How do you make a BMW X6M?

How do you make a BMW X6M? July 20, 2009

Posted by richard in : Technology , trackback

BMW X6M. Or, but for Mazda, the MX6. What in Lord’s name is it all about, ask hardcore M fans worldwide.

Well, it was certainly a challenge, admits M Head of Product Management, Carsten Pries.

bmw_x6m_1 ‘M cars,’ he revealed, when asked about the process of the X6M’s creation, ‘must display the core values of the brand.’

Which are?

According to our man Pries, M cars must be best in:

•   Acceleration
•   Lateral dynamics
•   Efficiency
•   Steering behaviour
•   Braking distance

He admits they weren’t sure the X6 could be made suitably ‘M’ at first. The department eventually figured it could – but it wouldn’t be simply a matter of making a big M3.

‘Customers in this segment are different to M3 buyers. We thus had to define in the early stages exactly what these new needs were.’

bmw_x6m_2 An SAV, he says, is ‘completely different’, particularly in terms of size and weight. It is therefore vital to develop a good sense of the key requirements.

Which are not the same as an M3, whose buyers are ‘deep into technology – they go into dealers and give them a hard time with their in-depth knowledge! They know so much…’

So what about these M SAV (or, as the rest of the world prefers, ‘SUV’) buyers? ‘They’re performance orientated, but not that into the last technical detail. They want high performance, and a differentiated character in terms of suspension, chassis, steering and design.

‘It needs to be dynamic, easy to control, have a clear emphasis on rear-wheel drive.’ M-lite, if you like. M with bling, you could also say.

See, it is vital the model is highly exclusive – a particular requirement for this segment. ‘It must stand out, be instantly recognisable as something different to an xDrive50i. It should be seen as being the latest, the most powerful. It’s also not a car for people who just like to pretend. Form must follow function. ‘

bmw_x6m_3 What Pries means here is that it should not be merely chavv’d up. A no to show without go.

There was another consideration, too. ‘It was vital we didn’t compromise its off-road ability. People want to take these to the Alps – if we restrict this in any way, it will not be as successful as we wish.’

No wonder it took them two and a half years to develop.

Along the way, he ditched potential grumble-areas. BMW M drivers, it seems, don’t like Active Steering. Their power steering systems have to be consistent. That’s why M spent big developing a bespoke Servotronic steering system for its most expensive X SUVs.

Servotronic means variable weight – it’s light at low speeds, weightier at higher speeds – but the steering ratio is consistent.

bmw_x6m_4 ‘We intentionally didn’t use Active Steering – the steering angle must be consistent whatever the road speed,’ says Pries. ‘This is appreciated by our sports car drivers…’