Post the lockdown, German luxury carmaker BMW has been actively launching cars across all ends of the spectrum. While the more affordable M2 Gran Coupe has been attracting more attention, the performance SUV offerings have also got many excited. In the past few weeks BMW has launched not one but two of them. It began with the first ever X3 M, which is the most powerful straight-six petrol engine ever to see action in a BMW M car. And then came the even more powerful X5 M Competition, which offers an even more powerful V8 engine. While the former is priced at Rs 99.90 lakh, the bigger X5 M will set you back by a cool Rs 1.94 crore (ex-showroom).
BMW X3 M
The exterior design of the X3 M takes the typical muscular proportions shared by all BMW X models. It’s got a long wheelbase, short overhangs, slightly hexagonal wheel arches, crisp lines and yes the tell-tale M features also make an appearance. The front sports a BMW kidney grille with black double bars while the signature M gills are integrated into the air breathers on the front flanks. The car also gets M design mirrors which help in reducing the aerodynamic drag while 20-inch M light-alloy wheels come as standard.
The M-style cockpit design has electrically adjustable sports seats with memory, leather upholstery, ambient lighting, an M-specific instrument cluster & a restyled M selector lever. Along with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, the car gets a voice control feature along with the optional BMW gesture control. In addition to this, the car also gets wireless charging, a large panoramic sunroof and there’s also a 40:20:40 split-folding rear backrest, enabling luggage capacity to be increased to a maximum of 1,600 litres.
At the heart is a newly developed 6-cylinder in-line engine that promises a typical M high-revving character. It generates a maximum output of 480 hp from its 3.0-litre displacement and together with peak torque of 600 Nm goes from 0-100 kmph in 4.2 seconds, with a top speed of 250 kmph. An eight-speed M Steptronic transmission does the duty here and uses the new M xDrive all-wheel-drive system. This system has a rear-wheel bias and offers four driving modes. The centrally controlled interaction between M xDrive & the Active M Differential at the rear axle allows the all-wheel-drive system to split the engine’s power between the four wheels as required to deliver optimal traction, agility & directional stability.
BMW X5 M COMPETITION
The SUV features both a roof and lower tailgate spoiler as part of their aerodynamic enhancements. The car gets exclusive ‘M’ light-alloy wheels in 21-inch format at the front axle and 22-inch at the rear. And yes you also get the option of BMW Laserlight that offers selective beam and no dazzling high beam function with a range of around 500 meters. The interior cockpit design draws inspiration from the racetrack and the familiar M treatment is evident here as well. Be it the red splashes of colour on the M leather steering wheel’s buttons or the integrated head rests on the multifunction seats, the sport feel is there to experience.
This one too gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen along with iDrive touch controller, multifunction steering wheel’s buttons, voice control along with the optional BMW gesture control. It also gets wireless charging and a harman kardon surround sound system. Rear seat entertainment professionals and Bowers and Wilkins diamond surround sound system are optionally available while there are many other high-quality bespoke options of paintwork and interior trims.
The latest-generation 4.4 litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine ensures a maximum output of 600 hp and a peak torque of 750 Nm. The car sprints from 0-100 kmph in just 3.8 seconds and achieves a top speed of 250 kmph which is electronically limited. An 8-speed M Steptronic automatic transmission is here as well and it adjusts from smooth to aggressive with the three-stage Drivelogic shifting system. The steering wheel paddle shifters and cruise control with braking function come as standard and there’s launch control function as well.
The car features an M-specific adaptive suspension with electronically controlled dampers, active roll stabilisation system and M Servotronic steering support ensuring good comfort. And the ‘M’ compound brakes offer a good bite. Even the braking offers two settings for brake pedal feel—Comfort and Sport. The M mode button on the centre console features a Track mode in addition to Road and Sport mode settings, which is exclusively designed for use on race circuits. In Sport and Track modes, the amount of information appearing on the displays is reduced offering a focused, high-performance experience.