BMW on Tuesday announced new 2020 X6 Sports Activity Coupe. More than ten years ago, BMW combined the attributes of the Sports Activity Vehicle with the more aggressive DNA of a Coupe to create the X6 and the new Sports Activity Coupe class. Since then, over 443,000 of the extroverted BMW X6 have been purchased by customers world-wide.
According to the company, the new 2020 BMW X6’s muscular form and sharp, creased lines are the external visuals for a combination of the most advanced powertrain, chassis, safety, driving assistance and technology systems that BMW has to offer. All with the added benefit of a luxurious interior space for up to five passengers, all-surface and all-weather capability and an available factory trailer package rated for up to 7,200 lbs towing.
The new X6 will be produced at Plant Spartanburg in South Carolina alongside the X3, X4, X5 and X7. As BMW’s largest production plant, Spartanburg is the center of global X vehicle competence, employs over 10,000 people and is supported by 300 suppliers across the U.S. 70 percent of the X vehicles produced in Plant Spartanburg are exported to 140 countries worldwide making BMW the largest exporter of vehicles, by value, from the U.S.
MSRP pricing starts at $64,300 for the new 2020 X6 sDrive40i, $66,600 for the X6 xDrive40i and $85,650 for the X6 M50i. Pricing does not include $995 Destination.
Exterior design
The dimensions of the 2020 third-generation X6 have grown slightly in overall length (+1.0 inches), wheelbase (+1.6 inches) and width (+0.6 inches). While height has been reduced by 0.7 inches for improved aerodynamics and a lower center of gravity improving vehicle agility.
The new X6 also serves as the premiere for the optional illuminated BMW kidney grille. The illumination can either be activated by unlocking and locking the vehicle or turned on and off manually. The illuminated grille is part of the daytime running light feature and can remain on while the vehicle is in motion.
The large, single-piece BMW kidney grille with active air slats is flanked by slim, trapezoidal Adaptive Full LED headlights. The large openings of the bumper and sharp-creased lines impart a more aggressive appearance to the new X6. Standard 20-inch alloy wheels fill the openings of the X6’s pronounced fenders and can be upgraded even further with 21-inch and 22-inch staggered wheels and performance tires to take advantage of the vehicle’s increased handling capabilities. The roofline flows into a double-bubble design towards the rear, ending in subtle, twin spoilers above the rear hatch glass. The wide rear fender arches blend into the upswept rear hatch design, forming an additional, functional split rear spoiler to improve aerodynamics. Very slim L-shaped LED taillights adorn the top of the rear hatch, high above the exhaust surrounds which are integrated into the sculptured lower rear diffuser panel.
The new design elements, from front-to-rear, complete the powerful and capable vehicle aura which owners have come to value from BMW’s Sports Activity Coupe vehicles.
The 2020 X6 sDrive40i and X6 xDrive40i are available in a choice of either standard xLine or optional M Sport appearance levels. xLine exterior trim such as kidney grille bars, air intakes, grille sides, Air Breather edging and tail pipe surrounds are finished in Pearl-Effect Chrome. The front under-guard protection panel is finished in body color while the rear diffuser panel is Matte Black.
Selecting the M Sport Package changes the exterior trim to a High-Gloss Black Shadowline finish while the X6 M50i features a BMW kidney grille, exterior mirror caps, model badge and exhaust tailpipes are painted in Cerium Grey. The calipers of the M Sport brakes (standard on the X6 M50i) are finished in blue.
Interior design
The interior arrangement of the 2020 BMW X6 has been refocused on the driver while at the same time offering impeccable quality and finish from all surfaces to transport the driver and passengers in glove-like comfort.
Vernasca Leather, Sport seats and a Sensatec covered dashboard are standard on all X6 models. Multi-function seats are standard on the X6 M50i and optional on the 40i models. Extended Merino Leather, BMW Individual Full Merino Leather and a leather dashboard are all available as upgrades to suit every level of desired luxury.
Standard specification for the new BMW X6 includes automatic climate control, while a four-zone system is optional. Another innovation is the newly developed panoramic glass roof whose glass surface area is 83 percent larger than on the outgoing model. The optional Panorama glass roof Sky Lounge, meanwhile, brings a particularly exclusive ambience to the interior of the new BMW X6 after dark. More than 15,000 graphic points in the glass roof are illuminated and generate a display reminiscent of a starlit sky. Six different colors are available for the illumination of the Panorama glass roof Sky Lounge. The BMW X6 comes standard with ambient lighting, which includes the Welcome Light Carpet. This feature illuminates the approach to the doors when they are unlocked or opened, enhancing comfort when getting in and out of the car. New BMW X6 can also be equipped with optional thermoelectric heated and cooled cup holders, which keep drink containers cool or warm, as desired.
