STATEMENTS STRAIGHT FROM DEVELOPMENT.

Walter Haupt on the BMW X5 M and BMW X6 M.

Statements straight from development.Walter Haupt on the BMW X5 M and BMW X6 M.

Walter Haupt works as an engineer at BMW M GmbH, where he has the primary responsibility for the development of the BMW X5 M (Fuel consumption in l/100 km (combined): 11.1. CO2 emissions in g/km (combined): 258) and the BMW X6 M (Fuel consumption in l/100 km (combined): 11.1. CO2 emissions in g/km (combined): 258). We met him in Austin, Texas on the Circuit of the Americas racetrack.

 

Mr. Haupt how do you manage to make a car like the X6 fit for the racetrack? SAV and SAC are actually more at home on other terrains

When building a high-performance sports activity vehicle or sports activity coupé, it’s not enough to simply boost the performance specifications of the series vehicle. Our challenge – to bring about a motorsport feeling – is not only achieved by the engine performance, but by integrating our motorsport know-how.

 

How do the two BMW M models differ from their series counterparts?

The body of the BMW X5 M and BMW X6 M only has a few components from the series. Whether engine, cooling system, transmission or suspension – every component relevant to performance and driving dynamics has been scrutinised and modified. We even had to develop something new in order to be able to achieve the highest performance when used in the extreme driving limits areas. We have two vehicles with extreme performance potential. Compared to their predecessors, there is a clear advantage in terms of performance and torque, which is available to the cars right up to the limits of extreme driving. Naturally, that also delivers even more driving pleasure.

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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.

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The BMW X6 M on the racetrack.

"You just have to smile once you step out of the car.”

Normally, DTM drivers sit lower. Yet, Timo Glock, Marco Wittmann and Joey Hand are still impressed. On the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, they tested Walter Haupt’s claims.

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Further information about the official fuel consumption and the official specific CO2 emissions for new passenger automobiles can be found in the 'New Passenger Vehicle Fuel Consumption and CO2 Emission Guidelines', which are available free of charge at all sales outlets, from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern, Germany, or under http://www.dat.de/en/offers/publications/guideline-for-fuel-consumption.html. The figures are not based on an individual vehicle and do not constitute part of the product offer; they are provided solely for the purposes of comparison between different vehicle types. CO2 emissions caused by the production and provision of fuel or other energy sources are not taken into account in the determination of CO2 emissions pursuant to Directive 1999/94/EC.

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All vehicles, equipment, combination possibilities and varieties shown here are examples and can differ in your country. In no way do they constitute a binding offer by the BMW M GmbH. Visit your local BMW website or see your authorised BMW M Retailer for accurate details on the offers in your country.

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