BMW is the first automaker to bring such an SUV to market, although other automakers are said to be planning similar coupe-like utility vehicles. Land Rover, for example, recently unveiled its LRX coupe-crossover concept.
Compared with the concept, very little has changed. In fact, you'll have a hard time noticing any differences at all. The only obvious design tweak was made to the crossover's side windows. On the concept, the B- and C-pillars are not visible, but on the production car they clearly divide up the glass.
Even the X6's complex front fender design made it to production. Each front quarter panel surrounds the entire headlamp, creating a very seamless appearance. The X6's aggressive front fascia is also carried over from the concept, with its large air intakes and stylish fog lamps.
Daring design
As the photos show, the X6 is anything but a conservative design.
The X6's roofline begins arching downward after the B-pillar and continues plunging right to the X6's rising waistline. As a result, second-row headroom and rear cargo volume are both compromised.
The new X6 is longer and lower than the new X5, seating only four. But what the sporty X6 loses in seating and storage, it gains in performance.
Compared to the X5, the X6 has almost an inch of additional wheelbase length, and two inches of added width. The overall height of the X6 is a whopping 3.3 inches lower than that of the X5.
All-new twin-turbocharged V8
The range-topping X6 xDrive50i is propelled by an all-new twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 unit producing 407 horsepower at 5500 rpm and 446 pound-feet of torque between 1750 rpm and 4500 rpm. The sprint to 62 mph takes just 5.4 seconds and fuel economy is estimated at around 19 mpg (U.S. gallons).
The engine is designed as a replacement to the company's current 4.8-liter naturally-aspirated V8. It is expected to filter into other models like the 5-Series, 6-Series and 7-Series in the near future.
The engine seems to represent the second stage in a shift at BMW from high-displacement naturally-aspirated motors to slightly smaller turbocharged powerplants. BMW's twin-turbo 3.0-liter engine that powers the 335i and 135i has been met with overwhelmingly positive reviews, and it appears BMW is hoping for similar results with its new V8.
BMW's X6, the German automaker's curiously styled four-seat "sports-activity-coupe" crossover, is more than just a new vehicle in a segment made up by BMW's marketing department. The X6 is also a launch pad of sorts for a number of advanced technologies that'll undoubtedly be diffused throughout the rest of the automaker's lineup.
The X6 will come in two variants. The xDrive35i is powered by the now familiar 300-horse, 3.0-liter twin turbo inline-six. But the big stuff what's under the xDrive50i's hood -- a new to the BMW lineup 4.4-liter twin-turbo V-8. Both engine variants are mated to a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters, and as the names imply, come standard with BMW's xDrive all-wheel-drive system that sends 40 percent of the power to the front wheels and 60 percent to the rear under normal driving conditions.
The new V-8 is rated at 400 horses and 450 lb-ft of torque, making it the most powerful engine ever available in a BMW sport/ute, easily topping the x5's 350-horsepower, 4.8-liter naturally aspirated V-8. Engine torque reaches its peak at 1800 rpm and stays there until 4500 rpm, which makes the m3's rev-happy V-8 -- with its 295 lb-ft of torque -- seem puny by comparison. BMW says the engine will propel the X6 from 0 to 60 in just 5.3 seconds -- an impressive number for a vehicle likely to weigh well over two tons and just 0.4 second slower than the 500-horsepower porche. Top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph on 20-inch-wheel-equipped models
Like the twin-turbo inline-six, the new V-8 uses direction fuel injection and two small turbochargers, one for each cylinder bank. The turbo units are innovatively packaged along with catalytic converters in the center of the block between the two cylinder banks. This packaging means reduced pressure losses due to shorter intake and exhaust manifolds, improving engine efficiency. And as with the twin-turbo six, BMW has worked hard to use the setup to help eliminate turbo lag, which will be especially helpful on a vehicle as heavy as the X6.
No comments:
Post a Comment