BMW X6 News

The sideline is the safest place when car companies start a spat. This week, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are playing the serve-and-volley game.

BMW's X5 M and X6 M super SUVs return with boosted performance and efficiency.

In a year when the overall car market shrank, all but a handful of prestige brands increased sales. Buyers don't just want a good car; they want others to see they have one, helping everyone from Maserati to Mercedes-Benz post gains.The trend is accelerating and a steady stream of new models in 2015 only adds to the impetus. CarsGuide looks at what's in store for the premium players this year.It isn't hard to foresee the popularity of the 4C two-seat coupe when it hits showrooms next month. This baby supercar uses a carbon-fibre tub, mid-engine layout and minimalist interior to present a modern incarnation of a stripped-down racer. Pricing will be $80,000-$100,000. The soft-top Spider is due in October. The Alfa Giulietta also gets an update.A steady new model rollout starts in February with the arrival of the TT coupe for just under $80,000. It will be joined by the soft-top roadster midyear and the TT S performance model in August or September. The plug-in petrol-electric A3 e-tron five-door hatch is due in May with an expected price of $60,000, with the Q7 large SUV due late in the year. Updates or variants include the A6/A7, RS6/RS7, A1, RS3 and Q3/RSQ3.New metal is in short supply at the British brand but two models will join the line-up, starting with the Vantage S Roadster at a shade under $420,000. If that isn't exclusive enough, consider the $500,000 Vanquish Carbon using the same V12 but with eight forward ratios in place of the Vantage's seven.BENTLEYChauffeurs will going cap-in-hand to buyers of the Mulsanne Speed for the chance to steer the best Bentley ever. A twin-turbo V8 cranks out 1100Nm - only the Bugatti Veyron can torque itself up as a more powerful production model - to push the 2.7-tonne limo into triple figures in 4.9 seconds. Pricing has yet to be set but if you have to ask, you can't afford it.There's a lot of product in the pipeline this year but only one all-new car. The X1 will switch to front-wheel drive when the second-generation model arrives in the third quarter. The X1 will look more mini-SUV than compact wagon, aligning it with the X3 and X5. Top-end versions will be all-wheel drive. Updates and new variants include the 2 Series convertible, X5M/X6M, 6 Series/X6, 3 Series, X4 M40i and X5 e-Drive.The 458 range has a Speciale A due next month. The 499 examples of the alloy hardtop model are already sold, meaning the $635,000 two-seater is likely to be a smart investment. Keep an eye on the classifieds.The struggle to be a serious prestige player continues for Infiniti with a major model overhaul due in 2016. A refreshed Q70 flagship is due midyear with a nip-and-tuck for the bumpers, updated interior trim and more safety software.The transition from niche player to prestige powerhouse is predicated on the XE sedan being a genuine rival for the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and BMW C-Class. Specs indicate the engines are up to the job, so it comes down to how well it can be priced in Australia. There will be updates for the F-Type coupe and convertible and XF sedan.Styling that echoes the Evoque and a premium interior mark the Discovery Sport, debuting in May. Essentially a replacement for the Freelander, the Sport is a serious off-roader with 600mm wading depth and four-wheel drive. Also expect a Range Rover Sport SVR, Range Rover hybrid and updated Evoque.A compact performance sedan, the RC F will cost $133,500, making it a 'budget' alternative to the Germans. The naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8 isn't quite on par with the Euro competition but neither is the price. The GS F mid-sized sedan will use the same engine and is due later in the year, price undisclosed. The NX200 will get a new turbo engine.No new news is still good news for Lotus aspirants. An automatic Exige - the brand's first self-shifter - is due in the second quarter. Expect to pay around $9000 for the clutch-less version, putting the price above $135,000. An updated Evora should land late with less weight and improved interior.An 'affordable' McLaren is due late in the year with an entry level Sport model priced at more than $300,000. That puts it in the higher echelons of Porsche 911 territory - but still well below typical McLaren prices.Australia's top-selling prestige brand rolls out a range of new toys this year to expand its appeal. The action starts with the AMG GT and C63 AMG in the second quarter, both using a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8. Skip ahead to Q3 and there's the new GLE (formerly known as the ML) and GLE coupe SUVs, followed by the CLA Shooting Brake and the much-needed GLC compact SUV. Other updates or variants include the S63 coupe, CLS, B-Class and S500 coupe.The action starts with an entry-level five-door Mini Cooper One at $25,600 in February. It is powered by a three-cylinder engine with 75kW/180Nm. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the John Cooper Works three-door hatch, which will be the Mini with the most mumbo ever when it arrives midyear at an estimated $48,000.There's plenty to whet the appetite for performance enthusiasts, even if it is all clad in existing bodywork. The base V6 and performance GTS Cayenne SUV models are due next month, followed by the Turbo S midyear. An update of the 911 should make it before Christmas and Santa may deliver the new GT4 Cayman at the same time.The XC90 large SUV is due midyear with prices starting from about $90,000. A more affordable alternative will be the V60 Cross Country due late in the year from $65,000. The elevated version of the V60 wagon will be sold in FWD and AWD guise.

