BMW M not interested in 'world's fastest SUV' trophy

The title of the world's fastest SUV does not interest BMW’s M division.

As BMW's high-performance sub-brand, M takes garden-variety models and transforms them into super-fast, race track-ready machines. This week, executives from the company said their objective was to offer the best "overall package" – not simply the fastest.

The quickly SUV available today is the Tesla Model X, with a 3.1 second 0-100km/h sprint (in ludicrous mode) that can't be touched by any other combustion engine SUVs.

However the fastest petrol-powered SUV goes to the turbocharged V8 Lamborghini Urus ($390,000) courtesy of a 3.6 second sprint to 100km/h, closely followed by the supercharged V8 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk ($134,950) at 3.7 seconds.

The new BMW X5 M SUV ($209,900) and its coupe-ish cousin, the X6 M ($213,900), muster up a 3.8 second dash, with a top speed of 290km/h to cap things off.

But bragging rights are not high on the priority list for the BMW M division, as the company's head of product management, Daniel Schmidt, told carsales.com.au.

"We're not looking at winning a top speed competition against any competitor. We want to create the best possible high performance for an SUV. In this respect we always try to find the best solution technically, with lateral not just longitudinal performance," he said.

"It must be the best package in every dimension."

The new X5 and X6 M models will arrive in Australia from May 2020 and feature a tweaked version of the BMW M xDrive all-wheel drive system from the M5. That means a rear-wheel biased setup, along with an active M rear differential, adaptive M suspension and specialised brakes.

"It's not about one top value in one dimension, it’s not what our customers want to experience," said Schmidt.

"They want to experience the best overall package and this might mean not being the best in every different dimension, but having the best overall package."

So BMW M wasn't chasing the world's fastest SUV title with its new hero models?

"No, we are not aiming for just one superlative, to have one headline. We want to convince customers and deliver what we promise with our sub-brand BMW M. What we have to deliver and what we want to deliver is now the best overall package," he stated.

Few BMW M models, such as the M3 and M4, outpower or outpace their direct rivals, such as the Mercedes-AMG C 63 S sedan and coupe.

But the proof's in the pudding said BMW M powertrain lead, Axel Theiling, highlighting BMW M's record-breaking sales in 2019, outselling arch-rival Mercedes-AMG for the first time in years.

BMW M sold a total of 135,829 units, up by 32 per cent, while AMG sold a total of 132,136 vehicles, up by 11.8 per cent.

"It's not a matter of power," said Theiling.

"It's what is the best complete concept. We think power to weight ratio is very important. If you look at the M3 or M4, they are not the cars with the most power but they have the best complete package.

"This is why we think customers are hitting so hard for our cars," he explained.

The BMW M executives wouldn’t confirm whether the brand will unleash another full-blooded M-badged SUV given the success of fettled high-riders. However, it's expected a BMW X7 M will arrive later in the vehicle's lifecycle – possibly with an electrified V8.