance Control" which constantly monitors all four wheels with postive traction and then distributes the right amount power according to what's required.

The steering has a light feeling when driving straight ahead, but through it around a sharp bend or curve in the road and you'll get the right feedback to safely manoeuvrer the road conditions. One thing you'll notice when driving the BMW X6 is that you will never tire out from driving through winding mountain roads becuse for such a big car it never gives you a feeling of being unsettled or challenged by whatever road conditions you're driving.

Just as importantly, when you find yourself just ambling around your local town or on the freeway, the quality of the X6 ride is absolutely superb. The only criticism perhaps -- that it could feel a bit stiff. But all in all the ride is exceptional and the ambience inside the cabin is very pleasing indeed. It's as if you could compare it to almost dead silence with extremely low road noise, especially when you consider the overall weight and size of the BMW X6.

Vehicle Performance

Driving a BMW X6 coupled with the award-winning twin-turbocharged 3-litre diesel engine, and it is immediately evident why this is one of the world's best diesel engines bar none. BMW goes as far as claiming that the X6 diesel unit will return you 8.3 litre/100km with average driving either around town and/or on the freeway. Another pleasing aspect of the BMW x6 is its level of refinement and lack of the traditional diesel 'clatter' found in other cars.

The BMW X6 engine produces 286 brake horse power along with a massive 428lb/foot of sheer pulling power. It also will cover 0-99.78 km/h in just 6.9 seconds, and if you really put pedal to the metal the X6 will hit a top speed of 236.57 km/h. However, when you flaw it the X6 catapults off the line employing its massive twin-turbos. You may experience an initial 'lag', but once the engine is "wound up" there's never any lack of raw power and brute force. Its safe to say, that you'll more than likely run out of road and/or guts long before before the diesel X6 runs out of power.

If you opt for the top of the range you'll find the X6 xDrive50i produces a whopping 408 brake horse power (it's about the same as the BMW M3) and will cover 0-99.78 km/h in 5.4 seconds. Simply said, that's way faster than a Porsche Boxster.

Vehicle Safety

The BMW X6 comes standard with six airbags dotted about the cabin, both front and rear anti-roll bars and anti-whiplash head and shoulder restraints. Each new BMW X6 comes a very well equiped first aid kit and the standard warning triangle. Plus you get run flat tyres as well as a "puncture warning" system. Furthermore, the BMW X6 features additional side-impact protection. Additionally, the front bumper bar, wheel arches and bonnet lid are all constructed from a new almost indestructible lightweight plastic.

BMW X6 Equipment

The BMW X6 comes with with GPS satellite navigation, centrally mounted front and rear television screens incorporating a DVD player, cruise control, leather, full climate control air-conditioning, Xenon front headlamps and BMW's "iDrive control" which is cell phone ready, and an on-board computer with provides you with the vehicle's important stats. The BMW X6 also comes stadard with electrically adjustable seats. BMW does offer a few options such as 20-inch rims and wheels, a reverse-assist vehicle mounted camera, and roof study rails and a electric sunroof.

Vehicle X-Factor

This is truly one of the most important cars BMW manufactures. Why? Simply because of the revolutionary engineering put into this car. What the German car maker has done with its new X6 model totally defies logic, conventional and traditional car making, and produces an outstanding automobile that you never knew you really wanted. The BMW X6 is a car which upholds more than any other BMW model--to its longheld claim of being "The Ultimate Driving Machine".