Under the hood of the BMW X5 M is a 555-horsepower twin-turbo V-8 with a deep baritone exhaust note; a churning, accessible torque curve; and an automatic transmission that's without hesitation. It gives the BMW X5 M a character that, oddly enough, given the taller seating position, feels part muscle car, part exotic. Handling, too, defies this vehicle's height; there's better handling than you'd probably think possible for such a tall vehicle—although it'll never feel like a sports car in the transitions. BMW X5 M models admittedly sacrifice a little bit of ride comfort, but with an M sport suspension and AdaptiveDrive electronic damping it rides nearly as well as the base BMW X5.
If there's one weak point of the BMW X5, and particularly the BMW X5 M—which can easily top $90k—it's that it doesn't stand out well enough in the crowd. While the BMW X5 M is fast and hard to fluster, the BMW X5 M, just as the rest of the 2011 X5 lineup, lacks some of the design flair, inside and out, that makes some of its competitors—like the Porsche Cayenne, Land Rover Range Rover Sport and Infiniti FX50—really pop visually.
The other down side of the BMW X5 M is that while you'll no doubt be able to pay for its hefty thirst, you might also invite the scorn of environmentalists; it's rated at just 12 mpg city, 17 highway (premium required) and if you like to use the power you have your mileage will be on the low side of that.
That said, for those wanting a vehicle that's safe and secure, when driven responsibly, with the family during the week and then ready a little track time on the weekends once in a while, the BMW X5 M is ready to step up.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Video: 2011 BMW X5 commercial (music by Gregory Malool)
Amazing video commercial for BMW X5 and BMW X6, music by Gregory Malool
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
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