SPY PICS: BMW X6 M sharpens up at Nurburgring
BMW M’s upgraded high-performance coupe-style SUV spied, but what exactly is under the bonnet?A significant mid-life update is on its way for the BMW X5 and BMW X6 line-ups, with the flagship BMW X6 M having just been spotted testing at the Nurburgring.
There’s no official word yet on powertrain or chassis upgrades, but we can confirm the large luxury SUVs will feature a more angular front fascia headlined by redesigned bumpers, narrower headlights and a new daytime running light signature.
Similar changes are expected at the rear-end as well, but at this stage there’s only been a tweak to the rear lighting signature.
Going by the running updates to the rest of the BMW portfolio, the latest BMW Operating System 8 and BMW iDrive 8 will be included on all variants, heralding the introduction of the new dual-screen infotainment and digital cockpit set-up for the X5 and X6 range.
Powertrain details are still the subject of speculation, with the X6 M and the hotter BMW X6 M Competition – and their X5 counterparts – likely to retain the existing ‘S63’ twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine, albeit with some minor tweaks.
However, there’s also a chance the M-branded SUVs – most notably the Competition twins (that are the only X5/X6 M models you can get in Australia) – will pick up the newer ‘S68’ engine destined for the production version of the BMW XM, though without the plug-in hybrid system.
This engine shares the same 4.4-litre displacement and twin-turbo V8 configuration as the S63, but is claimed by BMW – in other applications – to be good for 559kW.
The current X5/X6 M SUVs produce 460kW/750Nm.
BMW has form in this department; the outgoing BMW M2 Competition was fitted with a mildly detuned version of the F80 BMW M3 and F82 BMW M4's 'S55' turbocharged straight-six.
Either way, transmission duties will be handled by an eight-speed automatic, sending drive to all four wheels.
Our sources out of Europe tell us the new model will be revealed later this year ahead and launched overseas early in 2023, pointing to an Australian arrival in the second half of next year.
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