Bmw Mx$5

[alaskaman]

For those of us who must have 550 horsepower in an SUV......Behold the M.

German engineers who have determined that the rocket age is not yet completed and set not to be anything else but the most powerful soccer transport on the planet.

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/07/bmw-ms-up-its-xs/

 

[Thai]

For those of us who must have 550 horsepower in an SUV......Behold the M.

German engineers who have determined that the rocket age is not yet completed and set not to be anything else but the most powerful soccer transport on the planet.

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/07/bmw-ms-up-its-xs/

It is a sad day for BMW M owners...this is equivalent to when Porsche decided to build a SUV from a VW platform! Notice that it is only available in an automatic transmission to further piss off M owners! BMW M engineers used to laugh at Mercedes AMG because Mercedes sold their soul when they made these high-powered SUV monsters with no handling capability. Boy, the world has changed quickly....

 

[hookem12387]

A sad day indeed

 

[tomhaney1]

Ummmm.... That's like saying an F1 racer is neutered because of the paddle shifters. The Audi R8 and Ferraris and Lambos all have some form of automatic transmission. The X5M could have a very good transmission and I'm sure it won't be made into an AMG.

 

[Shotty Johnson]

I have driven the X5M, and it is a formidable vehicle, It handles great, tons of grip, and tons of power! The auto transmission is no issue in my opinion, it shifts very quickly, and follows the drivers commands perfectly. It'll let you sit and bounce off the rev limiter for a while if necessary. Look up the press day reviews of the testing at Road Atlanta, and they were hitting 150+ on the back straight. Now only if my 1987 325i track rat will do the same....

 

[tomhaney1]

I can only imagine how that thing handled... I sold my e36 M3 to get my 4Runner and now I'm looking to get another one. I love BMW's. As much as I get the disdain for luxury SUV's I think BMW doesn't make any qualms by giving it off-road prowess.

 

[Uneek]

BMW M engineers used to laugh at Mercedes AMG because Mercedes sold their soul when they made these high-powered SUV monsters with no handling capability. Boy, the world has changed quickly....

The old saying, "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em."

 

[b.abe825]

Top Gear UK tested the X6-M model. Super powerful. BMW claims it can out accelerate (off the line) a large number of super cars out now. Did a race against an Aston Martin (I've forgotten which one exactly). Well.... it failed miserably...

 

[Thai]

Ummmm.... That's like saying an F1 racer is neutered because of the paddle shifters. The Audi R8 and Ferraris and Lambos all have some form of automatic transmission.

The auto transmission is no issue in my opinion, it shifts very quickly, and follows the drivers commands perfectly. It'll let you sit and bounce off the rev limiter for a while if necessary. Look up the press day reviews of the testing at Road Atlanta, and they were hitting 150+ on the back straight. Now only if my 1987 325i track rat will do the same....

Ferraris, lambos, and Audis have "automated manual transmission." Lambos and Ferraris have sequential transmission...it is basically a manual transmission with an automated (computer controlled) clutch. Audis and the newer BMWs have DSG (dual clutch automated manual transmission). In other words, they are manual transmission that has an ECU controlling the shifting via the clutch.

Automatic transmission, in the traditional sense, has a power-sapping torque converter. This torque converter is what performance enthusiasts hate. If the BMW Xwhatever has an automatic transmission, then yes, it is a sad day for BMW enthusiast.

Hitting top speed is not a measure of the transmission's capability. There is no way any automatic transmission (e.g. Lexus IS-F) can shift as fast as the best DSG transmission. And this comes into play when you track the car. You need to sit into a BMW M3 with the DSG transmission and you will see what i mean...nothing can touch the shift speed of a properly calibrated DSG.

 

[JBgotM]

I have absolutely no problem with BMW making powerful and impressive SUVs. I DO have a problem calling them "M" vehicles. As the owner of a M Roadster, it makes me sick. Keep the "is" signification as everyone knows the "is" is the sporty version.

A few years ago, a statement came out from BMW stating that no SUV would ever bare the M logo because innate to the M badge was a race inspired car with a powerful high-revving naturally aspirated engine. Now it means "anything we can sell."

by the way, don't be surprised when M vehicles are released with turbos. Personally, I love turbos, but its just more dismantling of what BMW used to be proud of.

 

[tomhaney1]

I have absolutely no problem with BMW making powerful and impressive SUVs. I DO have a problem calling them "M" vehicles. As the owner of a M Roadster, it makes me sick. Keep the "is" signification as everyone knows the "is" is the sporty version.

A few years ago, a statement came out from BMW stating that no SUV would ever bare the M logo because innate to the M badge was a race inspired car with a powerful high-revving naturally aspirated engine. Now it means "anything we can sell."

by the way, don't be surprised when M vehicles are released with turbos. Personally, I love turbos, but its just more dismantling of what BMW used to be proud of.

I guess I have to agree with this assertion. The M Roadster is much more of a motorsport vehicle than any SUV. I also don't agree with the too-lazy-to-design turbo phenomenon.