Test drive BMW X6 E71 2008 - 2009 SUV

The impossible is possible

BMW X6. Price: from 2 593 700 rubles. On sale: since the summer of 2008
It is hard to believe that a sports compartment can weigh more than two tons. Nevertheless, BMW has proved the opposite by creating its X6. The size of an ordinary SUV, it is able to ride no worse than a real sports car. This was confirmed by tests at the Dmitrovsky auto policy

Test pilot
Maxim Egorov, 23 years old, automobile journalist, driving experience of 5 years, personal car Mitsubishi Lancer
BMW does not stop surprising. Each unit, whether it is a gearbox or engine, is brought to perfection. Despite its considerable size, the BMW X6 is a full -fledged compartment. True, the discoverer of this class is difficult to call this model. She was preceded by Infiniti FX and Ssangyong Actyon. But unlike them, X6 has a pronounced sports character, so the language does not turn to call the Japanese and Korean direct competitors.
The popular X5 has become a kind of donor X5. Moreover, this applies to the interior, and the exterior, and the technical part. In particular, a new model is 4 cm lower and 5 cm wider. It seems to be a trifle, but at the expense of other bumpers and lines of the X6 body, it looks more dynamic. Opening the massive door and sitting behind the wheel, everything will not succeed in finding differences from X5. But it is worth it to turn back and immediately understand that the car is designed only for four people. Instead of a triple sofa, a double is installed, separated by a tunnel with two cup holders and boxes for trifles. Due to the sloping roof, the space above the head decreased by 35 mm, but this is difficult to determine without measurements. The luggage compartment volume is 570 liters. If you fold the rear seats, the volume increases to 1450 liters. X5 has 300 liters more.
An active chassis has been installed on X6, exactly the same as on X5. The steering system is complemented by the Active Steering gearbox and the Adaptive Drive suspension necessary to improve handling. This equipment is included in standard equipment. X6 from x5 is distinguished by a gearbox and the active rear differential Dynamic Performance Control (DPC). The advanced ZF automatic machine is now even faster switches the gears. For example, in sport mode, it immediately goes two steps lower. But without the rear differential DPC, the brand new X6 would hardly show such good handling. DPC redistributes the torque between the rear wheels. Transfer to the loaded wheel of most of the moment provides a car march during maneuvers, which allows you to make turns at higher speed.
The weight of the BMW X6 is more than two tons, but the weighting along the axes is close to the ideal. The front axle accounts for 50.8% of weight, in the back of 49.2%. Schildes 3.5i mean that under the hood there is a row six with a volume of 2979 cm3. There was no turbine, otherwise the power would be much less.
So, the motor gives 306 hp. At revolutions from 5800 to 6250. The maximum moment 400 nm develops at 1300 min-1 and does not decrease up to 5000 min-1. Such engine characteristics are enough to type 100 km/h for 6.7 s. Polygon tests confirmed the veracity of these parameters. If you continue to accelerate, the speed of 140 km/h will be reached after 12.7 s, and 180 km/h through 23.2 s. At such speeds, you involuntarily think about the brake abilities of a two -ton compartment. X6 shows good and stable results. To stop with 100 km/h, he needs 44 m, and from 190 km/h 144 m.
As befits a sports car, the steering wheel of X6 is tangibly heavy. The information content is appropriate, although there is some emptiness in the near -Stolium zone, which disappears in sport mode. The difference in the passage of figures in ordinary and sports modes is noticeable. Reactions, both in management and in the work of all systems, become more acute. This can be judged by the figures for the passage of high -speed rearrangements. The difference is about 3 km/h 135.2 km/h (Sport) against 132.9 (Normal). With an increase in speed, X6 does not try to shove the front axle, but sedately slides with all four wheels, connecting systems such as ESP and DCP. But there are certain dangers: x6 allows a lot, however, the price of error increases with a set of speed.
The car is striking in the constancy of the results in a loaded and unloaded state. The numbers differ by no more than 1 kilometer. In addition, X6 boasts with the diameter of the turn, which is 12.2 m. A good result for a car with a length of 4877 mm.
The BMW X6 can be safely called the next miracle of the Bavarian concern, proving that the impossible is sometimes possible. And it seems that there can be nothing better. But x6 3.5i is the weakest version of the novelty. A little later, a machine will appear, equipped with a 5-liter V-shaped eight. It will be fun!

Technology race
The appearance of any news from BMW is always accompanied by another technological breakthrough. It is no longer a secret that BMW engineers are one of the best in the construction of engines and transmission. The appearance of a completely new and unusual car X6 could not go just like that. The car is equipped with new engines, some of which have already managed to light up in the world automobile industry. The 35i engine, which is basic for the X6, has already been awarded two Awards of the Engine of the Year contest. He received these awards for combining direct injection and two turbines in himself. The 35i motor is in a row six, each of the turbines works with the three cylinders. As a result, 306 hp from a three -liter volume. And the moment of 400 Nm, which is available in a very large speed range from 1300 to 5000! The next engine, which first of all appears on X6, and then on other BMW models, will be a V-shaped eight of 4.4 liters. The principle of building the engine is similar to 35i, direct injection and two turbines for each cylinder block. But to make the engine as compact as possible, the turbochargers were located in the collapse of the cylinders. The 50i engine will develop a power of 407 hp, and the torque will be 600 nm.
Expert
Eduard Shivorshinov, 36 years old, test engineer, driving experience of 18 years, travels to the MB G300 TD
Tests at the training ground give a definite answer about the dynamic capabilities x6. This BMW destroys all the laws of physics. Having large sizes and mass, it is controlled by predictable and comparable to some light sportsmen.

Our assessment
BMW managed to create the unique car that, with futuristic appearance, is a storehouse of technology. X6 a car that combined the size of an SUV and the controllability of a sports car.
 
Body
+ Unusual design
- imperfect visibility back
Driving comfort
+ spacious salon and trunk
- From behind only two places
Power unit
+ The traction motor
+ acceptable fuel consumption
Cherry properties
+ energy -intensive and elastic suspension
+ High information control
Safety
+ abundance of pillows and systems of active and passive safety
Environmental friendliness
+ compliance with all toxicity standards

Author: Maxim Egorov
Photo: Sergey Krestov
 

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [November 2008]