It has long since been rumored that BMW would use the New York Auto Show to drop a bomb on the crossover market with an M-powered version of the X6 CUV, but the luxury German automaker has more in store than just that.
Set to debut alongside its 555hp X6 M brother, the equally-powerful X5 M will come equipped with the same twin-turbo direct-injection 4.4-liter V8 engine. Not only does this new M engine outdo the old V10 in terms of horsepower, it drags it out back and beats it with 500 ft-lbs of torque at just 1500. Better yet, that torque stays constant until 5650 rpm.
BMW says it has all but eliminated pesky turbo-lag through a new invention it calls CCM (which stands for Cylinder-bank Comprehensive Manifold). This new manifold is a one-piece unit and has been designed with every cylinder working together to minimize "charge cycles."
Both X5 and X6 M cars will feature BMW's M Sports Automatic transmission, which BMW claims is much faster than previous unit - although no shift times are available. Gear changes can be made by using the automatic stick shift, the paddle shifters on the steering wheel or automatically in the default setting.
Both models will continue to use BMW's xDrive all-wheel-drive system, making them the first AWD M models. Also standard is the Dynamic Performance Control system that first made its debut on the X6. It allows for power to not only be distributed between the front and rear wheels, but between the left and right rear wheels.
As a result of all this power and grip both the X5 and X6 M can hit 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds.
More: BMW X6 M and X5 M Both Set to Premiere in New York on AutoGuide.com