Los Angeles motor show: Range Rover gets a gun holder, new Toyota Mirai sedan fuelled by garbageThis year's Los Angeles motor show is an event with two extremes.In the home city of Pimp My Ride and chrome-covered car bling, gangsta rappers take posh luxury vehicles and modify them as if they were a Holden Gemini.But LA is also the spiritual home of the hybrid car – even though the technology was pioneered in Japan, the US embraced it in the millions – which is why clean energy shares the spotlight.With that in mind here are the highlights from both ends of the automotive spectrum – from the super frugal cars of the future that run on garbage to the super lavish cars of today that come with a leather-lined gun case.Range Rover by Holland and HollandGuns, fancy cars and LA seem to go hand in hand, or so Range Rover believes. It unveiled a special edition that comes with its own leather-lined gun case, to coincide with Los Angeles motor show.The Range Rover by Holland and Holland (the name of a famous British gun maker) is just like a regular Range Rover but with every option box ticked and a leather gun case in the boot. Without the guns in it, the maker helpfully points out.It also gets the gun's branding on the door handles and seats. You know, in case you want to ‘send a message'. Oh, and there are two DVD screens in the back for the kids.The most expensive Range Rover ever "benefits from a raft of Special Vehicles Operations-designed exclusive features to complement outdoor pursuits", the maker says.It costs the equivalent of $320,000 but you can put your guns away: it's not coming to Australia. Just 40 are being built globally per year over the next three years.Toyota MiraiIt may have a face like a catfish but the Toyota Mirai is genius. It can be fuelled by garbage, generates enough electricity to power your house for a week, and emits only water. Believe it or not, it'll be in showrooms next year.Almost 20 years after Toyota launched the first Prius – and more than 7 million hybrid sales later – the Japanese company has unveiled what it truly believes is the car of the future.The Mirai promises to be a hydrogen-powered car for the masses that takes over where the Prius leaves off.It has an unusual appearance because its hi-tech hydrogen system needs special cooling; sharp creases in the bodywork help it slip through the air more efficiently.Akio Toyoda, the grandson of the company founder, said the Mirai was a "turning point" that "redefines the (car) industry"."Imagine a world filled with vehicles that diminish our dependence on oil and reduce harm to the environment," said Mr Toyoda.Unlike pure electric cars, the Mirai can be refueled in less than five minutes and travel 480km on one tank, about the same as a regular car."Hydrogen can be made from virtually anything, even garbage," said Mr Toyoda, who added that the Mirai's on-board hydrogen system "creates enough electricity to power a house for about a week".There is, however, one significant hurdle. Hydrogen refueling stations are few and far between in the US, Japan and Europe – and there are none in Australia after an experiment with buses in West Australia was shut down seven years ago.The Mirai will go on sale in the US for $57,500 – or on a $499 per month lease deal – but it is not coming to Australia, at least for a few years, because there is nowhere to refuel it.Honda FCXWhile Toyota was unveiling a showroom-ready hydrogen car, Honda took the covers off its latest concept which uses the same technology and looks like a Storm Trooper.It's unclear whether the production version will share the concept's Star Wars looks when it goes on sale in the US and Japan in March 2016.Honda says its latest hydrogen car packs 60 per cent more energy into a fuel cell system that's 33 per cent smaller than before. It means it can travel 480km between refills, just like the Toyota.However, the Honda will be the first hydrogen car to package its entire fuel cell system under the bonnet like a conventional car, the company claims. Other systems take up space under the bonnet, cabin floor and boot.Honda was first to introduce a hydrogen-powered car in the United States, in 2002, as an experimental model in limited numbers.To date, though, fewer than 100 have been sold in the United States and Japan.Mercedes-Benz MaybachTake a close look at the new Maybach, the Rolls-Royce of Mercedes-Benzes, because we may not ever see one in Australia.The Maybach may be the preferred ride of US gangsta rappers, Middle East oil tycoons, and super-rich Chinese businessmen and women but, with a $1million price tag, just 13 were sold in Australia in the seven years from 2004.The Maybach brand was withdrawn from sale locally three years before it was axed globally.But now it's back as a stretched, super-long S-Class limousine powered by a 6.0-litre V12 (390kW/830Nm).The extra 200mm of leg room, unique styling, and hush-quiet interior will cost about $700,000 in Australia – $300,000 more than the dearest S-Class – but it's an order-only proposition. You'll have to fly overseas if you want to test drive one.Bentley Grand ConvertibleBritish brand Bentley has chopped the roof off its flagship Mulsanne sedan, added wood paneling to cover the convertible roof when it's stowed, and given it the price tag of a cruise boat whose styling inspired it.The new Bentley Grand Convertible is expected to cost close to $800,000 when it goes on sale in Australia next year.In the US, though, it costs roughly half as much, which is why LA's music stars and rich hangers-on can so easily afford to paint them fluro pink, slam the suspension and fit oversized chrome wheels.Or they could be buying it for the epic twin-turbo 6.75-litre V8 (for the tech geeks it has 395kW of power and 1100Nm of torque).BMW X5M /X6MSUVs are stealing sales away from sports-cars, says BMW. So it has an answer for that: a super-fast SUV.The X5M is BMW's answer to the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and promises blistering performance from a family-sized SUV, presumably to get the kids to school on time.The turtle-shaped X6M is an answer to a question no-one asked, but BMW says it designed it to appeal to younger buyers who don't like the look of the family-sized SUV.According to BMW marketing experts the X6M says "I'm single and don't have kids". With an X6M you may be single for longer than you think. Prices are yet to be confirmed but bank on them being close to $200,000.Ford Shelby Mustang GT350Ford has taken the covers off a road-legal, race-ready, 500 horsepower Mustang named after the late great racer Carroll Shelby.The exact power figures are still under wraps but Ford says the new 5.2-litre V8 (up from the Mustang's 5.0-litre) will pump out "more than 500 horsepower", or 373kW in modern terms, an extra 50kW on top of the standard V8.It also gets magnetically controlled suspension (the same technology used by Ferrari, Audi, Corvette, and Holden Special Vehicles), massive brakes and super-wide tyres.But Australians shouldn't get too excited about this one; a still-secret supercharged Shelby Mustang is due Down Under in about two years.In the meantime, the regular Mustang is due in Australian showrooms with a choice of four-cylinder and V8 power in coupe and convertible form in the second half of 2015 priced between $50,000 and $70,000.It's the first time in the 50-year history of the nameplate a right-hand-drive Mustang has been made on a Ford production line.Mazda CX-3And finally, something affordable that will be in showrooms soon. Pint-sized SUVs for the city are about to spread like wildfire.Japanese car maker Mazda released its long awaited CX-3 soft-roader, the smallest SUV in its line-up – and Australia will be crawling with them from early next year.The CX-3 is expected to fit between the top-selling Mazda3 hatch and CX-5 SUV in size and price, starting at about $25,000.It will join recently released five-seaters such as the Holden Trax, Ford EcoSport, and Suzuki S-Cross in the booming baby SUV market.There is not much detail about the new model except that it has "human-centric packaging". In other words, it's designed for humans.Translated this means Mazda has positioned the front wheels further forward than usual to give the driver extra legroom and a more natural seating position.Meanwhile, the rear seat is set taller than the front so back seat passengers have a better view and are less likely to get car sick.As expected, the CX-3 adopts the latest Mazda design language with sharp creases and a pointy nose.Perhaps torturing the design language, however, Mazda's media blurb says: "The front grille stacks seven fins with silver-painted front edges to create an expression of concentrated energy that flows horizontally. The signature wing is stout and three-dimensional. It forms the starting point for a powerful sense of speed that flows across the entire body."In other words: "we designed it to look fun and sporty".

