View Every Angle of the 2020 BMW X6 M
A mean face and a meaner engine for BMW's redesigned, slope-back performance SUV conspire to bring terror to rearview mirrors everywhere.
BMW's Motorsport division started building ultra-high performance versions of the company's X5 and X6 SUVs in 2009. The all-new X6 M is mechanically identical to the X5 M, and you pay several thousand dollars more for its stylish but less practical fastback roofline. Like the X5 M, the X6 M is a compelling blend of mega-horsepower, aggressive suspension, and luxurious furnishings—and it delivers the scalding performance of a high-end sports car. Read the full story here.
The engine powering the X6 M comes straight out of BMW's legendary M5 sedan. Code-named S63, it's a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 rated at 600 horsepower at 6000 rpm in standard trim and 617 horses in the Competition model.
The X6 M sends its power through a driver-programmable eight-speed ZF automatic transmission with three increasingly aggressive settings for shift firmness and speed. Manual shifting is controlled by a pair of steering-wheel-mounted paddles.
The X6 M's chassis is buttressed for high-speed motoring with M-tuned springs, adjustable dampers, and an active front anti-roll bar; big brakes with driver-adjustable settings for pedal response; and an electronic limited-slip rear differential. The all-wheel-drive system has the ability to vary the front-to-rear torque split and sends extra to the rear tires in the Competition model's track mode.
The engine's 553 lb-ft of torque is apportioned front to rear through a multiplate clutch. The majority of torque is sent to the rear wheels in normal driving. If rear-wheel slip is anticipated or detected, the system transfers additional power to the front tires.
The X6 M slows down as impressively as it accelerates. Fade-free stopping power is supplied by six-piston front calipers working on big 15.6-inch rotors. Single-piston calipers grab 15.0-inch rotors in the rear. The braking system allows the driver to adjust pedal response and feel via Comfort and Sport settings.
The X6 M's ride-and-handling behavior is adjusted through three standard drive-mode settings—Comfort, Sport, and Sport Plus. Competition models add a Track mode that dials back stability control intervention to its lowest level short of fully off.
The X6 M's top speed is governed to 155 mph, unless you opt for the $2500 M Driver's package. Then its terminal velocity rises to a claimed 177 mph. The M Driver's package also includes a spot at one of BMW's driving schools, which are conducted at both of its performance centers in the United States.
The X6 M's cabin is luxuriously dressed in soft merino leather and is comprehensively equipped. Standard equipment includes everything from a panoramic sunroof to heated front armrests. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch central infotainment screen, and a Harman/Kardon surround sound system are also standard.
2020 BMW X6 M
2020 BMW X6 M
2020 BMW X6 M
2020 BMW X6 M
2020 BMW X6 M
2020 BMW X6 M
2020 BMW X6 M
2020 BMW X6 M
2020 BMW X6 M
2020 BMW X6 M
2020 BMW X6 M
2020 BMW X6 M
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