We give credit to the BMW X6 for creating this whole coupe-SUV niche. And now, the German automaker is proud to announce the third-generation X6 SAV or Sports Activity Coupe slated for release on November 2019. It retains the bulbous styling cues of the original first-gen model launched back in 2008, but the 2020 BMW X6 is larger and longer than its predecessor.
The new BMW X6 is now a bigger car
It might not be obvious upon first glance, but the 2020 BMW X6 is a slightly bigger vehicle than before. The new car is 26 mm longer and has a 42 mm longer wheelbase. Also, the new X6 is wider by 15 mm than the old X6. All of this is good news in terms of interior room and overall presence on the road.
However, it’s not the same story in terms of height. The new X6 is actually 6mm shorter than the old model, and this has something to do with improving aerodynamics and lowering the center of gravity. All told, we’re betting the new X6 is a more capable handler than ever before, and that’s a good thing to have in a sporty SUV.
It now has an illuminated kidney grille
Did you think illuminated grille designs are only good for concept vehicles and electric cars? As it turns out, BMW is offering the new X6 with an optional illuminated kidney grille, which is activated by unlocking or locking the vehicle manually. However, the grille lights can remain on while driving the vehicle, which gives you some proper bragging rights when driving in the dark. But more of an aesthetic feature, the grille lights are also part of the daytime running lights to improve safety and visibility.
The new X6 has a sportier design
The 2020 BMW X6 is equipped with a large and dominating single-piece BMW kidney grille with active air slats. It now has slimmer trapezoidal headlights with full LED lighting. The sloping roofline has a double-bubble design which extends to the twin spoilers above the rear hatch.
We’re not die-hard fans of the previous X6’s styling, most especially at the rear. But with wider fender rear arches, slimmer L-shaped LED taillights, and sculptured rear diffuser panel, the new X6 is perceptibly less polarizing than previous models. For lack of a better word, the new X6 is easier on the eyes, or it’s probably just us.
It comes with engine choices derived from the BMW 8-Series Gran Coupe
Now, don’t get us wrong. We love the BMW 8-Series Coupe, but we still think the 8-Series Gran Coupe is better simply because it has four doors and proper room in the rear quarters. But part of what makes both vehicles great is the marvelous turbocharged V8 motor.
The 2020 BMW X6 is available in three trim models. Both the base sDrive40i and xDrive40i are powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six producing 335-horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. It’s essentially the same motor in the base 8-Series Gran Coupe albeit churning out less torque, although the new motor has 33 more horsepower than the previous X6. This mill is powerful enough to propel the new X6 from 0 to 60 mph 5.5-seconds with xDrive. Of course, the base model is rear-wheel drive while xDrive adds an intelligent all-wheel-drive system.
Meanwhile, the X6 M50i is motivated by a potent turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 producing 523-horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, which is exactly the same output as BMW’s 8-Series M850i. And while the M850i is faster to 60 mph at 3.7-seconds, the X6 M50i is no slouch at 4.3-seconds, which is half a second quicker than the old X6 V8. Both engines are connected to an eight-speed Steptronic transmission. The top speed for both engines is 130 mph with all-season tires and 155 mph with summer performance tires.
The interior is typical BMW: refined and brimming with tech
The new BMW X6 is equipped with a new panoramic glass roof that’s 83-percent larger than in the previous X6. The optional Sky Lounge brings 15,000 graphic patterns in the glass roof to create the impression of a starlit sky, which sounds eerily similar to Rolls-Royce’s starlight headliner. ambient interior lighting is also standard in the X6 along with BMW Live Cockpit Professional with iDrive 7 featuring twin 12.3-inch displays for the center console and instrument panel.
The new BMW X6 is also equipped with a comprehensive list of standard and optional driver assistance systems including frontal collision warning with city collision mitigation, parking assistant, active blind-spot detection, lade departure warning, and a surround-view camera among other things.
The 2020 BMW X6 sDrive40i starts at $65,295 while the X6 xDrive40i has a base price of $67,595. In the meantime, the X6 M50i commands a base price of $86,645. First deliveries are expected to begin on November 2019. Standard equipment includes 21-inch wheels, heated front seats, adaptive LED headlights, LED fog lights, and Apple CarPlay.