Some of the key ingredients to make any consumer-driven product successful are what appeals to the senses. You know, sight, feel, touch, smell, taste and sound. But since we cannot eat a 2010 BMW X6M or 2010 X6 ActiveHybrid, taste is immediately off the list.
Although, with any vehicle, sound is an immensely important aspect of the driving experience. When driving any car, it seems that one's heart rate keeps pace with the linear progression climbing the RPM band. And there is nothing more disappointing than a "performance" vehicle that sounds anemic or boring.
For example, when driving the 2010 Ford Taurus -- which is equipped with a twin-turbo V6 producing 365-horsepower, 350 lb-ft of torque -- I expected something to stir my emotions. Instead, I was presented with a lackluster sound that I could have probably found off any other American, six-cylinder powerplant.
2010 BMW X6M X5M Launch Photo Gallery
Then you hop behind the wheel of the new X6M and when you push the Start button, it is like you have awakened Genghis Khan and he's ready to rule, again.
On the other hand, the ActiveHybrid would make great friends with a librarian. Probably because it obeys the whole "Silence is gold" thing.
But where things get really interesting is how these polar opposites are priced. The X6 Hybrid checks in at $89,775* while the M comes in at $89,875*. It is essentially like having to choose between chocolate and vanilla ice cream. Yeah, you still are getting ice cream but they both are incredibly different in their own way. It is more about which specific character appeals to you.
*Includes Destination charges
Starting on the exterior, the X6 has been a love-it or hate-it kind of car. Bearing styling elements -- that I just realized** -- stem from the X Coupe Concept, it looks somewhat concept car like.
**When comparing, note the stance and proportions of both the concept and X6.
2010 BMW X6M X5M Launch Photo Gallery
In pictures it looks questionable but when it is standing in front of you, or driving down the road, it commands a presence. I cannot believe I am saying this but I have come to adore the X6's forward-thinking design.
Something tells me I am not the only one either, as they have been springing up all over the New York Tri-State area. Surprising considering they are such a low volume vehicle; when considering its monthly sales figures.
Moving inside the X6's cabin you are presented with a set of seats that adjust in just about every way imaginable. Finding the ideal driving position comes after toying around with the dizzying array of settings and adjustments. Although my M tester was a bit more Spartan, the shoulder adjustment on the ActiveHybrid's seats was a tremendous help for someone looking to have some lean in the backrest while maintaining an upright position.
2010 BMW X6M X5M Launch Photo Gallery
**NOTE: The interior shown above is the fully done up version; leather on top dash/doors.
Now it is just another thing I'll complain about in every car that doesn't have this equipped.
To put it simply, when Fast Lane Daily producer J.F. Musial hopped in the seat and fixed everything appropriately, he said "I never thought I'd find one of the best driving positions in the world in an X6."
Looking around the rest of the interior, it is clear this car follows BMW tradition in what appears to be a minimalist and modern design. Sure, you can option it up with full leather, different seats and plenty of color combinations, but you can also keep it very simple.
Some of the nicer touches on the very base spec can be spotted with the leather running the center console, the contrasting blue stitch on the ActiveHybrid's Ivory leather and the leather "knee pads," which come in handy on the track.
BMW X6 ActiveHybrid Photo Gallery
**NOTE: This is an X6 ActiveHybrid's fully done up interior
Our M tester was not spec'd out with the full interior and it showed. Not only were some trim bits questionable, it did manage to squeak quite a bit. In contrast, the full leather interior on the ActiveHybrid managed to remain quiet and was rattle free.
If you really appreciate a high-quality interior, you have to spring for the fully done up version. Its craftsmanship is truly above and beyond. For me, the problem is that whether you have the interior covered in hide or not, it should always be held to such high standards as the fully done up version.
Thankfully, the power makes up for the interior's pitfalls.
The M's motor signifies a departure; it is the first forced-induction M powerplant. And while many -- including myself -- cried foul at first, you really have to drive this car to appreciate it. It is really easy to hate this car when you have not given it a shot.
If you can drive this car and say you dislike it after the fact, you probably are fooling yourself.
Powered by a 4.4L twin-turbo V8, the M churns out 555-horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque. Like some other manufacturers, the turbos do not have that infamous "lag" and when you are inside the cabin you rarely hear the turbo. You really have to listen.