The new BMW X6 can be specified with glass applications for selected controls, adding unique visual and haptic experience to the interior. The glass applications are available for the transmission selector lever, the iDrive Controller, the start/stop button and the audio volume knob. The optional Bowers & Wilkins Diamond Surround Sound System includes a seven-channel amplifier with a 1,500-watt output and 20 speakers to generate an impressive 3D audio experience for all passengers. The wireless charging option allows compatible mobile devices to be charged wirelessly in the tray positioned ahead of the cup holders. The rear seats can be folded down in a 40:20:40 combination to increase the cargo space from 27.4 to 59.6 cubic feet.
Paints finishes and interior trim
The new 2020 BMW X6 is offered in two standard, non-metallic paint colors, eight metallic paint finishes and two BMW Individual metallic paint finishes.
Standard, non-metallic paint finishes include Alpine White and Jet Black (on X6 40i models only). Optional (no-cost options on the X6 M50i) metallic paint finishes include Carbon Black Metallic (requires M Sport Package on X6 40i models), Black Sapphire Metallic, Dark Graphite Metallic (X6 40i models only), Mineral White Metallic, Flamenco Red Metallic, Arctic Grey Metallic, Manhattan Green Metallic, Riverside Blue Metallic (requires M Sport Package on X6 40i models). Optional BMW Individual paint finishes are Tanzanite Blue II Metallic and Ametrin Metallic.
Standard, interior Vernasca leather trim is offered in five color combinations; Black, Coffee, Tacora Red, Ivory White and Black with contrast Brown stitching (requires M Sport on X6 40i models).
Optional Extended Merino leather trim is available in four color combinations; Black, Coffee, Ivory White and Ivory White/Blue bi-color.
Optional BMW Individual Full Merino leather interiors are offered in four color combinations: Black, Coffee, Ivory White and Ivory White/Night Blue bi-color.
BMW 6-cylinder power and performance
The BMW X6 sDrive40i and xDrive40i models are powered by the latest iteration of BMW’s 3.0-liter TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder engine. The new engine produces 335 hp between 5,500 – 6,500 rpm, an increase of 33 hp over the previous model and 330 lb-ft of torque between 1,500 – 5,200 rpm, an increase of 35 lb-ft of torque.
The new 6-cylinder engine features an exhaust manifold integrated into the cylinder head, a single twin-scroll turbocharger with quicker response and direct injection technology working at an increased maximum pressure of 350 bar. A housing with improved flow characteristics and turbines with reduced masses both help the turbocharging system to ensure rapid build-up of pressure, and the charge air cooler has been incorporated into the intake system. The latest version of the VALVETRONIC fully variable valve timing system makes the sort of swift, high-precision adjustments that facilitate instantaneous power delivery and improve engine efficiency. The exhaust manifold embedded in the cylinder head cooling jacket, the new oil module with integral heat exchanger and the split-cooling valve delivering on-demand control
of the cooling system all serve to optimize the engine’s temperature management. Efficiency is given a further boost by the low-friction belt drive and the reduced weight of both the crankshaft and oil pump.
This allows the rear-wheel drive X6 sDrive40i to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds, 0.8 seconds faster than the outgoing model while the X6 xDrive40 reaches 60 mph in 5.3 seconds, 0.7 seconds faster than the model it is replacing. Both vehicles feature an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph when equipped with all-season tires and 155 mph when equipped with performance tires.
BMW M Performance V8
The X6 M50i is powered by a new and immensely potent version of BMW’s 4.4-liter eight-cylinder TwinPower turbocharged engine. This updated engine features two, twin-scroll turbochargers with air-to-water intercooling, High Precision Injection, VALVETRONIC fully variable valve control and Double-VANOS variable camshaft timing. This combination delivers 523 hp between 5,500 and 6,000 rpm and 553 lb-ft of torque between 1,800 – 4,600 rpm – an increase of 78 hp and 74 lb-ft of torque over the previous model’s output.
