BMW X6 M & X5 M Officially Revealed

BMW's "terrible twins" have been officially unleashed upon us. Details of the X5 M and the X6 M have been confirmed, from the engine size and power output to styling details. It has been more than a year since speculation began over BMW M Division's first foray into the world of über SUVs. Since then spy pictures of both vehicles, together and separately, have done the proverbial rounds.

Both the X5 M and X6 M are fitted with a newly-developed 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 making a confirmed 555hp (408kW) at 6,000rpm and maximum torque of 500 lb-ft (678Nm) between a very broad band of 1,500 and 5,650rpm. The turbos produce maximum boost pressure of 1.5 bar.

Mated to an M engine for the first time is a 6-speed M Sports Automatic transmission with full automatic mode as well as M driving mode. The latter can be actuated with the gear lever or with paddles behind the steering wheel. The driver can rev it up all the way to the redline before changing gears without any automatic interference from the car. This is also useful for the launch control function. Combined with xDrive AWD these and other systems are said to give both cars a 0 - 60mph sprint time of 4.5 seconds. Top speeds were not given but it is safe to assume an electronically limited figure of 155mph (250km/h).

The X6's Dynamic Performance Control system is now available for the X5 M too. Working in conjunction with xDrive it assists in keeping the vehicles grounded and grip to a maximum. With a weight distribution ratio of close on 50:50 these twins are already well-balanced for performance.

The wheels are 20-inch alloys and tyres are runflat types with sizes 275/40 R 20 at the front and 315/35 R 20 at the rear. Features include ABS brakes, trailer stability control, Servotronic steering, an electronic parking brake with autohold and hill descent control. Other nice stuff includes rain sensors, cruise control, iDrive, adaptive xenon headlights and rear view cameras.

2010 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Now Testing Virtually Undisguised

ince official photos and information were released earlier this week on the E63 AMG, it seems Mercedes has foregone the camouflage for its ongoing testing of the vehicle.

This E63 will be an arch-competitor to the always fearsome BMW M5, which Mercedes always tries to outdo with its more subtle, distinguishing charms rather than outright raging hormones. After all, a Mercedes is the car you buy yourself as a reward after your kids have grown up and moved on. A BMW is the one you buy right now even if you can't afford it.

The engine work on this athletic sedan has already been covered, it's a 6.2 liter, naturally breathing V8 (gasoline/petrol) with 518 hp and 630 Nm of torque. Certainly the power is there to make this a real road-munching monster in disguise, considering the base-version E-Class seems just fine being powered by a mere 1.8 liter engine (turbocharged to 204 hp). But as AMG has promised, the days of piling on more and more sheer horsepower are over, and the E63 features only 11 hp more than its predecessor. AMG has said it will focus on weight reduction and improved engine management to squeeze more efficiency and power out of what is already there. This E63 seems a good example of that. It's the subtlety that will win the day for this car.

Nice set of wheels, yes...But, hey, what's the price tag on this thing? We'll have to wait until the E63 AMG makes it's public debut in New York next week.

BMW X1 Spy Photos on the Nurburgring

It's not often that one sees an SUV "training" on a race track. After all, these vehicles are meant to go off-road more often than not. Unless that vehicle is a BMW X1. The car has been spotted by spies while doing laps at the Nurburgring. The X1 seems out to prove that it really is a Jack-of-all-trades. Not long ago it was spied powering through snow and ice. Later though other spy shots caught the car being pulled out of deep snow by none other than a Volkswagen Tiguan. Now it's chasing lap times on a very long and tricky track.

The BMW X1 is one of the products being used by its parent company to cover as many premium segments as possible. It is a small SUV that falls beneath the X3 but is not going to be the BMW Group's smallest. That privilege will go to the MINI Crossman - unless at some point they decide to resurrect the Isetta and make an SUV of that too!

Engines are likely to be shared with other compact BMWs so expect to see powerplants like the new 180kW (245hp) 3.0-litre turbo diesel as well as the 2.0-litre. BMW is currently developing a small four-cylinder petrol turbo that is larger than the 1.6-litre used by the MINIs. The X1 should benefit from it as well. All four wheels will be driven by the xDrive AWD system and the vehicle will feature technologies like iDrive and Start/ Stop fuel-saving system.

First revealed at the 2008 Paris International Motor Show as a concept car, the X1 goes on sale in 2010.