2010 BMW X6M X5M Launch Photo Gallery
Mated to this powerplant is a fascinating transmission. Although a six-speed autobox does not sound like much these days, the way that BMW has set this up is down right incredible. The thing that makes this transmission monumental is that when in "manual" mode the car cuts the ignition and fuel delivery to individual engine cylinders. So, when you shift it gives the car a little belch and it is seemingly just as quick as a dual-clutch transmission.
Yes, it is a little geeky. Yes, it is fast and Yes, I had some help writing that from the press release.
Additionally, it will not shift automatically when you hit the rev limit. So, pay attention because this car will not do the work for you.
Even more impressive than that is how it corners. Although it weighs in at approximately 5,370 pounds it feels like it has less body roll than a CTS-V or the recently driven 2010 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG***.
***Yes, I know those are not its competitors but we're just talking performance machines and their respective capabilities
Here's the best part. During the 2009 New York Auto Show, I had the chance to speak with then president of BMW M GmbH, Ludwig Willisch. He essentially said that the X5/6M would be unlike anything we had seen before.
Oh yeah, and that it would lap a track just as fast as an E46 M3.
2010 BMW X6M X5M Launch Photo Gallery
At first when you hear that you may think "Surrre," but then after driving it, you really gather what it can achieve. Willisch's claim is entirely feasible. The best part of driving a higher vehicle on the track is the throne-like seating position gives you plenty of visibility to hit your line going into the turn.
This brings us to the nitty gritty. Steering feel is not surprisingly numbed out quite a bit, as this seems to be the trend with newer BMW products, but it is direct at speed. Although at low velocity, the Servotronic steering can feel pretty disconnected. Don't get me wrong, even with M Mode engaged it still is more precise and heavy over the hybrid, but I would think an M product would be able to sniff out every imperfection on the road's surface.
Probably the most enjoyable part the M's sound. It reminds me a lot of Ferrari's V8 that was used in the 355. This is because it has a bit of what seems like transmission whine and it does not have a burly, V8 sound. It is a bit exotic. I love it.
**NOTE: Although I realize that this is an X5M, this video BEST replicates the true sound of the first Ms with all-wheel drive AND forced induction. Kudos, BMW.
But, all of this fun does come at a price; in the X6M I was only able to obtain a paltry 11-12 MPG. If I tried really hard, I could manage 15 on the highways.
So what do you do when you want the same fun of the M but want some real-world practicality -- in terms of MPG? You aim for the ActiveHybrid.
Granted, you won't be turning weeping willows into blossoming plantings as you whisk by, but you will be able to achieve a more acceptable 15.5 MPG around town -- when driving hard -- and 19/20 MPG on the highway.
BMW X6 ActiveHybrid Photo Gallery
Moving into the hybrid will bring you down in terms of power, and in the instantaneous and liveliness of the vehicle's motor and transmission combination. Make no mistake, this is definitely not an M car. You didn't expect to get the exact type of reaction from a hybrid automobile, did you?
With yet another twin-turbo'd V8, the ActiveHybrid is aided by two electric motors that produce 91 and 86-horsepower, respectively. When all is said and done, this equates to 480-horsepower and a jaw dropping 575 lb-ft of torque.
Obviously, this is more than adequate for putting around town, merging onto the highway or just being a menace to society. Zero to 60 comes in a claimed 5.4 seconds, although I would not be shocked if it was getting to the six-zero mark a bit quicker. Considering it weighs in at nearly 5,700 pounds, it is just bananas. Let's see Honda's sporty CR-Z hybrid hit 60 in less than nine and a half seconds, forget five and a half.
Leave it to BMW to produce the sportiest and most powerful hybrid vehicle roaming the streets.
BMW X6 ActiveHybrid Photo Gallery
And being it is a hybrid, it certainly carries some of the general hybrid traits. For instance, there is that hesitation when accelerating from a stop.
Where BMW's hybrid technology shines is in the transition from electric to gas power. Some cars do it "oh-kay," some are miserable and some are good. I would categorize the X6 as on par with the Toyota Prius. That is a good thing because Toyota has the smoothest hybrids on the green market.
One aspect that became apparent is that when you are in full manual mode and coming to a stop the car does this little shutter reminiscent of a car on the verge of stalling.
Otherwise, driving the hybrid is a breeze. When the electric motor kicks on and you are coasting, it is extremely easy to modulate the pedal and maintain your electric power. Some cars are tuned so that it is incredibly difficult to stay in the electric mode. I drove across my two mile town in full electric mode.
