Category: BMW

BMW has been able to secure a limited run of its high-powered X5 M model. Around the nation, sighs of relief from the country’s elite soccer mums can still be heard.

BMW Group Australia Managing Director, Stavros Yallouridis says buyer interest in the X5 M has helped secure the car for the local market.

“Since we announced the X6 M was coming to Australia, dealers have taken numerous orders for the car. The first owners will take delivery of their prized possession just before Christmas.

“Not wishing to be left out of the action, BMW has also received several requests from buyers interested in the X5 M.

“Now that our business case for the X5 M is complete, we are in a position to meet the desires of these customers also.

“The new hero M models will start from around $180,000,” he said.

If comments from AUSmotive reader WAY are correct, just 100 Australians will be able to enjoy the glory of a 408kW twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8, which is at the heart of the X5 M.

All will be confirmed closer to launch when Australian specifications and pricing are announced.

Gamers around the world are no doubt getting all hot under the collar about Shift, the next instalment in the Need for Speed franchise. To help pass the time until the game’s September release enjoy this screen footage featuring the BMW M3 GT2, the game’s cover star.

The BMW M3 Edition Model is the latest incarnation of the M3 to be released from Munich. Based on the Coupé, the car will go on sale across the globe from July this year and production will be limited to six months.

The M3 Edition Model will be available in just four colours, Alpine White Non-Metallic, Black Non-Metallic, Dakar Yellow Non-Metallic or Monte Carlo Blue Metallic.

Engine specs remain as per the regular M3. That means you still get a hugely impressive 309kW from the 4.0 litre V8, capable of launching the car to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds. The sprint time can be further reduced to 4.6 seconds by ticking the optional 7-speed Drivelogic double clutch transmission.

Exterior tweaks include the kidney grille, bonnet openings, side gills and exhaust tips that are finished in a darkened chrome. The wing mirrors, too, are given a once over with black paint. Exclusive 19″ wheels are part of the package and can be optioned in the usual colouring, along with black or a special white contrasting colour with polished spokes. Sounds interesting! No pics of that white option from BMW PR, sadly.

The car has also been lowered by 10mm over a standard M3, however no detail is given. Until information to the contrary is supplied, we can assume that this is revised springs only.

Interior trim is dependent on external colour choice, with a variety of areas such as armrests, contrast stitching on the Black Novillo leather seats and door sills getting the M3 Edition Model treatment.

No idea on pricing for the Australian market at this point, but it looks like the M3 Edition model will be available down under with BMW’s press release (available after the jump) clearly announcing a worldwide launch.

UPDATE 2 June: BMW Australia have released a press statement on this car which reads “BMW Group Australia has been fortunate enough to secure just three exclusive BMW M3 Edition Models for Australia.” The cars will be here “towards the end of the year” and pricing is yet to be confirmed.

Finally BMW have faced reality and made an X5 that really is a tank. Well, sort of. You see, the X5 Security Plus is a bullet resistant beast designed to lessen the danger faced by—I kid you not—an AK47 handgun attack. Brilliant!

Powered by a 261kW 4.8-litre V8 rocket launcher, with 475Nm of torque, the X5 Anti-AK47 missile accelerates to 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 180 km/h.

Fortunately, we live in the lucky country and BMW Australia has no plans to offer the X5 Security Plus down under. Which is a shame in some respects. You just have to love a car that has ‘Yelp’ and ‘Wail’ buttons.

There’s so much more that can be said about a bullet repelling SUV, but you’ll just have to read the rest for yourself…

I want to live, I want to give…

Another embargo set, another embargo broken! It seems the power of the 4.4 litre twin turbo V8 inside the X5 M and X6 M was too much to hold back. With figures of 408kW (555hp) and 680Nm of retina removing torque is it any surprise.

The M versions of the X5 and X6 are about as exciting to me as having more hot air delivered to Parliament House. And about as useful. There is no doubt in my mind they will be stonking cars to drive, but I don’t really get the point of hyper SUVs to be honest.

Presumably BMW are keeping a straight face when they describe the X6 M as possessing “athletic charisma”. One wonders if those crazy Chermans have an arse-about dictionary, or something. When I looked in my dictionary to find words to describe the X6 M, I came up with corpulent and indifferent. Clearly, I’m not quite on the same page as BMW, then.

But that engine. Oh, that engine! It wants to live, and it wants to give. And then keep on giving. The beating heart inside these BMW behemoths may well be the cure to all the evils of the metalwork surrounding it. That stupendous 680Nm of torque is available, in full, from just 1500rpm. Can you imagine the awesomeness that would lay at the beck and call of your right foot. PPPOOOOOWWWEEEEERRRRRRR!!!

The engine doesn’t stop at brutal power, though. It even has a hint of innovation coursing through its veins. BMW claims the new M TwinPower Turbo engine is the world’s first with a common exhaust manifold encompassing both rows of cylinders and featuring Twin Scroll Twin Turbo Technology.

If you do see the point of hyper SUVs, then I invite you to read BMW’s comprehensive release after the jump. There’s also a few pics of what these new cars actually look like, as well. You know, just in case you were wondering.