The new M2 coupe and M3 Touring might be the headline acts at this year’s 50th anniversary party for BMW’s M division, but the X5 and X6 M SUVs have also got themselves some new threads for the shindig. The most obvious of those upgrades is a new set of slimmer headlights, which should give the front end a noticeably different, more modern look without BMW having to retool up for expensive bodywork changes. There’s a new front bumper to accommodate those narrower light clusters and it looks like there’s a small round fog light hidden in the disguise above the mesh covering the prototype’s air intake.
The same kind of mesh covers the fairly
modestly sized kidney grilles, so we can’t be sure how those grille bars might
look. But it’s a fair bet that BMW might switch from vertical to horizontal
vanes to bring the X6 M into line with recent M cars like the M3 and M4. It
seems like BMW’s designers used all their creative ideas on the front end of
the 2023 X6 M because the rears of the two prototypes our spy photographer
captured don’t look any different from the fat bottom seen on the outgoing
model. Or it could be that these prototypes haven’t been outfitted with the
upgraded lights and bumpers that will make their way to the final production
cars later this year.
Although we have heard rumors about hybrid
drivetrains, we’re not expecting any big changes to the underhood hardware. The
current X6 M runs a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 that sends 591 hp in
standard guise, or 617 hp when ordered with the Competition Package
seen here on the silver/gray car with the star-spoke wheels, to all four wheels
through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
But one area where the X6 M should offer
improved performance is the infotainment system. BMW is upgrading the entire X6 and X6 M range to its
latest iDrive technology and large touchscreen display fitted to the iX
electric SUV.