Then another thing you will quickly notice is how quiet the vehicle is. With and without the gas motor running. If the electric mode switches on, the only thing you really hear are the tires spinning. If the gas motor is running you only get a bassy V8 burble during hard acceleration. All other times it is as quiet as a mouse.
BMW X6 ActiveHybrid Photo Gallery
The suspension in the hybrid is tuned pretty damned close to exactly how I would want it. It has a bit of give in it but it is stiff enough to provide composure. It doesn't bounce like some stiff suspension set ups and it is not so cushy that it floats. It is right in the middle so that you can drive in the country and have tons of grip going into a corner but if you need to make a trip into the city with craters, you will not notice them.
In the M version, it is relatively close to the ActiveHybrid with more rigidity and stiffness. If you were to hop in an M and a hybrid back to back, I doubt the difference would be easily perceived. This is what I like about the M. It has a tremendous amount of flexibility by having so much sophisticated power alongside the capability to cruise around New York without chipping my teeth -- which was the problem with the Nissan GT-R.
After driving both for two weeks I did not walk away saying "Oh, the ___'s suspension is profoundly better than ___'s."
My biggest gripe with the ActiveHybrid is its transmission. A seven-speed two-mode active transmission, it is able to operate in two separate modes. This means it has one mode for city traffic, you know, the stop-and-go stuff. Then, there is another mode for driving at speed.
The problem comes with the shift speed and responsiveness. Although I know this hi-tech gadgetry is new and supposedly capable, it feels pretty identical to my 2003 E46 330Ci's Steptronic unit. It shifts with the same speed, which is not all that fast by contemporary standards.
BMW X6 ActiveHybrid Photo Gallery
WHAT'S THIS ALL MEAN?
Basically, this is what it boils down to. There is a ton of hate on the BMW X6, from the base model to the top-of-the-line M. Until an individual rides in one, hears one, sees one in the flesh or drives one, it will likely stay that way.
People will confuse it with the Acura ZDX and its miserable interior space, but what they don't know is that its 2+2 set up provides plenty of room. I had a 6'2 individual set his seat up, leave it, then walk around to the back and sit comfortably in the back seat.
After that, he exclaimed how it would be an awesome cross-country driver. Considering his experience in Bullrun, I would not take his opinion lightly.
Also, the car commands a presence. I have had the chance to drive some of the world's most exclusive automobiles but when people see you in a Melbourne Red X6M, it just does something to them. Although attention was gained from just about everyone, I noticed the M received a lot of looks, glances and thumbs up from women aged 30 to 40.
So, if you're into those Demi Moore look-a-likes, by all means get an X6M.
Now the X6 ActiveHybrid is not quite the most serious hybrid. It has a ton of weight and only achieves 20 MPG at its best during our test. Considering this is 25 percent of growth, it isn't that bad on a percentage basis. But when you think about the pricing to fun ratio, it makes no sense to get the hybrid when the M is priced so closely.
The M is too good to pass up.
2010 BMW X6M X5M Launch Photo Gallery
Sure, you'll miss out on a few MPG but I would rather take the MPG hit and get that extra fun and liveliness out of the car.
Perhaps this is why one of the candid dealers admitted that the X6 ActiveHybrids are not moving off the showroom. Then, he said something along the lines of "Why do you think every dealer still has their initial allocated car still sitting in the showroom?"
Whether or not the X6 hybrid is a failure is not up to me just yet, although it is not looking good. What does matter, however, is that this technology will work its way down the product line-up and likely become cheaper over time.
It is an impressive piece, the ActiveHybrid just wasn't priced low enough for market penetration.
Yes, and back to the M's sound. When you hear it in person echoing down the road, I think you'll know immediately why 001 and 00R placed it as number 6 and 1 in the best 007 of 2010.
I know, I know, what you will say. I put the 2010 BMW X5M as number 1. Yup, that is correct, I would just want the 5 for the extra utility the rear cargo area provides.
Otherwise, this car is in a class of its own. Even it is considered "pointless," by a select few.
You have to remember, some people largely consider Ferraris or Porsches "pointless."
This does not mean that you cannot have the time of your life in one.
2010 BMW X6M X5M Launch Photo Gallery
BMW X6 ActiveHybrid Photo Gallery
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