With its polarizing oddball looks, premium price tag and questionable need to exist, BMW's new "Sports Activity Coupe" (their PR speak, not ours) isn't for everybody. But with a choice of twin-turbo engines– a 306 hp 3.0-liter I-6 from the 335i or an all new 407 hp 4.4-liter V8– more electronic aids than Stephen Hawking and bigger rubber than a Z06 (315/20s at all four corners), the X6 is going to make some customers very, very happy. Here's the skinny on the Bavarian fat: both the Infiniti FX50 and the Porsche Cayenne Turbo have something to worry about. Despite the X6's bulk (more than 5k lbs of it), this X5-spin off can dance the dance. Grip is endless and there ain't no body roll either. Do I like it? Yeah. Is it perfect? Far from it. Get all the dirt, plus find out which engine's better, on Monday.
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Ok, so it can burn some rubber. But what about it’s off track/off-road capabilites? How does it manage on the Rubicon-trail? I mean, isn’t that why has that SUV-look? What’s the meaning of this? What’s the purpose? Who’s is it for? And why?
They really call it a “SAC”?
What’s the purpose? Who’s is it for? And why?
Exactly the same as the X5 (and Cayenne). With the X5, Mr.Manager can take 3 other Mr.Managers to lunch and pretend he spends the weekend on the trail. With the X6, Mr.Manager can take 3 other Mr.Managers to lunch and pretend he spends the weekend at the track.
SherbornSean: This seems to be the Sport Activity Coupe for the people who worship the badge on the nose of the car, not the car itself. I think the full acronym is “Buying A Large Lease Sport Activity Vehicle”.
What is BMW doing to my favorite marque? Why do they feel that chasing the Cayenne Turbo market is a good thing? It’s certainly a non-starter for me. Now I know the spirit of the 2002 has been completely crushed out of the company.
What is BMW doing to my favorite marque? Why do they feel that chasing the Cayenne Turbo market is a good thing? It’s certainly a non-starter for me. Now I know the spirit of the 2002 has been completely crushed out of the company.
I couldn’t agree more. Now that the “M” division might as well stand for MASS, I feel that even BMW is beginning to lose the scent. Being able to say that “Were the still the best in class” doesn’t cut it. I guess that Germans need to go on a diet, too.
plus find out which engine’s better, on Monday.
Or go to jalopnik.com and find out right now that the 3.0 has less turbo-lag and feels more lively.
(come on TTAC, holding back info is a gateway-drug to following embargos).
Also you can see some real live pictures there that for the first time showed me the uglyness of this car, as much as I dislike to admit that as a fan of the brand…
The rear is ok, but the front is meh (like the new X5, the old X5 had a better looking front-end) but the side view is just plain ugly, the rims look to be standing about 20ft apart from each other and together with the sloping roofline this makes it look very heavy in the middle. Maybe it’s the white colour, but I fear it isn’t.
Apart from the fact that this might be a classic in 20-30 years, I’m not feeling this X6. For the kind of money it’s on offer for they can offer so many much more appealing models…
Like the Jaguar XF, the X6 has to be seen in-the-metal to be appreciated.
I’m not lining up to get one, but I think I can see its differentiation and appeal to a narrow market niche. I mean, does the Hummer H2 make sense? The Escalate EXT (half-truck)? If anything, one could argue that at least the X6, while appealing to an emotional, image-y purchase, is at least optimized for the environment it will spend its time on: the road. The other are heavier still — by a ton! — and have never-to-be-used off-road capabilities, and the poor packaging and ride of body-on-frame design.
On another note: I thought the new V8 was twin-turbo 4.4 putting out more in the range of 450hp… any news there?
Kman:
Or go to jalopnik.com and find out right now that the 3.0 has less turbo-lag and feels more lively.
(come on TTAC, holding back info is a gateway-drug to following embargos).
The Monday release for JL’s review is not embargo-related. TTAC posts new car reviews on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
“Sports Activity Coupe” … more than 5000 lbs
No automobile that weighs more than 5000 lbs has any business calling itself “Sports” anything.
