E71 development began in 2003 under Peter Tuennermann, after start of
E70 X5 development in 2001. Design work by E70 X5 designer Pierre Leclercq was frozen in 2005, with test mules being run from the summer of 2005 and prototypes being tested from late 2006. Production began on December 3, 2007. The X6 marks BMW's first use of its new
Dynamic Performance Control system, which works in unison with
xDrive all-wheel drive, both being standard on the X6. DPC is a drivetrain and chassis control system that works to regulate
traction and especially correct over- and understeer by actively spreading out drive forces across the rear axle.
Torque is distributed not only between the front and rear wheels (xDrive) but also from side to side at the rear, for improved agility and added stability (through the DPC rear axle). This lateral distribution of torque is commonly known as
torque vectoring. The DPC differential features clutch packs on both output sides that are actuated by an electric motor. The clutch pack activates a
planetary gearset which causes one wheel to be
overdriven. A conventional control system will use the brakes to reduce the speed of the faster moving wheel (which is the one with less traction) and reduce engine power. This leads to increased brake wear and slower than optimal progress. The DPC system speeds up the slower moving wheel (the one with the most traction) in order to maintain stability when needed. For example; while turning, the outer wheel is overdriven to provide greater acceleration using the traction advantage through the dynamic loading of the outboard wheel in cornering. In an oversteer situation, the inner wheel is overdriven to regain traction balance. Initially only available with four seats, a five-seat variant was available for the 2012 model year onwards. File:2008-2012 BMW X6 (E71) xDrive35d wagon (2018-09-03) 02.jpg|Rear view File:BMW X6 xDrive35d Cockpit.jpg|Interior File:BMW X6 E71 facelift 01 China 2015-04-13.jpg|BMW X6 (facelift)
X6 M In April 2009, the X6 M version was announced, with a version of the
BMW S63 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine. The BMW X6 M and
X5 M are the first vehicles from
BMW M GmbH to have
xDrive all-wheel-drive system and automatic transmissions, and are also crossovers as opposed to passenger cars. The X6 M was unveiled at the
2009 New York Auto Show and first went on sale in September 2009. The high-performance
M derivative features a twin scroll twin turbo version of the 4.4-litre V8
BMW S63 engine with the Cylinder-bank Comprehensive Manifold (CCM). The engine is rated at 6,000 rpm and at 1,500–5,650 rpm. The car can accelerate from in 4.5 seconds and in 4.7 seconds. M Performance Parts were available for the X6 M. These include black kidney grilles, a carbon fibre spoiler, steel pedals, a sport steering wheel and M rims.
ActiveHybrid X6 (E72) The
BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid is the concept vehicle of
BMWs first full-hybrid vehicle and was revealed at the
Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung Frankfurt in September 2007. BMWs first mild-hybrid
BMW Concept 7 Series ActiveHybrid Generation 1 was revealed at the
Paris Motor Show in October 2008. Both cars made their market debuts at the end of 2009 and the X6 Hybrid can drive in pure electrical mode at low speeds. The Active Hybrid 7 Generation 1 does not have this ability. The BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid uses the V8 Twin Turbo with High Precision Injection that powers the BMW X6 xDrive50i. A defining feature of the BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid is its Two-Mode active transmission, an innovative technology that controls the interplay of the electrical motors and the internal combustion engine. The car can operate in two modes: mode 1 delivers high torque when pulling away from a standing start and at low speeds, while mode 2 is suited for higher speeds. The result is that the car always uses the available power resources in the most efficient possible way, whatever speed it is travelling at. The ActiveHybrid X6 made its world premiere at the
Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in September 2009. In late 2009, BMW introduced an X6 featuring a version of the
Global Hybrid Cooperation hybrid vehicle drivetrain, popularly known as the two-mode hybrid system. This car was confirmed as being called the BMW ActiveHybrid X6, and it is the world's most powerful hybrid vehicle; it is not sold in the UK. The production vehicle was unveiled alongside a 7 Series hybrid at the
2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. The ActiveHybrid X6 went on sale in December 2009 in the US market with a base price of US$89,765 (~$ in ). The drive system featured in the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 consists of a V8 power unit with BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology and two electric motors developing and, respectively, . Maximum system output is and peak torque is . BMW ActiveHybrid technology offers the driver three significant options: to drive under electric power alone, to use the power of the combustion engine, or to benefit from the combination of both drive modes for short periods of maximum acceleration, using the maximum. Driving completely free of in the electric mode is possible up to a speed of . The hybrid also employs stop-start technology and other energy saving measures to help improve efficiency. The core-vehicle is however very heavy and the petrol power unit limits the extent to which fuel consumption can be reduced in absolute terms. The Turbo-Diesel models in the X6 range use less fuel, for example.
Engines The base model is the X6 xDrive35i which is powered by the 225 kW version of the
N54 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged
inline-six gasoline engine. The top-of-the-line model is the xDrive50i which uses the
N63 V8 engine, producing . At launch, the X6 was available in many markets with two diesel variants: the xDrive30d and xDrive35d, respectively. They are powered by BMW's 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine (in its sequential twin-turbocharged variant for the xDrive35d), and produces in the xDrive30d and in the xDrive35d version. The second of these power units formed the basis of BMW's diesel launch in all 50 states in late 2008. By 2010, a new 40d was added to the range, replacing the 35d, and in 2012 a new high-performance M50d was added, but despite its nomenclature, is still powered by a 3.0-litre engine.
Petrol engines Diesel engines ==Second generation (F16; 2014)==