BMW X6

Cars like the Tata Curvv and Citroen Basalt might have pioneered the SUV-coupe bodystyle in the Indian mass market segment, but it was BMW with the X6 which first introduced this body style on our shores. And now, the carmaker is back with it again with the launch of the BMW X6 M60i xDrive. The SUV-coupe (BMW calls it an SAV - sports activity vehicle) is a fully imported model, priced at Rs 1.78 crore (ex-showroom). And that price puts it against some heavyweights of the SUV performance range with rivals like the Porsche Cayenne Coupe, Audi SQ8, and Land Rover Range Rover Sport available for you to choose from. 

Even with the BMW’s V8 and unique styling, when brands like Porsche and Range Rover are used in the same sentence, it is easy to undermine the capabilities of the BMW X6 M60i xDrive. But this bimmer might just have the makings of one of the best M products on sale in India today.

How so? Let’s see what it offers:

Immediate attention. The BMW X6 M60i xDrive commands road presence purely on the basis of its stance and bodystyle, for starters. It looks butch and aggressive, but also sporty at the same time.

The nose is actually pretty similar to an X5, but with the quotient of purpose dialled up to eleven. The fabled Kidney Grille takes centre stage, making sure the X6 has big enough nostrils to feed in cool air if the vents down below aren’t sufficient. The LED headlights are sleek, and the dual angular LED elements look sharp. 

The bumper too is high on sharpness with angular elements and side events at the edges. We love the contrast of Piano Black on the bumper, but it is going to be hard to keep it clean and scratch-free. And unlike many BMW’s on the road in India, the M badge on its grille is actually true to its identity.

Leave it to BMW to make the side profile of a car with a sloping roofline look sharp. In all honesty, we would’ve liked the rake towards the rear to be slightly lower in order to give the car a sportier stance, but it is hard to complain when the front fender of the SUV has cuts in it. Courtesy of the M Sport package, the M exterior mirrors, the side skirts and the 21-inch light-weight alloy wheels that look properly sporty. The alloy wheels, its spokes, and the red callipers look intricate, but sporty. Just behind the front wheels, there’s an M60i badge.

At the rear, the sleek LED tail lights make the rear even more powerful with their stretched effect. And courtesy of the M Sport package once again, the car gets quad tailpipes. The black finish for the bumper might look like its carbon fibre, but it’s not. 

The X6 badge sits on the left, while the M60i badge sits on the right, both just below the tail lights. 

BMW offers the X6 M60i xDrives in six colour options to choose from– Aventurine Red, Manhattan Metallic, Brooklyn Grey, Black Sapphire, Mineral White and Isle of Man Green. If you want further personalisation, BMW is offering + BMW Individual special paintwork shades, including solid and matte finishes. 

Overall, one thing is guaranteed; one look at the X6 M60i xDrive and you know this is no ordinary BMW. People will know it is a special car and not just because of its SUV-coupe bodystyle.

If you are a BMW fanboy or just happen to follow what BMW has been doing with its new launch in India, you’ll just need one look at the interior to know it is not the same design language followed by its new-age products like the currently on sale BMW X3 and BMW 5 Series.

The steering wheel is chunkier, the dashboard isn’t polarising and there aren’t any questionable material choices (at least on paper), so ultimately, it is a good thing. The design is still very BMW, but it has a predominant dark theme, although you can have 5 shade options for the lower half and seat upholstery. The interior upholstery options are: Silverstone, Tacora Red/Black, Black and Cognac. BMW is going a step beyond and also offering bespoke finished with BMW Individual extended leather trim ‘Merino’ in Ivory white, coffee, tartufo and black.

As for the design, the horizontal layout emphasises the width of the cabin, which is slightly tilted towards the driver for a cockpit-like feel. That feel is further helped with the dual curved displays that rest on the same bezel. I particularly liked the strip of angular slats on the passenger side dashboard, which ultimately led to the M moniker, which adds a special feel to the cabin. 

There is a physical volume knob, however, all climate control functions (except for ventilated seats) have been sadly integrated into the screen. You do get loads of physical buttons and toggles on the central console though, for your drive modes, ride hide settings and even media.

The front seats are quilted, have electronic adjustment with lumbar support and also have ventilation for cooling. 

The features list of the BMW X6 M60i xDrive include creature comforts like keyless entry, digital key, push button start stop, 3-zone climate control, powered and ventilated front seats, as well as a 464-watt 16 speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system. You can also opt for driver and front passenger massaging seats which have eight different programs with three levels of intensity. 

As for the tech package, the dual screen setup involves a 14.9 inch infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple Carplay along with a 12.3-inch information display for the driver. The driver also gets a head-up display. 

The safety package of the BMW X6 M60i xDrive includes six airbags, ABS with EBD, dynamic stability control with traction control, tyre pressure monitoring system, ISOFIX mount, cornering brake control, and electric parking brake with auto hold. 

For easier parking, it gets a 360-degree camera and a parking assistant that can also reverse back in the same path of the last recorded 200 metres of driving. BMW is also offering it with a tyre repair kit.

What makes the BMW X6 M60i xDrive special aren’t the things you can see on the surface, but whatever BMW has done underneath the skin. At the heart of it is the 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine assisted via a 48V mild-hybrid system. It is an X Drive model, so of course, power goes to all the four wheels, and the gearing duties are done by an eight-speed automatic transmission. Before we talk about other clever electronic stuff, here are the specifications:

The X6 M60i xDrive isn’t all just about its engine. BMW has thrown a lot of clever electronics and mechanical components at it to make sure the handling complements the performance. For starters, BMW claims a 50:50 weight distribution between the front and rear axle – a good news for balance.

And then there’s the M adaptive suspension, which can adjust the softness and firmness of the ride to make it more comfortable, or taut around corners. It also has variable ratio steering with M sport differential and brakes, and while these might not mean much to common people, enthusiasts know this means serious business.

In theory and on paper, the BMW X6 M60i xDrive looks compelling. It has that aggressive BMW character inside-out, and even underneath its SUV-coupe bodystyle, things look really promising. Things like a V8 and clever adaptive suspension might be enough to convince a few people. But with rivals like the Porsche and the Range Rover and their corresponding brand reputation in picture, the X6 X6 M60i xDrive will have to do more than just look different.