Cynical marketing and clueless badge-chasers deserve each other, but how long can BMW get away with this sort of nonsense before people completely forget that they used to really make great sporty cars? (3.0 CSL, 635i (E24), etc.)
RF, just to keep the record accurate:
I wasn’t the one posting about embargoes, jalopnik and such.
Thanks.
— Kman
I’m one of those on the bandwagon that says: If the Cayenne allowed Porsche to salvage itself, remain solvent and independent, and allows it to put out spectacular product like the 997 Carrera line, then make me a fan of the Cayenne!
In an exactly similar vein, I’m on board with the X6, X5 and X3. I won’t line up to buy any of them, but if they allow the following, keep ’em coming:
– 135i: true pocket-rocket (1/4 in 13.3)
– The gorgeous 335i Coupe
– The 911-worthy M3 coupe and sedan
– 1-series convertibles, the only RWD ‘verts at that price-point.
… and all kinds of other wonderful cars
Kman,
But how long before they decide there’s more profit to be made in sloppily designed and styled SUVs than continually expending R&D trying to get an extra 1/10th second improvement in an M3/911. The shareholders after all are more concerned with profits than ultimate driving machines. We all know what happened once Detroit got a sniff of the profits to be made from SUVs and where it has left the rest of their product portfolio now.
Yeah, but the X3 and X5 at least have SOME off-road capabilities. And suvs are at least practical cars. People are willing to pay more for a coupe, because it is beautiful, and therefore less practical. This is an impractical SUV with no beauty whatsoever. Sooo… What’s the purpose?
Once modified, this thing would make an awesome looking Dakar Rally car.
The X-Raid team has used an X3 in the past, I hope they use an X6 in the future.
I have to wonder why so many people would rather poke fun at SUV drivers than make the easy assumption that people see value in them. There are all sorts of ways that SUV’s are better than sedans. No, that is not to say that “overall” they are better, just that they are better in some ways.
As someone who rarely drives his Land Cruiser off road, or even on soft roads these days, let me spell it out to you folks.
Ride Height: In addition to the nice view, you get in and out easier if you are tall and aren’t spry. When it floods, I don’t get stuck. We lose dozens of people to drowning in cars, or getting lost in floods around here.
Load Carrying: I can easily haul all the stuff I want, and never have to rent a truck. The cost and hassle of renting a truck even a few times a year would quickly overcome fuel savings.
Roominess: Yes, you can comfortably carry several other business people.
Image: Why is it assumed we all care what you think? If we cared about image, we would drive Priora. I like the adventure spirit of SUV’s, not because YOU might be fooled that I am some sort of mountain climber, but because I get fooled into thinking I might be on some nice trip. It’s my fantasy, not yours, that I value.
Durability: Body on Frame SUV’s last a LONG time. Depreciation vs. operating expense makes my crusher one of the cheapest cars I have ever owned. I got buy pretty cheap in my Miata’s because they held value well (I can’t hardly get in one these days though). So far, I estimate that our sedans and CUV’s have been the most costly, even though they get much better mileage than our SUV’s.
So, poke fun if you want, whine about us if you just have to, but now you should at least know better.
I’m with Landcrusher on the SUV thing. There are many factors that made me buy an X5 but ego wasn’t one of them. If I had a huge ego I would have bought a 335i or M3 and cursed at it twice per week as I stuffed 700 pounds of emergency product in it for customers.
Is it a better truck than the X5? Is it a better car than the 5-series? Is it more beautiful than a Mercedes CLS? Then, what is it?
Hi everyone,
New to TTAC.
Luv this site!
BMW X6: S-port U-tility C-oupe
Nuff sed
Money is where the pretense is. BMW is aiming for the right market. They will make a killing.
I do think this vehicle will sell well and help stave off the investors demanding R&D cost cuts because BMW just pulled in record profits and will be unlikely to be able to show the same year over year growth next year.
