Facelifted BMW X5 and X6 M

M Division's SUV pair now more powerful, more efficient and (a little) less offensive

Has it really been five years since the X5 and X6 M were released on the world? Apparently so, meaning its time for the mid-life refresh, an LA show debut and a fresh outpouring of vitriol from M purists.

How to split 'em? Numberplates...

Both X5 (the 'Sports Activity Vehicle') and X6 (the 'Sports Activity Coupe') now feature the same styling tweaks as their non-sporting counterparts along with a few M accoutrements. See the big air intakes at the front, the signature M mirrors and four exhausts plus 20-inch wheels. Notice too how the X6 M looks a little softer than before. Clearly inspired by the X4, it just seems less brazen and unabashed without one clear identifying reason for it. Odd.

There are significant changes for both cars under the skin too. Power from the 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 is up to 575hp from 560 and torque is raised by 52lb ft to 553lb ft. With a new eight-speed M Steptronic auto and launch control (really), both X5 and X6 M can reach 62mph in 4.2 seconds. Changing from six to eight gears improves efficiency as well, fuel consumption up to 25.5mpg (from 20.3mpg) and CO2 down to 258g/km. BMW claims a range increase of 26 per cent to 475 miles with an identically sized tank.

Nordschleife road trip anyone?

In amongst the discussion of 'optimum temperature management' and M-specific Servotronic steering is a very interesting subsection titled 'An open door to controlled drifts'. How exciting.

The xDrive all-wheel drive has a rear-biased focus anyway but the DSC has been recalibrated to 'improve driving dynamics further still'. The M Dynamic Mode of that 'allows greater wheel slip - to give keen driver the chance to execute some mild drifts'. Need more on your track day? Fully deactivating the DSC 'gives the driver the chance to fully explore the car's dynamic limits on the track and nudge the car into power oversteer (i.e a drift) using the accelerator'. Best leave plenty of space for that. A nice touch though.

The two cars you see here are in two new exclusive M colours, Long Beach Blue and Donington Grey. As always the full roster of BMW Individual options will be offered if a prospective customer finds the standard X5 and X6 M a little meek. Don't forget the M Laptimer app can be synced to the the iDrive too.

Ready for the price? An X5 M will cost £90,170 and the X6 £93,070, with the cars arriving in BMW dealers next April. As well as the Range Rover Sport SV-R, the new M SUVs will have a revised Porsche Cayenne Turbo to compete with too. Political incorrectness has never been so fast.