The next direction for a score of small, punchy BMWs: power down via the front wheels. When the Bavarians switch ends, they do so with vigour - up to 10 Minis and 12 BMWs over the next few years will be front-wheel drive.BMW last week launched the 2 Series Active Tourer (pictured), its first front-drive car, based on its modular UKL architecture. The platform promises neat interior packaging, fuel efficiency and economies of scale.Front-drive BMW and Mini vehicles will account for 800,000 of the 2 million annual sales the BMW Group hopes to achieve by 2020. To date the group has confirmed three- and five-door Minis and five- and seven-seat Active Tourers.The company's spokesman for 1 and 2 Series models, Kai Lichte, says any vehicle smaller than a 3 Series will use the front-drive platform, which also accommodates all-wheel-drive.In line with this, the existing rear-drive 1 Series and X1 SUV are tipped to move to front-drive at the end of their current product cycles.A further FWD candidate is expected to be the X2, with the same coupe-styled roofline as the existing X4 and X6.Lichte says there has been no decision on the X2. "That's one of the cars we are flexible to decide," he notes.The only junior model not yet confirmed for FWD is the 2 Series coupe, launched late last year, which has earned widespread approval among driving enthusiasts for its dynamics. Spy shots reveal BMW will soon launch a convertible 2 Series and a performance-oriented M2."Reaction to the 2 Series was overwhelmingly positive and we just introduced those cars so we have time to make a decision," Lichte says.Ultimately BMW plans to only have two platforms for all models: UKL for vehicles less than 4.5m long and a common rear-wheel-drive architecture for the rest - ranging in size from the 3 Series compacts to the 7 Series limos.

