First Look: 2013 BMW X6

The world’s first and only “sport activity coupe” is getting a light refresh for 2012 to go along with the new M model we previewed earlier this week. From an appearance standpoint the new X6 isn’t dramatically different, with the most notable change coming in the form of adaptive LED headlamps, a first for the segment. LEDs also make it into the taillights and help to create what BMW calls a more “intense” back end (although how the X6’s posterior can get any more intense, we aren’t totally certain). The trademark kidney grill remains, but the bars inside it have been angled to give it a more aggressive and upright look. Matte fog light surrounds along with new wheels and paint round out the cosmetic changes to the exterior.

An optional BluePerformance package on the diesel model adds urea injection and NOX catalyst storage to bring it more in line with the offerings from Mercedes and its own BlueTec products. An M Sport package will be available in Germany and features twenty-inch light alloy wheels, but ticking that option box will have a much more noticeable effect inside than out. Opting for the M Sport package wraps the memory function sport seats in Alcantra suede and Nappa leather, with contrast stitching. An M-spec leather steering wheel with shift paddles and stainless-steel pedals round out the interior improvements. BMW offers M Sport packages on many of its US models, so it isn’t outside the realm of possibility that North American buyers will be able to pickup a M Sport X6 in the near future.

Please scroll down for the official press release from BMW.

Unique – and now more exceptional than ever: the new BMW X6.

Munich. The BMW X6 is the world’s first ever Sports Activity Coupé, still a unique combination of sporty dynamics and supreme versatility and with further enhanced appeal from spring 2012. Selective modifications in design and innovative equipment features hone the profile of the new BMW X6 as a distinctive model within the premium segment of all-wheel-drive automobiles. Its exceptional standing and ongoing popularity is due to both its highly expressive design, combing the athletic and elegant lines of a coupé with the supremacy of a BMW X model, and the fascinating driving experience provided by powerful petrol and diesel engines fitted with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology and the intelligent all-wheel-drive system xDrive, including Dynamic Performance Control.
Since its market launch, more than 150,000 of the Sporty Activity Coupé were sold within approximately three years. This far exceeded the original plans. And the continuing high level of demand for the BMW X6 on the worldwide automobile markets is impressive confirmation of the unusual vehicle concept of the Sports Activity Coupé.

Striking accentuations at the front and rear, adaptive LED headlamps as a new option.
Precisely modified details in the front view give the new BMW X6 an appearance characterised by exclusive athleticism and supremacy. The standard fog lights are now set in matt finish surrounds in the upper area of the outer air inlets. Their higher and more lateral position emphasises the width of the vehicle. The striking three-dimensional modelling of the frame and newly designed bars, angled in the lower section, make the BMW kidney grille stand out especially conspicuously within the vehicle front section. The angle of the grille bars is flush with the bottom of the headlamp units, thereby creating an additional horizontal line which likewise highlights the wide track and stable road-holding of the new BMW X6.

As an alternative to the standard bi-xenon light, the new BMW X6 is the first vehicle in its segment to be fitted optionally with adaptive LED headlamps. Their bright white light ensures optimum visibility, while their high-quality appearance represents a new interpretation of the brand’s hallmark twin circular headlamps. The three-dimensionally shaped luminous rings of the adaptive LED headlamps are strikingly levelled off both at the top and bottom and are overlaid at the upper edge by an LED-fed accent light. The light sources for low and high beam light are LED units positioned on a horizontal bar at its centre, feeding their light into the reflectors in front. In the new BMW X6 M, adaptive LED headlights are fitted as standard.

With its newly designed rear lights with LED technology, the powerfully shaped rear section of the new BMW X6 also features more intense styling. The rear lights are now two LED-fed light banks which create the brand’s hallmark night design as a harmoniously glowing light mass. The fact that they are horizontally aligned and stretch far out to the sides emphasises both the width of the vehicle and the flowing transition between the side section and rear.

Attractive supplements to the program of external paint finishes, light alloy wheel and leather trim.
The program of external paint finishes for the new BMW X6 consists of two non-metallic and eight metallic colours, including Marrakech Brown metallic, Orion Silver metallic and Midnight Blue metallic. The standard equipment range of the new BMW X6 also includes 19-inch light alloy wheels. In the 8-cylinder model BMW X6 xDrive 50i these now feature a new double spoke design in bi-colour. The selection of light alloy wheels available as an option is supplemented with a 20-inch version in Y-spoke, bi-colour design. An optional feature for the BMW X6 is an engine compartment lid with strikingly shaped powerdome which additionally highlights the powerful appearance of the Sports Activity Coupé (not available in Germany).

The standard leather trim Nevada is now also available in the colour Vermilion Red. The exclusive nappa leather option with extended features now includes a choice between the colours Black and Ebony White. The new BMW X6 is offered as standard as a four-seater model. A three-seater rear bench is optionally available. The luggage compartment volume of the Sports Activity Coupé is 570 litres and can be extended to up to 1,450 litres by folding down the rear backrests.

