New V8 brings mild hybrid and quicker responses
Inside gets BMW’s curved display tech
The latest version of BMW’s quickest SUVs has just dropped. The BMW X5 M Competition and the BMW X6 M Competition get a new V8 and the same cosmetic upgrades as the standard versions of the SUVs. With the new V8 comes the first mild hybrid application in any BMW M car.
Under the hood is BMW’s latest 4.4L twin-turbo V8. Called the S68, it doesn’t offer any extra horsepower versus the S63 engine it replaces. Why bother then? BMW says the engine is sharper and more efficient.
The V8 has just one exhaust manifold instead of the usual two. It puts the turbos in the center of the engine’s vee, to help the turbos spool more quickly and improve response. The engine has a reinforced crankshaft drive, a new air intake, and a new oil pump.
A 48V mild hybrid electric motor adds 12 hp and 147 lb-ft of torque to the V8’s 617 and 553. It’s enough to rocket the big SUVs to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds and to a top speed of 285 km/h.
BMW has also updated the eight-speed automatic. Sharper shifts and new gear ratios help boost acceleration and give it a better performance feel, while the wider-spread highway gears increase efficiency.
The chassis and suspension get some changes too. New bracing helps add stiffness and quicken vehicle reflexes, while changes to the geometry are meant to make it more stable at speeds. The new dampers have electromagnetic valves BMW says can adjust stiffness more quickly.
Exterior changes are mild, leaving the big ones for the inside. BMW is adding its latest curved display to the 2024 X5 M and X6 M, pairing the 12.3-inch digital dash and 14.9-inch center screen into one bezel. Like the same system offered in other BMWs, it uses the company’s latest operating system with better response times and better voice control recognition. It also comes with the ability to use your phone instead of a key.
Production of the 2024 BMW X5 M Competition and 2024 BMW X6 M Competition starts in April, so expect deliveries to start by June. Pricing for the X5 M is $142,000, with the X6 M Competition another $3,000
