Despite the auditory ambiguity, at full throttle the X6 M sings with ferocity sufficient to justify the “M” badge that sets it apart from a less robust twin. The rush of turbocharger-driven oxygen through a pair water-to-air intercoolers brings “supersonic” to mind.
Six gears and four wheels
It’s a good thing that all four X6 M wheels grab at the pavement when the horses choose to gallop. From a standstill, the massive dose of power can literally throw the vehicle forward with such intensity that first gear comes and goes more rapidly than the human mind track. Well, okay that’s a bit of artistic license.
Seriously though, if using the manual shift paddles, the need to click into second gear arrives with astonishing brevity. If you’re not dialed-in to the tach, which is transferred to a heads-up display on the windscreen when ‘M’ mode is activated, the engine instantly hits its rev-limiter.
Such occurrences convey amateurishness about the driver – such that he or she really doesn’t deserve to be behind the wheel of something verging on a German racecar. And it’s not like we’ve never seen that before!
M performance button
BMW has placed its ‘M’ performance button onto the steering wheel for easy, immediate access. Good move Heinz. Once a number of performance settings have been pre-selected through the interface screen, the ‘M’ button automatically engages the setup whenever the desire arises.
Pushing the “M for magic” button instantly transformed the performance dynamics of the vehicle; I could even detect a change in the engine’s idle, which became raspier. Throttle response was quickened as well and the transmission took on performance-oriented shift mapping. As well, the X6 M’s reasonably comfortable suspension stiffened-up.
All of these factors came seamlessly together to exploit the vehicle’s strength and talent when so desired. I liked the fact that the ‘M’ button enabled the transformation in performance and handling dynamics without the need to remove one’s eyes from the road.
And when it came time, re-engaging civility was again only a button away.
 |
| From a standstill, the massive dose of power can literally throw the vehicle forward with such intensity. |
Six gears and four wheels
It’s a good thing that all four X6 M wheels grab at the pavement when the horses choose to gallop. From a standstill, the massive dose of power can literally throw the vehicle forward with such intensity that first gear comes and goes more rapidly than the human mind track. Well, okay that’s a bit of artistic license.
Seriously though, if using the manual shift paddles, the need to click into second gear arrives with astonishing brevity. If you’re not dialed-in to the tach, which is transferred to a heads-up display on the windscreen when ‘M’ mode is activated, the engine instantly hits its rev-limiter.
Such occurrences convey amateurishness about the driver – such that he or she really doesn’t deserve to be behind the wheel of something verging on a German racecar. And it’s not like we’ve never seen that before!
M performance button
BMW has placed its ‘M’ performance button onto the steering wheel for easy, immediate access. Good move Heinz. Once a number of performance settings have been pre-selected through the interface screen, the ‘M’ button automatically engages the setup whenever the desire arises.
Pushing the “M for magic” button instantly transformed the performance dynamics of the vehicle; I could even detect a change in the engine’s idle, which became raspier. Throttle response was quickened as well and the transmission took on performance-oriented shift mapping. As well, the X6 M’s reasonably comfortable suspension stiffened-up.
All of these factors came seamlessly together to exploit the vehicle’s strength and talent when so desired. I liked the fact that the ‘M’ button enabled the transformation in performance and handling dynamics without the need to remove one’s eyes from the road.
And when it came time, re-engaging civility was again only a button away.
 |
| BMW has placed its ‘M’ performance button onto the steering wheel for easy, immediate access. |