The new 2010 BMW X6 M performance crossover is the sort of vehicle that's hard to figure on paper. A 555-horsepower twin-turbo V8, hatchback body style, SUV ride height, four seats, limited hauling capability -- it all sounds like a recipe for irrelevance. Yet the X6 M wears the distinctive "M" badge of BMW's Motorsport division, and that's something BMW doesn't take lightly. Purists may scoff at the presence of not one but two SUVs in this exclusive ultra-performance club (the mechanically identical X5 M is also new this year), but one drive in the X6 M should be enough to convince you that it's a worthy member.
Why? Two simple reasons. First, it's really fast. Along with the 555 hp, there's 501 pound-feet of torque from the V8 to motivate this 2.5-ton vehicle. In fact, those 555 horses are 5 more than the gonzo Porsche Cayenne Turbo S can manage, and the Porsche's no lightweight either. A sprint between the two is likely to be a wash -- no small accomplishment for the X6 M given that it costs about $35,000 less.
Second, its handling capabilities are like those of a sport sedan. Standard 20-inch performance tires and a special sport-tuned adaptive suspension certainly help, but a lot of crossovers have such features these days. The X6 M's trump card here is what BMW calls "Dynamic Performance Control," a sophisticated torque distribution system that works in conjunction with all-wheel drive to apportion power to aid traction as well as overall handling balance.
On the downside, the X6 M is one of the least versatile crossover SUVs we've tested. Maximum cargo capacity is only marginally more than you'll find in some economy hatchbacks. There's room for just four occupants, so you can forget about carrying a fifth person in a pinch. At least the V8's 501 lb-ft of torque yields a healthy maximum tow rating of 6,600 pounds. Still, that's about the only practical feature that gives the X6 M an edge over, say, the five-passenger M5 sedan. More to the point, its X5 M sibling offers the same performance along with superior practicality.
But let's be honest -- a vehicle like this isn't about practicality at all. It's about passion, performance and individual expression. In this sense, the 2010 BMW X6 M actually isn't a bad fit with the BMW M tradition. Its rivals certainly deserve close looks, including the various V8-powered Porsche Cayenne models, the Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG, BMW's own X5 M and the much cheaper Infiniti FX50. But the X6 M is one of the most capable and unconventional crossovers ever produced, and for some well-heeled buyers, that's likely to be enough.
