Test drive BMW X6 E71 2008 - 2009 SUV

Bavarian remake

New class of cars, a unique design concept and dynamics at an unprecedented level
All this was already in the late 90s, when the BMW introduced the first X5. Now the story is repeated, only before the public is not a shifter of the most successful SUV of our time, but a derivative of it, which was borne, which was awarded not only his own name, but also absolute independence.
Bavarians do not hide that x6 variation on the topic of Sport Activity Vehicle, but at the same time they prefer to call x6 separate model. Indeed, despite the fact that the novelty is really built on the basis of X5 and even copies it in some ways, you can’t refuse identical to its identity. And first of all, because her nominal progenitor, even being a concept, never ceased to be an SUV. But the vehicle that the Germans proposed now, in the above frames fits with a huge stretch, because we are talking about a certain cocktail mixed from an SUV, hatchback and even a sportkup. However, such an approach has repeatedly brought Bavarians very decent dividends. Surely their investments will pay off this time.
By the way, in the hands of the secret agent known to the whole world, X6 would look at all worse than the permanent Aston Martin DBS. Having combined a rather low, but at the same time, a very wide complicated body with more than impressive road clearance and huge wheels, the Germans created not just another SAV, but something more original. On the one hand, traditionally sports-gourmet, but on the other is quite solid and presentable. And they called it Sports Activity Coupe.
At the same time, the manufacturer deliberately equalized all the ingredients of the cocktail, giving the observer the opportunity to set priorities on their own. True, with a well -fed banker respectability of the second X5, this car has little in common. If only the hood, the front side panels and, it seems, the head optics, is really more modern, but also much more dynamic than the parent SUV, approach the issue. In addition, the car has not yet become familiar with ours, and on European roads, so it will not be deprived of attention in the near future.
But at the same time, the Bavarians seemed to seem not only x6, like any other new BMW, attracted the eyes of others, simply appearing on the street, and they made it very loud (outside, of course). With an in-line 3-liter biturbo car on full gas growls as if under its hood at least five full-fledged V-shaped liters. Yes, and the car rides in about the same way: the 306-headed herd of the most thoroughbred horses, on every hundred of the city mileage of those who burn almost a third of the 80-liter fuel tank, is extremely emotional. I would not call the dynamics of this version of the novelty breathtaking or shocking, but when necessary, the car does not go, but flies. But in the arsenal x6 there is also an updated 4.4-liter V8 with the same pair of superchargers, 407 horsepower and 600 nm of thrust, available at 1750 revolutions. The novelty gains the first hundred on the speedometer in 5.4 seconds. Agree that further comments are unnecessary.
In principle, you can not talk about the dynamic features of the car. Firstly, everything that is located below the floor went from x5 in x6. And secondly, AdaptiveDrive, Active Steering, Dynamic Stability Control, Dynamic Performance Control and, of course, an intellectual XDRive is such an incomplete list of what can be installed optionally or is by default. Comfort, controllability, safety all this is provided at a very high level. Do not forget about cross -country ability. X6 albeit a derivative, but very high -quality and therefore worthy of its ancestor model. But X5, despite the established image of one of the most expensive and toothless parquet, sometimes moves more effectively than another honest rogue. Of course, in serious battles without a suspension adjustable in height and lowering, he was ordered, but he will cope with the average obstacles. There is nothing to say about the average gravel shanks: electronics work without failures, even at relatively high speeds. But here the car is still harsh, even active control of damping does not save.
On the other hand, it is unlikely that a person who has just spent on this car at least two and a half million rubles will go to experience a novelty for strength, especially when you can enjoy a different kind. Moreover, even despite the complete absence of any original details in the X6 interior. Here is the novelty an exact copy of the nominal donor, at least if we talk about the structure and ergonomics of the front seats, as well as the architecture of the front panel. On the other hand, the X5 interior is far from the worst example to follow.
Rather, on the contrary. The comfort of the driver and the neighboring passenger is provided at the highest level. For example, the only detail of the active front seats, which must be adjusted by hand, the ears of the headrests. And this despite the fact that literally everything moves in them, including the side pillows. The only bad luck will have to pay for them. There are some 39,000 rubles, which is just a penny in comparison with the starting price tag. However, with standard chairs, problems with the placement of passengers in the front row X6, of course, are excluded. Another thing is the back row. The Germans did not cunning, so there are only two seats. Instead of the central roller for the third passenger, a plastic niche. Although the engineers did not have any other choice: the salon is wide, but the height of the ceiling does not imply, and the supply of free legs for the legs is not so large, so that the novelty will be able to transport no more than four passengers for the flight. But again, it is doubtful that the inhabitants of the second row will appear here anymore regularly. As, however, the overall luggage in the corresponding compartment. Its nominal volume of only 570 liters, which, if desired, can be turned into 1450. Although, we repeat who is interested in
 
The victory in the virtual competition to create the first hybrid Sportkup and the crossover has already issued BMW, but in this desire the concern is by no means lonely. For example, Audi in the near future will make its fans with a kind of X6 with a Q5 index. Also, Mercedes-Benz and Land Rover have repeatedly been announced about the preparation of similar models. True, in the latter case, it was before the final transition of the brand under the control of the Indian Tata.

Competitors
Finally
Since the Bavarians again turned out to be ahead of the planet of all in the formation of Sports Activity Coupe, the X6 has no direct competitors, and in the near future they are unlikely to be. Potential buyers can only monitor the appearance of more or less significant new products not only in the SAC segment, but in the entire class of compact crossovers.
According to experts, the future of Volvo finally determined: the brand will be sold, and until the end of this year. Nevertheless, this does not prevent the Swedes from increasing their influence in the premium segment. The Russian premiere of the new compact crossover Volvo XC60 will take place at the upcoming Moscow auto show, while on sale it will appear closer to winter. Given the relatively low price of the model (the basic version of the XC60 with a 2.4-liter turbodiesel and a 6-speed manual transmission will cost 1,400,100 rubles), the demand for it will be quite high. But there is also the problem of quota: by the end of the year, only 300 cars will put importers in Russia in Russia.
BOSS
A similar appearance, a single chassis, identical sets of equipment in the absence of direct rivals, the formal ancestor of the world's first Sports Activity Coupe, in fact, can also be considered its main competitor. Firstly, the SUV differs from X6 with a more calm family design, as well as a more functional salon, which has not only a full-fledged trifle rear sofa, but also the third row of seats.
Nevertheless, there are more significant differences between the ancestor and the follower. Firstly, gasoline motors. The base 3-liter atmospheric x5 develops 272 hp. At the same time, the top V8 has a large volume (4.8 liters against 4.4 liters of x6), but at the same time with a lower power (355 horses instead of 407 for novelty). The starting price of the basic X5 is also below 2,367,000 rubles, while the dealers ask for at least 3,015,000 rubles for the top version, while the most powerful X6 will cost at least half a million more.
Vladimir Zhidkov
Photo author: Armen Meetarjyan
 

A source: MKOMBILA magazine [August/2008]