Back in May 2008, when the X6 reared its (ahem) lovely head for the first time, we drove a twin-turbo 3.0 diesel X6 from Scotland to London. That story alone generated 414 comments and the X6 debate has raged on ever since.
Almost a year later, I’m back in another X6, but this time the story is the engine, not the car. The misleading 50i moniker on the wheelarch signifies that this X6 is powered by a new twin-turbocharged, high-precision direct injection, 4.4-litre petrol- powered V8. It produces 408hp between 5500rpm and 6400rpm and 442lb ft of torque between 1750rpm and 4500rpm.
The twin turbos, along with the catalytic converters, are housed in the valley between the ‘V’ of the cylinders. It’s certainly a novel idea and by doing this BMW has created an extremely compact engine, helped by the use of direct injection which frees up the space where the fuel injectors usually reside on a traditional V8.
It’s the first time that BMW has used two turbochargers on an eight-cylinder petrol unit, creating the most powerful non- M Power BMW V8 engine yet released, and this X6 is the first, and surely not the last, car to use it. Performance is more than adequate, recording 0-62mph in 5.4sec and an electronically limited top speed of 155mph. That’s enough performance to beat the Cayenne GTS and Range Rover Sport Supercharged – not to mention a host of performance cars.
It’s not the technological specification that impresses most; it’s the feature that makes any V8 engine so special – the noise it makes. Imagine an Aston Martin Vantage with valves open, add a generous helping of Merc SL55, and you’ll be getting close. It’s enough to make the X6 seem worthwhile.
Well, almost. The fact remains that the X6, with its four seats and relatively small boot, still can’t quite pull it off next to cars with a lower centre of gravity and more practical layouts. In fact, the only solution is to glory in the Judge Dredd looks and NASCAR soundtrack, dodging the gestures of disgust from other road users as they disappear in the rearview mirror.
Being a big BMW, the 50i is a well executed piece of engineering that has a smooth six-speed gearbox and tremendous flexibility thanks to the prodigious levels of torque. In something so big, it creates a surreal sensation of speed while being totally isolated from the road conditions – a possible threat to the licence on quick, straight roads. You need to keep an eye on the head-up display and, unfortunately, on the fuel gauge which recorded an average of just over 16mpg in our hands compared with a claimed figure in the mid-20s.
I must admit to liking the X6, mainly because it is so different and so well sorted. It handles better than any car this big deserves to and, while it’s fair to say you won’t be keeping up with an Exige, it certainly enjoys corners more than it should.
If all else fails, you can always worship the engine. It’s a belter and we can’t wait to see if the 50i makes an appearance in a smaller model over the next few years. That said, the rumours suggest that the forthcoming X5 and X6 M models will feature a lighter twin- turbo V8, so I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.