BMW reveals new X5 M and X6 M

While you might see a few drunken Frankensteins lumbering about tonight thanks to Halloween, expect to see another kind of monster lurking in well-heeled Oz suburbs next year. BMW has officially revealed the second-generation of its M-fettled X5 and X6 utility vehicles, and they’re heading for Australia.

Headlining the credentials of the new X5 M and X6 M is a slight increase in power from their 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8, which now pumps out 423kW and 750Nm. The engine is the centrepiece of the two’s shared powertrain and uses the same direct-injected unit found in the brawny M5 and M6, but revisions to its induction have liberated an extra 23kW and 70Nm ­– endowing it with a torque figure not even the recently released 441kW limited edition Jahre M5 can match.

The duo’s momentous torque peak now arrives at 2200rpm, or 700rpm later than the old model’s 1500rpm, holding until 5000rpm before peak power takes over at 6000rpm.

The transmission matched to the twin-turbo V8 has also been upgraded from the previous six-speed auto to BMW’s ‘M Steptronic’ eight-speed torque converter, said to mimic the characteristics of BMW’s double clutcher found in other M models. The extra cogs have lopped a few litres off its official claimed consumption figure; scoring 11.1 litres per 100km in the EU combined cycle – a figure lower than pretty much any HSV or FPV’s.

The powertrain will also be able to distribute the full-750Nm to either the front or rear axles thanks to the use of an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch within the all-wheel drive system.

The pair will both use a staggered set of 20-inch wheels wrapped in 285mm and 325mm wide Pirelli’s (front and rear, respectively) which are tasked with translating all that power to speed, which the Pirelli's do very well: both vehicles are claimed to hit 100km/h in 4.2 seconds.

Burdened with the arduous role of slowing the cars down are a set of six-piston grabbers up front and single-piston brakes at the rear.

Top whack is limited to 250km/h, however, BMW’s European press release indicates an optional ‘M Driver’s package’ can lift that figure to 280km/h. But if the straight line speed isn’t enough to get your rocks off, BMW has also included an MDM (M Dynamic Mode) setting within the stability control system to allow small-time drifts with a predetermined safety net.

Aesthetically, the exterior of both cars will receive the usual M-style tweaks, notably M-specific wheels, larger cooling intakes, flared guards and a quad-tip exhaust muffler. While the interior of both cars also get the M-treatment scoring upgraded seats and instrument cluster, along with a raft of other M parts.

BMW tells us deliveries of the X5 M and X6 M will begin either late first quarter or early second quarter 2015, whereas prices are yet to be confirmed. However, expect to fork out something near the previous prices of $180K for the SUV and $190K for its coupe styled counterpart.