Report: 2011 BMW X6 getting single turbo N55, eight-speed automatic
2009 BMW X6 – Click above for high-res image gallery
BMW has officially announced changes for its 2011 BMW X6, and the big news is that the German automaker will swap out its twin-turbo N54 inline-six in this sport utility for the new twin-scroll single turbo N55 mill, just like it did in the new 5 Series. The move continues BMW's drive toward simplifying its engine options while at the same time providing X6 owners with stronger acceleration and increased efficiency. BMW claims the N55 matches the twin-scroll N54's power numbers while also cutting weight from the engine bay. And since this bubbly crossover weighs in at a rotund 4,900 pounds, we're thinking every pound lost is a good thing. The twin-scroll inline-six will produce 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque in the X6, six more ponies and five fewer lb-ft than the outgoing twin turbo model. Both the X6 35i and X6 50i will also receive ZF's eight speed automatic transmission for the 2011 model year. The eight forward gears will even further improve efficiency while also deliver smoother shifts.
Gallery: Review: BMW X6 XDrive 35i
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[Source: BMW]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
skablaw 9:10AM (1/28/2010)
It's gonna need a lot more than 306 hp and 295 lb/ft to outrun the ugly.
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Clippy 8:03AM (1/29/2010)
You don't need performance figures, the sale numbers are already enough to outrun the ugly. This car is a gold-mine for BMW, they would be stupid if they changed it. It sells like hot cakes. And I bet they will rather listen to the opinion of thousands of buyers instead of few kids on forums/blog where 90% of them drives some rusty junk.
16915V 9:21AM (1/28/2010)
Once the 5 series Gran Tourismo gets xDrive, doesn't the X6 become even more irrelavent?
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Relyat08 9:30AM (1/28/2010)
I agree. This just seems repetitive. They already have the GT and the x5, which are able to do everything this "jacked up" car can do.
chicagovet 9:25AM (1/28/2010)
Two-and-a-half tons of bloated ugliness.
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The Other Bob 9:26AM (1/28/2010)
I cannot live without at least a 12 speed transmission. What is wrong with car companies these days?
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Carlos 9:48AM (1/28/2010)
You're behind the power curve then! You need an infinite speed automatic!
The Other Bob 10:12AM (1/28/2010)
"You're behind the power curve then! You need an infinite speed automatic!"
Isn't that called a CVT? No thanks.
akboss302 10:35AM (1/28/2010)
+1! If you want that many gears, just build it with a CVT! Adding 7+ gears to a traditional auto means the car is never really IN gear, just between them constantly...
Mr. Fastback 11:49AM (1/28/2010)
I agree, 8 gears is no where near enough. I'm getting gear-vendors to fab up a splitter for my BMW. 16 still seems a bit low... Maybe I'll hook up a CVT to the output of the tranny as well. Actually, just to be safe I'll stick an electric overdrive system on each axle just to be safe. That should help keep the revs nice and low on the highway!
Hot Damn, I should design the driveling on the next ISF...
CakeBalls 7:06PM (1/28/2010)
Pfft! My mountain bike has 18 gears sucka!
Read it and weep.
henrykrinkle 9:31AM (1/28/2010)
"...swap out its twin-turbo N54 inline-six.....for the new twin-scroll single turbo N55.....BMW claims the N55 matches the twin-scroll N54's power..."
??
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phobos512 9:44AM (1/28/2010)
You guys seem to be getting your "twin-scrolls" and "twin-turbos" mixed up in the first paragraph...Or at least you're using them interchangeably, which is confusing.
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epilonious 10:20AM (1/28/2010)
Will it be able to go up grassy or snowy hills now?
Will the fancy pop-up glove-box still open on the other side of the world?
/Clarkson
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BoxerFanatic 10:49AM (1/28/2010)
Take a sporty sedan... and an SUV... combine the drawbacks of both... and you have this.
Aerodynamic roofline means nothing when the thing is as big and tall as a house, and blunt on the front.
All the CUV cred in the world would be hampered by a lack of practical interior space.
CHOOSE ONE OR THE OTHER.
The X6 and 5GT are both too huge. Since they are both forays from the 7 series chassis, down toward the 5-series equipment and price points...
I hope they do something nice, and produce a legitimate 5-door sport sedan, not a CUV behemoth... from the 5-series chassis, down toward 3-series equipment and price points... sleek with a 5-door profile, but lower, and sportier looking... which the 5-series sedan is a good starting point for.
Something to compete with Audi A5/S5 Sportback. And bring it to the US, with optional AWD, please, since Audi won't.
6-speed manual or 7-speed DCT, please. 8 gears is just marketing fodder, to compete with Lexus' 8-speed.
A wide-powerband torquey turbocharged 6 should need relatively FEW gears... more gears are only required when the powerband is narrow, and the engine isn't as flexible outside it's power-band.
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vespid82 11:15AM (1/28/2010)
"single turbo" in the headline, "twin-scroll" in the article...?
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vespid82 11:16AM (1/28/2010)
Nevermind, I get it. It's a twin scroll single turbo. Gotcha.
JF 4:21PM (1/28/2010)
Put this drivetrain in the 5 series wagon please.
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mtbiker124 1:16AM (1/29/2010)
the dealership i work at just got our first X6 M in today. whatta beast! the power of that TTV8 is just intense.
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