Just a few weeks after the debut of the facelifted X5 and X6, BMW has launched the performance flagships of the range. The 2024 X5 M and X6 M are now exclusively offered in Competition form, featuring sharper styling, the latest curved digital cockpit, and a revised V8 engine with the addition of a 48V mild-hybrid system.
Same Power But With Electrified Performance
On paper, the updated Competition models produce the same 617 hp (460 kW / 625 PS) and 553 lb-ft (750 Nm) of torque as their predecessors. However, the twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 has been mildly electrified with a 48V system and sports several upgrades to its internals (reinforced crankshaft, updated turbochargers, cross-bank exhaust manifold, new intake duct, etc) changing its designation from S63 to S68. The electric motor from the 48V mild-hybrid system has been integrated within the eight-speed M Steptronic transmission, which benefits from shorter gearing and quicker changes
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BMW says that the upgraded and electrified powertrain results in “sharper response and increased efficiency” compared to the outgoing unit. Still, there is no change in the performance credentials, as the 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) sprint is completed in 3.7 seconds and the top speed is limited to 155 mph (250 km/h) or 177 mph (285 km/h) with the optional M Driver’s Package. It’s worth noting that this these are the first BMW M models featuring mild-hybrid tech, as the electrified XM has a plug-in-hybrid powertrain.
Standard performance features include the M xDrive all-wheel-drive system, the Active M Differential at the rear, the M Sport exhaust with electronically controlled flaps, M Compound Brakes, and the Adaptive M Suspension Professional with a refined setup, all of which will help you extract the best possible performance out of the V8.
Sharper Exterior And More Kit Inside The Cabin
In the styling department the M-badged SUVs adopt the slimmer LED headlights and the X-shaped LED taillight graphics as with the lesser variants, but combine them with version-specific bodykits and larger diameter alloy wheels (21-inch front / 22-inch rear). The revised kidney grille, the XM-inspired trim that connects it with the lower bumper intake, the front splitter, the quad exhaust pipes, and the diffuser are all finished in black, as with the badges. Furthermore, the color palette has been expanded with the new Brooklyn Grey metallic, Isle of Man Green metallic, and Frozen Pure Grey metallic shades, alongside 50 special colors from BMW Individual.
One of the most important upgrades is the introduction of the BMW Curved Display, which gradually finds its way into the entire BMW lineup. The curved panel features a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch infotainment screen running on the BMW Operating System 8. The screens feature M-specific graphics, and the Head-Up Display is also included. The driver can select preferred settings through the M Setup menu, which is accessible through a single button shortcut on the center console.
Among the new features introduced by the facelift are the ambient light bar on the dashboard featuring a crystalline surface structure, and the carbon gearshift paddles. Both models come standard with carbon fiber interior trim (with optional Fineline Black wood or Silver Ash Root Open Pore wood), an M leather steering wheel, Merino leather upholstery, heated seats, a Harman Kardon audio system, and a panoramic moonroof. Highlights from the options list include the fancier Bowers & Wilkins audio system, the soft-close doors, the Panoramic Sky Lounge LED roof, as well as the heated, ventilated, and massaging seats.
In terms of ADAS, the standard Parking Assistance Professional has been expanded with the addition of the Reversing Assitant and the Maneuver Assistant, which are able to remember and remotely reproduce certain steering movements for a distance of up to 200 m.
The 2024 BMW X5 M and X6 M will make their public debut at the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance in March, with production starting at the Spartanburg plant in April. Pricing starts from $122,300 for the X5 M and from $127,200 for the X6 M, not including the $995 destination and handling fees. For a good measure, those figures represent an increase of $13,700 and $9,600 respectively compared to when the current generation X5 M and X6 M originally debuted in the 2019 MY.
