It seems the months between July and September 2023 will give BMW SAV lovers something to cheer about (Sports Activity Vehicle instead of SUV - Sports Utility Vehicle) with the local launch of the facelift X5 and X6.
BMW X5
The BMW X5 is the first X model ever in the BMW line up and as such its their bread and butter X models. The designers have played it safe with slimmer headlights featuring revised LED daytime light designs. Matrix LED headlights with adaptive control and BMW Selective Beam non-dazzling high beam, plus M Shadowline lights, are options. The illuminated kidney grille is now offered as an option on all models (previously only on 8 cylinder models). The vertical air curtains and the lower air intake, complete with decorative trim detail in Pearl-effect Chrome and triangular apertures in its outer areas, also contribute to the front design changes.
There are newly designed air breathers in the front side panels and the Exterior Line Satin Aluminium trim and roof rails in Satin Aluminium now come standard. 20-inch light-alloy wheels comes standard, 21-inch wheels for the range-topping model with up to 22 inches available as an option. At the back no much has been changed besides the L shaped lighting getting some slight updates.
BMW X6
The new BMW X6 also gains slim headlight units with arrow-shaped daytime driving light elements. As before, the BMW kidney Iconic Glow is offered as an option for the six-cylinder models. The lower front bumper design has been changed to follow the design seen on the XM models. The X6 now comes standard with the M Sport package.
As per the X5, the X6 comes standard with 20 inch wheels with options going up to 22 inches in size. M-specific side skirts and M High-gloss Shadowline trim are also part of the M Sport package.
The rear design has also not been fettled much with besides the rear apron getting Dark Shadow inserts, while the new exhaust tailpipe trims are now trapezoidal in shape.
Interior
Both models gain similar changes to the interior with the most obvious change coming in the form of the new BMW Curved Display made up of a 12.3-inch information display behind the steering wheel and a 14.9 inch infotainment screen both located behind a single glass surface. The optional BMW Live Cockpit Professional also treats customers to the BMW head-up display and Augmented View function. When the car is stationary, the driver and front passenger can also stream content from YouTube on the control display.
Another new feature is the ambient light bar with highly effective LED backlighting integrated below the trim element in the front passenger area. The relevant model lettering – “X5” or “X6” – is added to the light bar’s graphic; in the two flagship models it displays the M logo.
Available as an option are BMW Individual Merino extended leather upholstery, BMW Individual full Merino leather upholstery, active seat ventilation and a massage function. Updates include enhanced capabilities for the standard front-collision warning system, which can now also reduce the risk of a collision with cyclists, pedestrians or oncoming traffic when turning off a road. Among the options now available are automatic Speed Limit Assist, exit warning, route speed control, Emergency Stop Assistant, and Lane Change Assistant.
3 engines are offered, an 8 cylinder engine and two 6-cylinder engine (diesel and petrol). All the drive units now feature 48V mild hybrid technology that generate an output boost of up to 9 kW and 200 Nm of torque.
The 50i gets a 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine, with M TwinPower Turbo technology pushing 390 kW/750 Nm, enabling a 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds. The 40i gets a 3.0-litre turbo six cylinder engine with maximum output increased by 35 kW over the outgoing models to 280 kW, plus peak torque up by 70 Nm to 520 Nm. This can be boosted to as much as 540 Nm with the input of the mild hybrid system. 0 to 100 km/h disclaimed in 5.4 seconds. The new diesel engine joins forces with the mild hybrid system to produce maximum output of 219 kW and peak torque of 670 Nm. This enables both the new BMW X5 xDrive30d and new BMW X6 xDrive30d to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds. All of the engines now link up with a new eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission, complete with gearshift paddles on the steering wheel. They send their power to the road via the BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system.
There is a new Hybrid offering in the form of the 50e. This has the latest-generation six-cylinder in-line petrol engine and a similarly new electric motor team up to develop system output of 360 kW (including temporary boost effect) and combined torque of 700 Nm. The petrol engine’s nominal output of 230 kW whilst the electric motor integrated into the eight-speed Steptronic Sport transmission produces a nominal output of 145 kW (+62 kW). In addition, an innovative pre-gearing stage – used to increase the effective torque produced by the electric motor to a maximum 450 Nm at the transmission input for the motor – helps to provide even sharper power delivery. The BMW X5 xDrive50e accelerates from rest to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. The electric range of the new BMW X5 xDrive50e is 94 – 110 kilometres in the WLTP cycle.
Fitting adaptive suspension as standard, modifying the anti-roll bars in response to changes in weight distribution and strengthening them accordingly gives the new BMW X5 and new BMW X6 their signature blend of sporting versatility and excellent long-distance comfort. Adaptive M suspension, which comes as standard on both the range-topping models as well as the other variants of the new BMW X6, provides a particularly firm connection to the body.
