Ok, so big deal. 550hp 4.4 liter V8 Twin Turbocharged engines powering what used to dirty diesel off roaders. If you readers want to go through those beautifully written press releases from BMW, full of words like 'Dynamic', 'Exhilarating', 'Unprecedented' blah blah blah, you should head on to
Of course its gonna create record figures for its segment, of course its gonna drive like how a BMW should, and of course its gonna be swathe in expensive leather, comfortable seats and in car entertainment systems that could swallow the entire Universal Studios, and of course sound system designs based on Pavarotti's vocal cord.
Now what I would really like to express is this: If you look at the X5 M and X6 M from an SUV's standpoint, its not going to make a lot of sense. Plonking in an engine with monumental power figures of 550hp and then only achieving a 0-100km/h figure of 5 second makes us wonder why at the first place. Secondly, the X6 is essentially an X5 with a sleeker looking profile and seats only 4 person, of which the middle part of the rear bench was intentionally cut out for a huge slab of plastic wrapped in leather to further enhance its SPORTS COUPE status.
Moreover, the press release statements do contradict themselves a bit. Such as statements like 'For the most demanding driving conditions on race track' - Yeah right, and next you have Efficient Dynamics trying to clean up the air this leviathan breaths. And you have 550hp on tap to try and make insurance claims on your little baby, as ISOFIX is standard.
Thus coming from an SUV standpoint, it just doesn't make any sense to have such devastating power, as it doesn't help enhance what its supposed to do - Ferry more people in comfort? Climbing steep uphills? Crossing window line-high rivers?
The only thing the 4.4 ltr V8 Twin Turbo-ed 550hp does for this X5 or X6 M, is outright bragging rights while closing deals in showrooms. Or inspiring buyers of X5 3.0 to buy one now and fiber themselves a bodykit later.
With BMW canceling the Z4 M this time around, canceling the Concept CS, both more synonymous to BMW's core brand values - Outright performance coupled with enjoyment of driving in luxury, it makes us wonder whether such arrangements makes any sense.
However, try looking from a secondary perspective, and you'll start to get where all this is going. A BMW Z4, no doubt its a two door roadster with wonderful handling characteristics, but it only seats two, not only that, its small, not much of luggage space. And we look at the M3, yes its fast, but still there's alot an M3 can't do, for example driving down to the beaches, or going for a road trip in the countrysides where it could never run over a road killed cow, or having a commanding view over a few cars ahead.
Try imagining a sportscar that could do all that, and you'll end up in either an X5 M or X6 M. Of course the X5 M makes a lot more sense, but how about the flair of driving a sportscar? There you have it. One that goes like a stint on track, able to carry a washing machine behind whilst going a little bit of off roading.
