VIDEO: BMW X6 at the Michelin U.S. proving ground
Click above for high-res gallery of the BMW X6 in the wet
During our recent trip to South Carolina to drive the new BMW X6, our test loop included a stop over at Michelin's U.S. proving ground in Laurens. Two tracks were available for us on which to thrash the X6, one lined with sprinklers to wet the pavement and the other dry. Lou Ann Hammond of CarList.com shared an X6 for the test drive and she brought along a video camera. Lou Ann has now posted several video interviews on her site with BMW engineers talking about some of the technology in the X6. She also braved the passenger seat with her camera as I explored the limits of wet adhesion in the X6 and that video is online, as well. The X6 is heavy and even the most sophisticated slip control systems can't overcome the basic laws of physics. After 17 years working as an engineer on slip control systems, the most important lesson you learn is that Newton was right. Nonetheless, the X6 never embarrased itself on the track.
Gallery: First Drive: 2009 BMW X6
Photos Copyright ©2008 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: CarList.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Red 12:42PM (4/16/2008)
Beautiful vehicle from the front (especially in that gorgeous blood-looking color) and rear top half. Every other view is about as ridiculous as the concept. But alas, people shall pay for it.
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AmericanTruckGuy 12:47PM (4/16/2008)
Ditto that...it's a very awkward looking car. It's like an X5 with a couple birth defect. But like Honda customers, BMW customers will buy it. And tell me again, what's the functionality difference between this car and the X5?
Will Design for Food 2:12PM (4/17/2008)
Dynamic Performance Control is what is different. I will bet on the M cars and the new X5 receiving it in the future as well.
SpicyMikey 12:59PM (4/16/2008)
Ugliest looking car I've seen in a while
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jg 1:16PM (4/16/2008)
I'm waiting for the X4.
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tankd0g 1:25PM (4/16/2008)
Looks like the hood is open, and yet it's not.
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pscs 2:47PM (4/16/2008)
I actually like that gap between the bonnet and the bumper. It's quite in fashion these days to leave a small opening under the grille.
pscs 2:40PM (4/16/2008)
It should be a great car. I don't think the slanted roof will compromise the rear passengers too much... and this is such a big car - for 4 passengers...
I like the headlights, and I think they're 'pretty' attractive. However the front bumper is outrageous and too over-the-top.
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Trent 2:53PM (4/16/2008)
1) i can't stand that lady's voice for some reason
2) that thing has a bitchin' exhaust note.
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pscs 2:55PM (4/16/2008)
Strange... Dunlop tyres @ Michelin proving ground.
anyway, Autoblog please could you release higher-resolution images because they're so nice to be desktop wallpapers but they're not big enough... Thank you.
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pscs 2:58PM (4/16/2008)
Na, I just realised that the images are pretty big - it's just that they're resized for the gallery. Thanks anyway for the great photos.
Toy Yoda 4:05PM (4/16/2008)
Well, I'm hoping that this car does really bad for BMW, and that's because I'm hoping to pick it up for a good deal when the dealerships can't sell any of them.
Even though the car looks ugly, it's not as ugly as the Aztek.
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Justin 5:20PM (4/16/2008)
So how does the 4x4 c.g. help the driving dynamics again?
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Matt 1:12AM (4/17/2008)
I love BMW, but something tells me this isn't going to last long in the lineup.
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Galley 9:04AM (4/17/2008)
Michelin's proving ground has always been a fairly secretive area. You really can't see it from the highway. At one time, they had two Bugatti EB 100s to test the highest sped-rated tires. Thanks to modern technology, we can now see the track layout.
http://wikimapia.org/4940745/Michelin_Test_Track_Laurens_SC
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micky 10:10AM (4/17/2008)
I saw one this morning on the way to work in Northern NJ.
It looks better in person.
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