BMW’s OG SUV and its coupe version have received its latest set of updates. The latest updates mainly add more hybrid tech and ADAS features.
The new X5 & X6 now sport slimmer headlights with arrow shaped DRLs that turn into indicators just to make the direction of turning a little more clear to oncoming traffic! Moreover, the cars get optional illuminated kidney grilles, vertical air curtains on the bumpers and a lower air intake with triangular shapes covering it.
At the back, the cars get new redesigned bumpers and new fiber-optic lights in a X-shaped motif. In addition, the X6 also gets a new gloss black upper spoiler.
The new X5 & X6 get the normal–ish kidney grilles that do not resemble Bugs Bunny’s face unlike their elder brother. The new X6 gets a twin-bar kidney grille with an M logo, gloss black mirror caps, and quad tailpipes to make the V-8 sing. The new X6 also gets an M-design front apron, gloss black roof rails and Shadowline trim, along with a trapezoidal tailpipe surround at the back. The M Sport Professional package builds on that with matte black trim finishes, black chrome tailpipes, and M Sport brakes with red or blue calipers. While all of this can be optioned onto the X5 too, it is not available with the X6's optional M Sport exhaust system. The cars can be optioned with 20, 21 or even 22-inch wheels.
BMW has introduced quite a few of new colours but, it’s not like the old times, gone are the exciting colours, and here are the different shades of grey. But I guess that’s what people are buying these days! The new colours include, Marina Bay Blue Metallic, Blue Ridge Mountain Metallic, Brooklyn Grey Metallic, Skyscraper Grey Metallic, and Frozen Pure Grey Metallic.
The new X5 and X6's cabins have a combined 27.3-inch screen, with a 12.3-inch unit behind the driver's steering wheel and a curved 14.9-inch touchscreen unit for the dashboard. Both screens are housed behind a single continuous glass surface and run BMW's iDrive 8 user interface programme, which includes gesture control and voice activation. It integrates a long crystal ambient light bar with a choice of 15 colours, conceals the newly covert thin air apertures, and conceals the thin air vents themselves. The redesigned selector toggle, stop-start button, and iDrive controller now have glass finishes as part of the Executive package, which is an option.
The plug-in-hybrid X5 xDrive50e powertrain adds a 25.7 kWh battery pack which, in tandem with the 3.0L turbocharged inline-6 engine puts out 483Hp and 702Nm of torque with a pure EV driving range of upto 64km. The other powertrain is the entry level xDrive40 which has the same 3.0L inline-6 with mild hybridization for a total system output of 375Hp and 521Nm of torque. The M60i models get a blazing 4.4L turbocharged V8 with a 48V mild hybrid system to make 523Hp and 750Nm of torque. Now, V8 and I6 models with the optional M Sport package get a new Sport function, where pulling on the left shifter paddle for one second engages the lowest possible gear and everything switched to its sportiest setting with electric boost enabled for a "sprint" of quicker acceleration.
These two models coming to India is more a matter of when than being a matter of if. Especially considering that the X6 got removed from the marque’s website a few weeks ago. It would be amazing to see these refreshed SUVs scamping about Indian streets.
Words: Sresht Garg
