Keeping up with the Jones’
It looks like the European edition of the horsepower war has now moved to the SUV market. Only a few years back, when the first round of Mercedes SUVs came with AMG packages, the Roundel company vowed to never shove an M badge on any SUV. Now, with the introduction of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and the Mercedes Benz ML63 AMG, BMW has decided to introduce an M version of both the X5 and the new X6.
The airdam openings big enough to swallow small children.
While in non M trim, the X5 and X6 are two completely different vehicles with different motors, suspensions and so forth, the M variation will bring them both close together. The X5 and X6 M will both come with a tuned version of the current 4.4 liter twin-turbocharged V8 producing 555 horsepower and 501 lb-feet of torque through a sport 6-speed automatic. Also, these cars will be fitted with M Dynamic Mode, a technology first found in the last generation (2002-2006) M3 with Competition Package. This M Dynamic Mode (MDM for short), will give drivers the ability to change the amount of traction control (stability control in BMW-speak) exhibited by the car’s electronics, or to shut them off entirely with one press of the DSC-OFF button.
The traditional M-series' quad-exhaust.
The X5 and X6 M will differ from their “standard” brethren with a number of exterior changes. Both SUVs come with new identical front and rear bumpers, with large, angular front air dams to help the two turbos breathe, and a quad-exhaust with a diffuser in the rear. On either side of the car, the requisite M badge sits atop a chrome fender vent. The interior seems to be fairly similar to that of the regular vehicles, short of a different steering wheel, sport seats and M trim throughout the cabin.
At this time, we do not know an official price or release date, but it is slated as a 2010 model, so it could possibly be introduced at an upcoming auto show this year. Stay tuned for KarFarm’s progress report, road test and review in the coming months.
-KF