X6 M here for Xmas

BMW will launch the X6 M Down Under in time for Christmas. Unveiled in April, the M Division modified X6 will be gunning for the title of Australia's sportiest SUV when it arrives, taking on niche performers like Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG and Porsche's Cayenne GTS.

The X6 M is BMW's M Division's first SUV and all-wheel drive production car. Though BMW's hot haus also builds an X5 M, that model won't becoming Down Under.

The X6 M features a tweaked version of BMW's twin turbo 4.4-litre V8. Power is an impressive 408kW and the Weird Harold coupe-cum-offroader accelerates 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds.

No pricing is yet available on the X6 M, though BMW press chief, Toni Andreevski says indicative figures should be available by late July.

BMW Australia will no doubt be hoping the big M car continues the success of the standard X6 which it's calling a "niche sales hit".

According to BMW, 545 X6s have found homes Down Under since the car was launched ten months ago. Approximately 40 per cent of X6 customers were new to BMW, the company claims.

BMW is crowing about the fact the X6 M has outsold "cars such as the Fiat 500, Jaguar XF, Lexus IS F, Mazda MX5, Mercedes-Benz CLS, Audi A6 and Volvo C30.

"Its closest competitor, the Porsche Cayenne, was outsold by the BMW X6 this year by almost 20 per cent. Further highlighting its success as a premium niche model, the X6 Sports Activity Coupé found more customers in Australia, since arriving last year, than the entire Maserati range," BMW stated in a release last week.

According to BMW Australia, over 35,000 X6s have been sold worldwide.

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