Fine piece of German engineering sets record straight
As reported earlier in the week, we’ve been inundated by Chinese cars, mainly SUVs of all shapes and sizes over the past few months. They’ve stunned us on price, dazzled us on spec and pretty well stolen our road test show of late. They also have us scratching our heads on several fronts. All while the traditional lot sat on their laurels.
Well, it must be starting to hurt, because all of a sudden we have a good few traditional sleds lining up for our opinion. Not many could have made a better impression than this recently extensively updated BMW X6. We’re no strangers to the BMW Sport Activity Vehicle. We enjoyed tens of thousands of miles aboard X5s of various persuasions over the years, lived and loved them. And missed them of late.
So when this big white Paarl-spec Stellenbosch white BMW X6 xDrive40i M Sport stopped in our driveway for a week, we were pretty excited. And what a tonic it proved. It’s been a bit since we had a big BMW SAV, so we’d missed this facelift. Featuring latest curved display BMW Operating System 8 digital iDrive infotainment, new systems and a fair wallop of extra power, this car certainly also packs a big presence too
A brawny stance underpinned by M-bits
Slim arrow-DRL headlights and a latest 3D BMW SAV blackened octagonal front-end signature set the nip and tuck apart. Not sure if we enjoy the black bits. They interfere too much with traditional Beemer looks and conflict with this one’s chrome kidney grille. But that’s just our opinion. A brawny stance is underpinned by M-skirts and more Shadowline trim, with revised LED and trapezoidal tailpipe trims aft.
Open it up and that LED ambient lit cockpit entices you into comfort seats. Touch the button to power open the panoramic moonroof and brighten it up. X6 40i’s leather and aluminium cabin’s stylish dash is dominated by that giant 12.3-inch infotainment and 14.9 inch digital drivers instrumentation sharing their new curved display home. BMW says the new kit’s touch control does away with a number of buttons and switches.
Too many knobs, in our opinion. They’ve gone too far in our mind. Sure, keep the touchy bits, but what about old school buggers like some of us, who prefer good old knobs and buttons where they know they are? Some of us want the old school. And dare I say, that some probably covers a vast proportion of this car’s target market.
X6 Comfort with a Capital C
Even more confusing is that there are two horrible phallic knobs hanging off the dash to route the hidden air vents behind, just were we’d appreciate a nice volume or temp bezel. What the hell, BMW? If knobs are good for vents, why not for climate and audio? The mind boggles! Besides that, don’t be fooled, X6 represents comfort with a capital C
There are several other ways to operate without the missing knobs and buttons. One being X5 M50i’s leather-wrapped telescopic power sport power multifunction steering wheel. The Intelligent Personal Assistant can also be manipulated via the iDrive and voice. BMW Live Cockpit Plus now includes cloud-based Maps. Ours also had optional head-up display and augmented view, both of which were most welcome.
Ducking under the bonnet, there’s great news for BMW straight six fans. Not only are power and torque up 35 kW and 70 Nm to 280 kW and 520 and peaking to 540 Nm but the reason for that final spike is BMW’s new 9 kW 200 Nm 48V mild hybrid tech. With an electric motor generator integrated to the transmission, it delivers an even smoother, more dynamic and more efficient drive. Double cream supreme driving pleasure…
X6 is substantially faster than claimed
Besides its extra hybrid gubbins, the new eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission also benefits steering wheel paddle-shifting as it turns xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive. BMW claims X6 xDrive40i will run from zero to 100 km/h in 5.4 seconds. Wrong! It’s substantially faster than that, as the trusty Auto VBox concurs in the table below.
Our X6 also benefited the fitment of adaptive suspension as standard. Add tougher modified anti-roll bars, 20-inch light-alloy wheels, improvements in weight distribution and strength adds to that signature blend of X6 sporting versatility and excellent long-road luxury.
Being a Beemer, its double wishbone front and lightweight multi-link integral rear Adaptive M Suspension enjoys being selected to Sport+. Electronically controlled dampers and servotronic power steering contribute to its mountain prowess. That 8-speed Sport automatic quickly susses your aggression to keep it on the ideal cog. And you don’t really need those paddle shifters on the well-weighted wheel.
Sauerkraut so good after all those noodles
Our BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive endows the big V8 SAV with a positive feel. It hardly leans through the bends and inspires the driver with a perhaps unnecessary confidence. Toggled it back to Comfort it delivers a serene and relaxed. Once again, comfort with a capital C.
All of which was mighty welcome, considering that we’d mainly survived on Chinese over the past few months. It took no time at all for this hearty full-blooded German to grab our hearts. It only got better as time went on with it. Sure, that’s a hell of a premium. Which is what those Chinamen pray off.
If this BMW X6 xDrive40i M Sport did anything during its stay at the Auto offices, it was to reset our reality. Yes, that yellow metal has a hell of a lot going for it. But they’re light years away from coming anywhere near challenging a classic like this beast on anything but price…– Michele Lupini
Images & Testing: Giordano Lupini
ROAD TESTED: BMW X6 xDrive40i M Sport
Engine: 280 kW 540 Nm 3-litre turbo petrol I6
Hybrid: 9 kW 200 Nm 48V Mild
Drive: 8-speed automatic AWD
TESTED:
0-60 km/h: 2.23 sec
0-100 km/h: 4.79 sec
0-120 km/h: 6.88 sec
0-160 km/h: 11.26 sec
400m: 13.0 sec @ 173 km/h
80-120 km/h: 4.29 sec
120-160 km/h: 4.74 sec
CLAIMED:
VMax: 250 km/h
Fuel: 9.3 l/100 km
CO2: 211 g/km
Range: 900 km
Warranty/Service: 2y unl./5y 100K km
LIST PRICE: R1.92M
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