Also while all BMW’s are becoming disturbingly obese, they are still producing some vehicles that are awesome and true to the brand. There is no denying the 135, 335, and M3 hit the mark. So there is some evidence that BMW has not lost the plot, unlike Porsche who used their profits to buy VW.
Still, I don’t get it.
Bigger rubber than a Z06? Not exactly…..my Z has 10 mm more section width out back (325mm), but this is the first I’ve heard of ANY vehicle (short of an LM002) having a 315mm front tire. Wow!
Can’t wait to sample that biturbo V8 in something a little less portly…I would buy a 345xi coupe in a heartbeat!
This vehicle is played with by the people that engineered it, who have fun then they buy minis and A4s and elise’s and A4 avants. And V8 BMW cars. Hoot holler cant believe BMW bought it to sell to idiots in US. Lets take it to Nurbur then Sweden on the Company’s dime. Hoo Hoo. Then lets pound the V8 jeep wagon prototype to death with its hemi and 4 inch hand welded headers and exhaust! Tramp stamp stumble POS! Then lets take apart a Toyota automatic and stare for a while in awe, roller bearings everywhere. Back to V8 coupe. Mortgage wife hmmm.
I am talking about skilled engineer staff who design these things. Not union knuckle draggers.
At tier suppliers. You know, integretaged 4wd systems. Tailored steel blanks. Engine management. Assembly operations. Syracuse. Graz.
Not California focus group marketing BA interns. Or ad agencies. No soft creatives without engineering or sports pedigree.
No hard feelings. Just kill this thing before it kills us.
Thanks for rant opportunity. Cylons rock.
johnny ro,
Are you jurisb?
I don’t know when the germans lost the ability to count, but I assume most of their customers can. I don’t care how it is styled, if it has four doors it is NOT A COUPE. Four does NOT equal two. It may be an SUV or a SEDAN but it is NOT A COUPE. Am I the only person bothered by this insipid trend?
But what about it’s off track/off-road capabilites? How does it manage on the Rubicon-trail? I mean, isn’t that why has that SUV-look? What’s the meaning of this? What’s the purpose? Who’s is it for? And why?
Word: poseur
Def’n: BMW X6 driver
I’m with Landcrusher on the SUV thing. There are many factors that made me buy an X5 but ego wasn’t one of them. If I had a huge ego I would have bought a 335i or M3 and cursed at it twice per week as I stuffed 700 pounds of emergency product in it for customers…
At least you use your cargo volume capability (note volume not weight as plenty of cars have equal weight carrying capacity). Most of the anti SUV crowd’s biggest beef is that most of these vehicles spend their days as a commuter machine with only a driver aboard and nothing else. If most were used the way you use yours, they wouldn’t have as much to say other than perhaps do you really need all that heavy 4WD hardware. And that is a choice for you to make. When I was down south I noticed plenty of people selecting 2 wheel drive versions.
doctorv8: Add up the total = more rubber than a Z06
jkross22,
VERY funny!
do you really need all that heavy 4WD hardware. And that is a choice for you to make. When I was down south I noticed plenty of people selecting 2 wheel drive versions.
X5’s only come with all that AWD hardware. FTR I would have preferred a 5’r Wagon but BMW want way too much money for them compared to an X5.
BMW’s biggest problem with X5, X6 products is not brand related. My X5 E70 drives like a BMW, especially if you get Adaptive Drive. If you don’t understand Adaptive Drive in the E70 you don’t understand the car. Their is no equal on the market and Adaptive Drive will make the E71 do amazing things as well. People should not consider buying an E70 or E71 without Adaptive Drive.
BMW’s E70 and E71 problem is that they are not assembled as well as the products in Europe. The quality of my 2000 323i is much better than my 2008 X5. This quality issue may bite BMW in the future.
Home Depot rents trucks for $20. How long does it take to save six gallons of gas?
But, let’s face it, high-performance cars are used to the full extent of their abilities about as often as SUVs are.