The concept unveiled at Beijing motor show previews the styling and mechanical package expected to feature in the German marque's upcoming 'MLC' SUV. Based on the practical ML, the Concept Coupe SUV adopts a more unique and sporty appearance similar to that of Mercedes' most recent coupe models rather than its bulkier high-riders. At the front a large grille with an oversized badge, combined with a three-dimensional lower valance and chiseled bonnet, give the concept a look which is clearly derivative of the new S-Class Coupe.The Beijing concept features a low sloping roof, which will likely compromise rear passenger headroom over the boxier ML. The swoopy roofline does however gives the SUV Coupe greater visual presence and style over its staid sibling.The rear of the car has been designed to look elegant and sporting with the design finding influence in the new S-Class Coupe which features similarly thin taillights and a rounded off rear window. The vehicle number plate is also incorporated into a heavily sculpted rear bumper, giving the rear tailgate a smooth appearance. Flared wheel arches, integrated tailpipes and stylish air 'vents' also add aggression and athleticism to the design.The concept rides on 22-inch wheels shod in massive 305/45R tyres which give a mean look while hinting at the car's dynamic intentions. The Coupe SUV concept is 4935mm long, 2208mm wide and 1739mm tall, making it slightly larger in every dimension than the current BMW X6 – which is due to be updated later this year.It is understood the design of the 'MLC' production car will not differ dramatically from this concept, though the show car's wheels, door-handles and mirrors will be swapped for more feasible items.The concept also debuts with Mercedes' new 3.0-litre twin turbo V6 which will also be available in the upcoming facelifted version of the existing ML as well as the MLC. The new motor uses direct injection and produces 245kW and 480Nm of torque.The Coupe SUV uses the German brand's new 9G-TRONIC PLUS nine-speed automatic gearbox with five different modes – Comfort, Slippery, Sport, Sport+ and Individual. Mercedes' 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system also features, along with racey carbon ceramic brakes.The MLC SUV will use a development of the ML's chassis architecture. While the wheelbase dimensions will be the same on both models, the sportier coupe will have wider front and rear tracks to give a more assertive stance. The model will be available with air suspension and adaptive damping, plus active roll stabilization, which tilts the car into the corner to reduce lateral forces on the vehicle's occupants.The production-ready MLC SUV Coupe is expected to arrive during 2015 with a high performance AMG-tuned version likely to follow. 

