Say the words crossover coupe, or SAV (Sports
Activity Vehicle) as dealers like to call it, and one of the first models that
pops to mind is the BMW X6. And rightly so, as this was the model that
practically invented the whole niche.
The Germans launched the first generation 11 years
ago, and its commercial success forced arch rivals Mercedes-Benz and Audi to
come up with their own entries, the GLE Coupe and the Q8 – and, of course,
there’s a whole lot of other manufacturers, premium or not, who followed suit.
The third-gen X6 premiered a couple of months ago
and made its public debut at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show today. It sports a
more aggressive look than its predecessor, with a larger grille, redesigned
lighting units, sloping roofline with a double-bubble design and a couple of
thin spoilers, and several large wheel options to go with that big body.
Designed to cocoon occupants, the interior is very
similar to the latest X5, bar a few visual changes here and there. The quality of
the materials is top-notch and there’s a latest-gen infotainment system and a
digital instrument cluster, each with a 12.3-inch display; options include
features such as heated and cooled cup holders, four-zone climate control, a
Bowers & Wilkins Diamond premium sound system, head-up display, panoramic
glass roof and Merino leather.
You have probably noticed the M50i badge on the
tailgate of the X6 displayed at Frankfurt, which, in BMW’s naming scheme,
signals the presence of a 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V8 under the hood. This unit
churns out 530 PS and 750 Nm of torque, and
allows for a 0-100 km/h sprint in just 4.2 seconds.
The M50i will lead the new X6 pack until the X6 M
arrives, probably before the end of the year or in early 2020. The third-gen X6
will launch in the U.S. in November, with prices starting at US$ 65,295 for the
regular variant and US$ 86,645 for the M50i, destination charge included.