As for the X6, I don’t know why people think it’s somehow a cross between an X5 and a sport sedan. It’s an X5 with a sportier roofline and more powerful engines. For everyone who said, “I’d buy an X5 if it were quicker and had a little less cargo room.”
I don’t see it threatening the FX50 much, as the price is bound to be much higher. They’ll each eke out a thousand or so sales per month.
You all miss the point. BMW already did the heavy lifting by designing the X5, so the parts are there and paid for by the X5. The x6 (S Whatever Vehicle) won’t cost much extra.
BMW is becoming a dual brand. You get real meat with the 3 series, 5, 6 or 7 cars. M is still an icon. ditto the sportscars, Banglism be darned.
The x3 began the fall from grace. Drove like a stiff truck, looked like a 3 sorta, but never acted like one. I always think x3 owners missed the boat tragically…they were in the right dealer, spent lots of money, and missed the target by a small amount. I hated all the X3 loaners they gave me when I had work done on my 330i Sport.
The x5, x6 trade off the goodwill the cars create. They don’t sell to the enthusiasts. They sell to the guy who buys it “because it’s a BMW”, not because he has any idea what BMW means, other than “automotive Rolex”. The pricing is high, to keep it exclusive at the Middle School pickup circles. To treat is as the same as the cars, or god forbid, the sport oriented BMW offerings, is just confusion.
X5’s only come with all that AWD hardware. FTR I would have preferred a 5′r Wagon but BMW want way too much money for them compared to an X
I was talking in general, as in “SUV drivers”, not X5’s specifically. Sorry about my not being clear. And for that quality difference, just look at the first generation Mercedes ML. Not even up to an Eddie Bauer Explorer.
But, let’s face it, high-performance cars are used to the full extent of their abilities about as often as SUVs are.
I don’t really agree with that statement. If you mean driven to the limit, ok. But I push my car to 7/10’s on a regular basis and I bet that is pretty typical of those who own sports/sporty cars.
The x5, x6 trade off the goodwill the cars create. They don’t sell to the enthusiasts. They sell to the guy who buys it “because it’s a BMW”, not because he has any idea what BMW means, other than “automotive Rolex”. The pricing is high, to keep it exclusive at the Middle School pickup circles. To treat is as the same as the cars, or god forbid, the sport oriented BMW offerings, is just confusion.
Absolutely true, and sad.
Well, I’d say speedlaw sums it up pretty much completely.
When I had my ’01 330Ci, my favourite part of it was how it drove. The part I liked the least was… that Roundel on the front. As en enthusiast, I was enamored by the one-ness of the car with the driver; the proper feedback; the balance; the “black-magic” ride/handling trade-off (or lack thereof).
However, I know I was getting the “eye-rolling” judgements from the layperson, as in “oh. He got a BMW. Obnoxious prick.”
Then I understood that yes, indeed, there are a large chunk of BMW buyers who buy it for the name, the prestige.
I was glad when I moved to an Acura TSX, getting 80% of the driving satisfaction of the 330Ci, with no Roundel!
I am not sure which one of my anti-anti-SUV things to bring out next.
How about this one:
Tell me what you drive? I will point out all the wasted space, capability, and added luxuries. I will note the styling cues that are meant to look like something other than what it is. I will also take great pleasure in taking a stab at characterizing YOU in an ugly way based on YOUR choice.
Seriously. It’s great to point out the car is ugly, or that it is a bad mix, or whatever. However, when you go on to characterize the driver or buyer you are just pointing out your own insecurities. Less than 5% of us drive a car that is only adequate to our needs, and fits our use of it perfectly. Fewer than that use that way all the time.
If you are not driving a ten year old, subcompact hatchback which you got for pennies and spent many weekends of your own labor bringing up to reliable condition then you aren’t launching your attacks from firm ground.
Before you use the word “poser”, you might first make sure you can stroke out a check for said poser mobile. And if you can, then still keep your mouth shut and avoid snobbery.