Now into its second generation, the BMW X6 offers one of the more aggressive stances on the road today. Featuring the emotional profile of a traditional coupe, albeit, a high-riding version, worldwide sales have easily surpassed a quarter of a million copies which clearly shows a global acceptance of this modern design. A very exciting aspect of the BMW X6 is that it is being built for the world in the BMW Plant Spartanburg facility outside of Spartanburg, South Carolina and available for sale at BMW of Wyoming Valley in Wilkes-Barre, PA.
Now available with rear drive as the BMW X6 sDrive35i powered by the company's 300-horsepower TwinPower Turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine, it joins other members of the BMW X6 family which sport BMW's xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system, for the ultimate in year-round grip and performance. Known as the xDrive35i and the xDrive50i, they feature the 3.0-liter TwinPower turbo and the 4.4-liter, 445 horsepower TwinPower Turbocharged V8, respectively. All three vehicles transfer their marching orders to the pavement through the BMW 8-Speed Steptronic automatic transmission.
Looks Matter.
The new xDrive models all look as though they are sports coupes owing to their long noses with short rear overhangs and high sides, which carry on a family resemblance with the rest of the BMW SAV family.
From the front, the look is unmistakable, from the twin kidney grille, to the X-shaped contour lines and the matte silver underbody skid plate to protect delicate parts while off-roading. Standard Xenon headlamps light the way although, optional adaptive LED headlights are an available option. Around the corner from the headlamps are distinct aides to the X6's aerodynamics by way of BMW Air Curtains which direct air from the front apron to the Air Breathers which help to reduce air turbulence over the front wheel wells.
Inside looking out.
The inside of the BMW X6 includes a three-dimensional design features a variety of layered surfaces including Poplar wood trim, pearl gloss chrome, brushed aluminum and wood trims from the company's Fineline wood trim lineup. LED light pipes offer an alluring effect after dark and can be programmed to change according to a pre-stored combination of colors.
Vehicle control is performed via the X6's black-panel technology, which changes color and format depending on the selected drive mode. A center-mounted 10.2-inch flatscreen display is onboard and works in concert with the standard iDrive operating system.
A 40:20:40 rear seat offers a range of cargo space beginning with 20.5 cubic feet and expanding to 53.9 cubic feet. Access to the rear cargo area can be hands-free if your BMW X6 is equipped with the available Comfort Access feature which operates via a sweep of the foot underneath the rear bumper.
Power Play.
Power for the BMW X6 sDrive35i and BMW X6 xDrive35i is delivered through the award-winning 3.0-liter TwinPower turbo engine. Using a twin scroll turbine, it is capable of delivering 300 ponies at 5,800 rpm and 300 lb-ft of torque between 1,500-5,000 rpm. That power allows the inline six-cylinder to run from 0-60 mph in six seconds flat, an improvement of 0.3 seconds over the previous version of this engine.
The 4.4-liter V8 offers 445-horsepower between 5,500-6,000 rpm which is an increase of 45 horsepower over the previous version. Torque comes in at 480 lb-ft of twist between 2,000-4,500 rpm for a 30 lb-ft jump over the prior version. But along with all that power is BMW's Efficient Dynamics features which include Brake Energy Regeneration, Auto Start/Stop, on-demand operation of ancillary units, electric power steering, and other weight and drag reduction features. Coupled with space-age technologies, thermoplastics, high-strength steel and magnesium, the BMW X6 is now lighter than the model it replaced.
It's one tough looking Sport Utility, er, Sports Activity Vehicle, we say.
AdChoices