As an additional option, the M Sport Edition is offered for the new BMW X6 in Germany. This attractive equipment package includes 20-inch M light alloy wheels in double spoke design and bi-colour finish with mixed tyres, adaptive LED headlamps, BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line, black surrounds for the fog lights and M door sill cover strips. The striking accentuations for the exterior are supplemented with a sporty interior ambience. Features here include the sports seats with electrical adjustment and memory function, M-specific Alcantara/Nappa leather combination in black with M-style welt and contrast stitching, M leather steering wheel with shift paddles, M driver footrest, stainless steel pedals, interior strips in Aluminium Flywheel black and the BMW Individual roof liner in anthracite.

The new BMW X6: dynamic, supreme, efficient, innovative.

With the market launch of the new BMW X6, the combination of supreme appearance, agile driving properties and hallmark brand efficiency so characteristic of the Sports Activity Coupé is raised to a new level. The petrol and diesel engines with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology available for the BMW X6 deliver impressive pulling power and exemplary low fuel consumption figures. The V8 engine of the BMW X6 xDrive50i delivers 300 kW/407 bhp, while in the BMW X6 xDrive35i an in-line 6-cylinder petrol engine with 225 kW/306 bhp ensures supreme athletic performance. The in-line 6-cylinder diesel engines of the models BMW X6 xDrive40d and BMW X6 xDrive30d mobilise 225 kW/306 bhp and 180 kW/245 bhp respectively. Both offer not only impressively sporty power delivery but also emission figures based on the EU test cycle of 7.5 litres per 100 kilometres for the BMW X6 xDrive40d and 7.4 litres for the BMW X6 xDrive30d.

For further reduction of nitrogen oxide (NOx) in the exhaust gas, the BMW X6 xDrive30d can also be fitted with optional BMW BluePerformance Technology as of spring 2012. Here, in addition to the standard components of diesel particulate filter and oxidation catalytic converter, the AdBlue system is used, with urea injection and an NOX catalyst storage which eliminates sulphur dioxide as well as nitrogen oxides. This means that the vehicle already meets the requirements for the EU6 emission standard which comes into effect from 2014.

An additional model version based on the new BMW X6 also lines up for the start at the same as the market launch of the latter. The BMW M Performance Automobile BMW X6 M50d sets a new benchmark for pulling power and efficiency with a newly developed 280 kW/381 bhp in-line 6-cylinder diesel engine. Its unique triple turbocharging gives the world’s most powerful standard in-line 6-cylinder diesel engine a thrust which sets in early on and is maintained right through to the high engine speed range. Its maximum torque is 740 Newton metres. One of the factors contributing to its exceptional efficiency – especially in relation to its output – is the new version of the common rail direct injection, whose piezo injectors apply a maximum pressure of 2,200 bar. With an acceleration rate of 5.3 seconds for the sprint from zero to 100 km/h, the BMW X6 M50d even outdoes 8-cylinder models, while its average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle is still only 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres. Its drivetrain, suspension technology and aerodynamic properties have been harmonised with the precision so characteristic of M.

As an additional product offer from BMW M GmbH, the specialists for high-performance sports cars, the BMW X6M with its V8 engine delivering 408 kW/555 bhp also benefits from detailed refinements in the area of design and equipment. The BMW X6 M is fitted with a 6-speed M Sport automatic transmission, also highlighting its individual status with such features as separately developed suspension technology.

In all other models, engine power is transferred by means of a standard 8-speed sports transmission including shift paddles at the steering wheel. Dynamic Performance Control is a standard feature in all versions of the BMW X6 as an element of the intelligent all-wheel drive system xDrive. This gives greater precision to the electronically controlled power distribution so as to optimise driving stability, traction and dynamic performance. It particularly comes to bear when taking bends in sporty style. Even as the car enters the bend, xDrive feeds additional power to the rear wheels so as to support an agile turn-in response. By means of continuously variable distribution of drive torque between the rear wheels, Dynamic Performance Control also optimises tracking stability under high transverse acceleration forces as well as traction when accelerating out of a bend. For additional enhancement of agility and supremacy, the systems Active Steering (not available for the BMW X6 M50d and the BMW X6 M) and Adaptive Drive (as standard in the BMW X6 M50d and the BMW X6 M) are offered with electronically controlled dampers and roll stabilisation.

The progressive character of the new BMW X6 is also underscored by the extensive range of driver assistance systems and mobility services from BMW ConnectedDrive. In addition to BMW Head-Up-Display, features available for the Sports Activity Coupé include the systems Lane Departure Warning (not for the BMW X6 M50d and the BMW X6 M), Speed Limit Info, Side View and Rear View camera with Top View. The new BMW X6 is also optimised by means of intelligent networking with the integration of smartphones and music players in the vehicle and the use of innovative infotainment functions.