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BMW X6 Overview

BMW calls its midsize X6 a "Sports Activity Coupe" (even though it has four doors), presumably because of the X6's sporty and graceful profile. There's no doubt that the X6 is a head turner, but these good looks come at a price -- literally and figuratively. The unique sloping rear roofline includes the unfortunate side effect of reducing cargo space, rear headroom and visibility. Then there's the price tag. Despite sharing most of its underpinnings with the more conventionally styled X5, the X6 is priced more than $9,000 higher.

What you get for that premium, however, is a surprising amount of performance. The results from our testing of the 300-horsepower xDrive35i model are closer to those of a sport sedan than an SUV. And what is even more shocking is that the X6 weighs almost 5,000 pounds. Its ability to quickly accelerate, corner and slow down defies logic, and to BMW's credit, the X6 also provides a comfortable and quiet front-seat ride. For those who hunger for even more performance than that from the standard twin-turbo inline-6, there is the xDrive50i that boasts an over-the-top twin-turbo V8 producing 400 hp.

Stellar performance aside, it's difficult to get over the perception that you're paying more for less with the 2009 BMW X6. Taking into account that it can only seat four, when other luxury SUVs accommodate five (or more, with third-row seating), the appeal of this visual and visceral stunner begins to wane. The closest competitor, the Infiniti FX50, mimics the performance-over-utility concept of the X6, but with a different approach to styling that some may find unappealing. With similarly priced sporty SUVs like the Porsche Cayenne and Land Rover Range Rover Sport on hand, you're going to have to really love the X6's style for its sacrifice of functionality and versatility to make sense.

BMW X6 Features

MECHANICAL:

3.0-liter dual overhead cam (DOHC), 24-valve inline 300-hp 6-cylinder engine with Advanced Turbo technology, piezo direct fuel injection, and Double-VANOS steplessly variable valve timing
6-speed Sport Automatic transmission with Adaptive Transmission Control (ATC), Sport and steptronic Manual shift modes, and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters
xDrive all-wheel-drive system
Trailer hitch prewiring
Double wishbone front suspension
Lightweight multi-link integral rear suspension
Engine-speed-sensitive power steering
4-wheel anti-lock ventilated disc brakes; electronic front/rear proportioning
Chrome exhaust tips (dual rectangular shape on X6 xDrive50i and ActiveHybrid X6)

EXTERIOR:

Star Spoke (Style 232) 19 x 9.0 light alloy wheels and tires (255/50 run-flat all-season)
Metallic paint
2-way power glass moonroof with "one-touch" operation, sliding interior sunshade, and wind deflector
Matte-black finish on side-window frame and door-sill trim
Xenon Adaptive Headlights with auto-leveling and Corona headlight-rings
Automatic headlight on/off control
Halogen free-form foglights with Cornering Lights function
Adaptive Brake Lights
Dual power outside mirrors
Automatic tilt-down of right outside mirror for visibility of curb when backing up
Intermittent rain-sensing windshield wipers with adjustable and vehicle-speed-sensitive wiping interval, single-wipe control, windshield-washer system with heated washer jets
Body-color exterior door handles
Power tailgate

INTERIOR:

Engine Start/Stop button
10-way power-adjustable driver's and passenger's bucket seats and memory system for driver's seat, steering wheel and outside mirrors
Split-folding rear seats
Nevada Leather upholstery (covers all seating surfaces, headrests, door armrests, front center console armrest)
Front-seat center console with armrest, storage compartment, and auxiliary input
Rear-seat center armrest
3-spoke leather-wrapped pwr tilt/telescopic multi-function sport steering wheel with paddle shifters
Electronic analog instrumentation with LED illumination
Outside-temperature display
iDrive system with on-board computer and Controller, and 6 programmable memory buttons
Service Interval Indicator and Check Control vehicle monitor
Vehicle & Key Memory
Power windows with key-off operation, "one-touch" opening and closing of all door windows, and anti-trapping feature
Dynamic Cruise Control
Anti-theft alarm system with keyhead remote operation interior motion detector
Central locking system and Coded Driveaway Protection
Automatic front climate control with separate left/right temperature settings, automatic air conditioning, and recirculation control
Active-charcoal micro-filter ventilation
Rear-window defroster
Dual cupholders front and rear
Auxiliary pwr outlet
Ash Grain Wood interior trim
Time-delay courtesy lights automatically activate when driver's door handle is lifted, remote control is used, or engine is turned off
Dual front sun visors with illuminated mirrors
Fully finished cargo area
Retractable cargo cover

SAFETY:

Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) including Brake Fade Compensation, Start-off Assistant, Brake Drying, and Brake Stand-by features, with Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), and Dynamic Brake Control
Dynamic Performance Control
Hill Descent Control (HDC)
Battery Safety Terminal and automatic fuel cut-off triggered by airbag deployment
Daytime running lights
Driver's and passenger's front airbag supplemental restraint system (SRS) with advanced technology: dual-threshold, dual-stage deployment; and front-passenger seat sensors designed to prevent unnecessary airbag deployment
Front- and rear-compartment Head Protection System (HPS) with front side-impact airbags
Park Distance Control (front and rear)
Rollover sensor that triggers airbags and safety-belt pretensioners in the event of a rollover
3-point safety belts and head restraints at all seating positions
Front safety belts with automatic pretensioners
Active Head Restraints in front seats
Child safety rear door locks
Tire Pressure Monitor

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