When BMW first launched the X6 coupe-styled SUV, one pundit tagged it "the answer to a question nobody asked". Move on six years, and Mercedes-Benz is offering an answer to the X6's success after launching in 2008.At Beijing motor show, Mercedes will unveil its own coupe crossover concept, with a similar swooping rear roofline to the X6. The teaser sketch shows it from a front three-quarter view, but the angle of the roof clearly shows the intentions.It sports the Mercedes family face, and gains some crossover accessories in the form of side rails and front skid plates for the show stand. But this is more than just a motor show design exercise. Based on the M-Class platform and tipped to be called the MLC when it hits production, the vehicle has already been spotted testing in mule form around Europe.Engines and transmission are likely to echo those of the more practical end of the M-Class at initial launch, but you can also later expect to see a MLC AMG powered by a handbuilt twin-turbo 5.5-litre V8.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

The new BMW X5 hit the showrooms late last year, and a new X6 is coming up behind it. Spy photographers have caught the X6 testing in the freezing temperatures close to the Arctic Circle, and even with parts of the vehicle wrapped in camouflage, it's clear that the design echoes that of the X5 on which it's based.The headlights and LED daytime runnng lights are more visually integrated with the kidney grille, giving a stronger horizontal presence to the nose. However the X6 roofline continues with signature steeper rakes front and rear -- looking to be even more pronounced in the coming model.It will likely carry the same engine line-up as the X5, which means for us at least the three engines offered for the X5 roll-out: a 330kW V8 petrol, a 190kW six-cylinder turbodiesel and a 280kW triple-turbo six-cylinder, with other  engines set to arrive later (including possibly the plug-in hybrid that has been presented as the eDrive concept). Australian models are expected to continue with the eight-speed automatic driving all four corners with constant all-wheel drive.We'll see the new generation X6 here either in the final quarter of 2014 or early in 2015, with prices likely not to move a great distance from the current $111,045 entry level and topping out at $191,045.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

Mercedes-Benz will build a new low-roofed coupe-SUV crossover to face off against the BMW X6. A Mercedes executive told Car and Driver magazine that while an X6 rival would be something of a bizarre vehicle, it would make a lot of financial sense for the German carmaker. The executive said the business case had a strong foundation in that development costs would be relatively modest, while profit margins would be high. The crossover segments are growing around the world: not only in Australia, Europe and the US, but also -- and possibly more importantly -- in the developing markets of Asia, So Mercedes logically believes adding more to their lineup makes good business sense. Mercedes first hinted at a low-roofed coupe/SUV chimera a couple of years ago, when it announced that it would begin producing a second model alongside the M-Class at its Tuscaloosa, Alabama plant in the US. A Mercedes publicity image showed a cloaked vehicle with the profile of an X6 rival, with the tagline "Start of Production: 2015." The new model -- which is likely to be based on the M-Class -- would slot into the line-up as a big brother to the recently-unveiled GLA-Class. But they're not the only German brand to be eying the success of BMW's X6. Audi has also discussed the possibility of developing a sporty, low-roofed crossover. As far back as 2011, Volkswagen Group head of design Walter de'Silva said Audi was planning to launch a sporty crossover that would slot between the Q5 and Q7. Unofficially known as Q6, this crossover could end up being a bit smaller than the midsize X6 and ML-based vehicles; in which case it would more comfortably be positioned against the future BMW X4. www.motorauthority.com  

The new M Perfance line is headlined by the new BMW X6 M50d, priced from $157,000 it features the most powerful, volume-produced six-cylinder diesel engine in the world. The top of the range M50d produces 280kW of power and a staggering 740Nm of torque propelling it from 0 to 100km/h in just 5.3 seconds. Yet, it uses 7.7 litres of fuel per 100km. The X6 M50d is the creation of BMW's iconic high-perfomance division, BMW M GmbH. The 3.0-litre six-cylinder in-line engine in the X6 M50d is without parallel worldwide, having the highest output ever achieved by a BMW diesel engine together with outstanding levels of efficiency. Its unique triple turbocharging sees two comparatively small high-pressure chargers working with a larger low-pressure unit. The integration of an additional high-pressure turbo increases the engines capability when it comes to generating charge pressure, a key ingredient in taking the engines power output to the next level. One of the factors contributing to its exceptional efficiency, especially in relation to its output  is the new version of the common rail direct injection, with piezo injectors that operate at a pressure of 2200 bar.  The heaving hitting diesel is hooked up to an 8-speed auto and the drivetrain, suspension technology and aerodynamic properties have been harmonised with the precision characteristic of BMW M GmbH.