Engine and Gearbox
The X6 is available with a variety of engines, all of which are quite potent and do justice to the sporty character of the machine. Our test vehicle (Xdrive 40d) came equipped with an uprated 3.0 liter TwinPower turbo diesel engine delivering superior performance than the less powerful Xdrive 30d. The 2993cc inline-6 engine produces peak power rated at 306bhp at 4400rpm and peak torque rated at 600Nm between a very low 1500-2500 rpm.
We just mentioned 600Nm of torque. In conjunction with those 306 horses, that turning force is enough to propel this 2.3 ton monster from a standstill to 100 km/h in less than 7 seconds. Top speed is limited to 250km/h and the X6 pounces like a hound towards that mark every time you bury the pedal.
The twin-turbocharged six-cylinder diesel is a proven power plant and works excellently here as well. Not just does it make the X6 menacingly quick, but with its terrific low end grunt and that monumental torque, makes light work of keeping the mountain of metal in motion at low revs. The driveability is as good as it gets and the X6 responds to soft and part throttle with uncanny ease.
That potent power plant is mated to the new eight speed auto transmission which works fantastically well with a variety of engines. Automatic shifts are well timed and shift points vary depending on which mode (Drive or Sport) you are in. Sport mode places the shifts higher up the rev range, tightens the steering wheel and makes the X6 tauter and more ready for action. Gearshifts can be made via the selector lever on the central penal or the flappy pedals behind the steering wheel.
The new eight speed tranny is quick enough, and we didn’t experience any lag worth complaining about. Part of the transmission’s brilliance is attributed to the all-powerful engine also, which doesn’t care about the rev band its operating in and delivers a heady shove right from the bottom of the tacho.
That engine-tranny combo has enough violence in store for those willing to witness carnage. While the speed builds at an outrageous pace when you stomp the right pedal, the X6 is incredibly swift even when it’s plodding ahead lazily. Just a little feathering of the throttle, and you’d see it shooting past the triple digit mark.
We experienced the lethal power of this engine on the 640d Gran Coupe for the first time, and it managed to leave us absolutely amazed. While not as atrociously sadistic on the X6 as the 640d, thanks to the latter’s heavier weight, the engine and transmission combo manages to create a new benchmark for SUV performance in our mind, wiping clean the memories of the X5 30d, which itself is quite a formidable machine to match as regards performance.
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