Tuesday 23rd December 2008

Video: BMW X5 M

BMW nips down the 'Ring in its new off-roader

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What we have here is a video of what could be one of the most controversial cars of next year. After a bundle of spy shots, videos, rumours and denials, BMW has confirmed the existence of the X5 M and X6 M models on its bmw-web.tv channel.

The problem is, if you can call it that, is that these models are likely to have the kind of physics-bending road manners that we have seen in the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and as such are undeniably crushing performance cars.

Wrap all this up in a huge SUV body and you have the perfect recipe for a love/hate relationship. In the footage Bernd Limmer, an exec at BMW M GmBH, chats about how the cars will feature that ‘M-ness’ we have grown to love, before swinging into the Nurburgring for a few hot laps.

The X5 M he is driving certainly seems to be carrying enough speed through the bends and Limmer compliments the car on its neutral balance. There’s not much detail about the car, and we don’t know when it is likely to arrive, but keep half an eye on the Detroit Motor Show this year…

[Fetchez la vache]

I can feel the lentle-eating greenies blood boiling from here...


And the people who hate being stuck in a traffic jam behind one..

[snotrag]

But why don't they call it a.... hang on...

[snotrag]

But why don't they call it a.... hang on...

[jollygreen]

snotrag said:

But why don't they call it a.... hang on...

[MrKipling43]

On the one hand, "Eurgh, it's a afront to the 'M' badge..."

On the other, "well, if it let's them produce more extreme 'proper' sports cars thanks to a bit more cash..."

[Kieran XJR]

Is there still a market for this now many of the potential customers have been credit crunched?

[hornetrider]

The human mind cannot even begin to comprehend the quite biblical depreciation that this vehicle will suffer.

[barney123]

hornetrider said:

The human mind cannot even begin to comprehend the quite biblical depreciation that this vehicle will suffer.

Maybe they're going to run them all round the ring, so as to sell them as used, thus avoiding depreciation ?

[jollygreen]

Like the supercharged Range Rovers and Range Rover Sports? And the ML55/63. And the Cayenne T?

People still buy em though just so that we can get em cheap in a few years time...

Actually, I wouldn't think the BM would be any worse than those, probably better than the LR products!

Edited by jollygreen on Tuesday 23 December 11:36

[kavanagh]

yes it ll be quick and handle well for its size but arnt they 5 seaters and why would you want one when you could have an m5 touring ?,but then having one to pi55 of the eco nutters would be good,but id have to invest in a petrol station to run it and only let my missus drive it seeing as itd be a school run car !,...x

[dbz]

Why do BMW continue to have every niche in every class of car...they seem to have missed a trick here and not made it a convertible, but give them time.

Edited by dbz on Tuesday 23 December 11:45

[6th Gear]

Kieran XJR said:

Is there still a market for this now many of the potential customers have been credit crunched?

Yes. Abu Dhabi, Saudi, Qatar, etc.

[Mr Whippy]

DSG, SMG, or automatic?

Or manual?

Dave

[BAHN-STORMA]

kavanagh said:

yes it ll be quick and handle well for its size but arnt they 5 seaters and why would you want one when you could have an m5 touring ?,but then having one to pi55 of the eco nutters would be good,but id have to invest in a petrol station to run it and only let my missus drive it seeing as itd be a school run car !,...x

7 seat option + M5 is tooooo subtle to wind up greenies!

4WD is essential in SW19 as well...

[Dirty Boy]

jollygreen said:

snotrag said:

But why don't they call it a.... hang on...

[Zod]

These devalue the M brand further. Stop it, BMW.

[Remagel2507]

Anyone know what the engine's gonna be. I reckon its either a tuned version of the 3.0 twin turbo petrol, the 4.8 twin turbo V8 from the X6 and the new 7 or possibly the V8 from the M3. I reckon it would be great with the new M DCT gearbox.
Still it would have to be mega great to tempt me from my Cayenne Turbo S

[okgo]

Can someone remind me why the bought the x6 out again?

I reckon the engine will be the v10. Otherwise its going to get shat on by the Cayenne Turbo..

Edited by okgo on Tuesday 23 December 12:47

[AstonV12]

Zod said:

These devalue the M brand further. Stop it, BMW.

Agreed. We need a M1 or an M7 more than this. Utterly pointless

[AstonV12]

Remagel2507 said:

Anyone know what the engine's gonna be. I reckon its either a tuned version of the 3.0 twin turbo petrol, the 4.8 twin turbo V8 from the X6 and the new 7 or possibly the V8 from the M3. I reckon it would be great with the new M DCT gearbox.
Still it would have to be mega great to tempt me from my Cayenne Turbo S

I predict it'll be the all things to all men twin-turbo V8 installed.