STATEMENTS STRAIGHT FROM DEVELOPMENT.

Why even develop such a car – or to put it another way: are we still even talking about a SAV or SAC?

Of course. We haven’t changed the make-up of the body. Yet, when behind the wheel of the BMW X5 M and the BMW X6M, you quite quickly forget that you are in a car weighing up to 2.3 tonnes. The light-footedness and agility with which both cars can move on the Nordschleife, for example, is enormous. The engine turns extremely fast at the peak torque limits, and brings a nearly inexhaustible potential almost perfectly onto the road thanks to the 8-speed M Steptronic transmission with Drivelogic. And thanks to the M Servotronic and M compound braking system, the handling is incredibly precise and controlled. So manoeuvres like drifts are possible with the cars.

So are the cars designed more for the racetrack or for the road?

For both. Even in extreme driving situations, the cars offer more power reserves and deliver superior performance. However, driving comfort in everyday life is not diminished. On the contrary: thanks to the finely graduated automatic transmission and the air suspension on the rear axle with variable damper control, both cars can be comfortably operated even in everyday driving situations.

So are they genuine M models?

Absolutely. The key phrase “overall concept harmony” fits exactly with what the BMW X5 M and the BMW X6 offer. The total package of both vehicles is fine-tuned right down to the last detail. It is not surprising, therefore, that in the BMW X segment, they provide an unrivalled M-typical driving experience with the highest degree of authenticity. There has never been so much M in a BMW X model before.

Thank you for the interview, Mr. Haupt.