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BMW has taken the wraps off its most controversial M products to date: the 171mph X5 M and X6 M SUVs.

The cars are the first all-wheel-drive models and mark new territory for the M brand, usually tasked with making ultra-fast saloons and coupes.

Both cars are fitted with a new twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8, which produces maximum power of 547bhp between 5750rpm and 6000rpm. Peak torque of 501lb ft is maintained between 1500rpm and 5650rpm.

The two turbochargers in the M TwinPower ...Read the full article

minging motors! .....BMW = Blindingly Minging Wheels   

What I can't understand here is BMW say the new Z4 is not suitable M-car material - a low slung, fancy looking roadster.

Erm, but suddenly massively overweight, oversized SUVs are!? I'm not a massive SUV hater, but surely this is madness?

Would someone from BMW (or anyone else for that matter) care to explain?

 

Until Audi launches the Q7 with Lambo / Audi V10 twin turbo then these two vehicles are the ultimate C**t cars.

 C**ts everywhere.....rejoice!

Cheltenhamshire:

Until Audi launches the Q7 with Lambo / Audi V10 twin turbo then these two vehicles are the ultimate C**t cars.

 C**ts everywhere.....rejoice!

 

Yep, Carts love a fast 4x4.

Poor Motorsport.

SUV + turbo + auto gearbox => M? No.

Evereything is in contradiction with M.

M had to sell its soul to the devil to sell these cars...

BMW and Porsche are ready to do everything to sell thier vans...

 

My theory is that they've gone with their most competitive cars.

Z4 is not competitive against the likes of the Cayman/ Boxster, 370Z, TT, etc.

X5 and X6 however are at the top of their classes.

Arguably this should mean that they need to do more with the Z4 to give the range that halo effect.... so curious thinking indeed.

Perhaps they're going after the Dakar rally?!

 

I'd like to know who thought metallic chocolate brown was a good idea for the press photos. Possibly even worse than the foul shade of beige they chose for the new Z4.

Autocar:

The cars are the first all-wheel-drive models and mark new territory for the M brand, usually tasked with making ultra-fast saloons and coupes.

Both cars are fitted with a new twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8, which produces maximum power of 547bhp between 5750rpm and 6000rpm. Peak torque of 501lb ft is maintained between 1500rpm and 5650rpm.

Now this is more like it BMW, a twin-turbo 4.4 litre V8 producing 547bhp sounds like BMWw are doing what they do best, i know a lot of people are saying they are pointless but i think they are cool in a werid kind of way. Now if BMW can make a rival to a R8 with this V8 and good looks it could be on to a hit, the potential is coming back

RicardoJ:

What I can't understand here is BMW say the new Z4 is not suitable M-car material - a low slung, fancy looking roadster.

Erm, but suddenly massively overweight, oversized SUVs are!? I'm not a massive SUV hater, but surely this is madness?

Would someone from BMW (or anyone else for that matter) care to explain?

 

Good point.

Having said that, I wouldn't say bringing out M versions of X5 and X6 is necessarily madness (there is always a market, however small, for such cars), but not making an M version of the new Z4 is baffling to say the least; especially considering BMWs marketing bigwigs decided to make the standard version markedly softer (and fatter) than the old one.

 

 OK, good points with the X5 and X6 possibly being more competitive (if the X6 even has a class). But then again all those dreaming about an SLK 55 AMG (which Mr J Clarkson at least prefers over the Boxster) surely could be tempted by a brand new shiny, hard-top folding 'M'ed up Z4 with sharp new looks and more luxourious interior?

 And if BMW are so concerned with having superb driving dynamics with their cars, why bother M-ing up the X5, if the X6 is so much better to drive? To simply broaden the appeal more than keep to their strict philosophy from which the M3 and M5 originated, I guess.

SUV

Supreme

Urban

Vehicle

If you're wondering why BMW need a powerful SUV all I can think about is watching one, a 4.8l model, take away from the lights.   The tarmac was pulled back, the world paused it's roation, and this monster was catapulted away.   It was superb to watch.... In fact a friend and I just sat there mouths wide open in shock and awe.

But, seriously, I live in an area that the stupid council have blighted by bumps.   Since they were put in the amount of 4x4s in the area has rocketed that one day last week that's all I seen on the one mile stretch and going over each of the ten bumps.

These large SUVs are unaffect by the bumps, just like the busses, dustbin trucks and white vans.   It's us car drivers who have to suffer and I seriously gave some consideration to an X3 too.