Skip to main content

BMW X6 M Design Edition literally earns its stripes

The stripes make all the difference.

BMW apparently thought the X6 M, the performance version of its SUV/coupe chimera, wasn’t attracting quite enough attention. So the Bavarians came up with the BMW X6 M Design Edition.

The most obvious change is the graphics package, with red, dark blue, and light blue stripes running from the front air intakes to the rear wheel wells and over the hood. The garish stripes make the white X6 M pictured here look like a 1970s CSL racer that’s gorged itself on strudel and marzipan for the last four decades.

Other upgrades include 21-inch wheels, carbon fiber front and rear splitters, and a black diffuser and grilles.

The interior gets black leather with Mugello red accents and piano black trim.

The changes may be entirely cosmetic, but the BMW X6 M already has plenty to offer in the performance department.

Under the hood is a 4.4-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 related to the M5’s mill. It produces 555 horsepower and 500 pound-feet of torque, which is routed through a six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

BMW says the X6 M will do 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds; it’s top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph.

Only 100 examples of the X6 M Design Edition will be made, and it’s unclear if any of them will make it to the U.S., which is sad news.

Looks like American drivers will have to live with the total anonymity of a 555 hp SUV with a squashed roof.

Editors' Recommendations

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Parents will never miss soccer practice with BMW’s new 523-horsepower SUVs
2020 BMW X7 M50i

The BMW M badge was originally reserved for the automaker's most hardcore performance cars, but lately, BMW has been less discerning. In addition to applying the M badge to SUVs, BMW launched an M Performance line of cars that are sportier than its regular models, but not up to the standards of full-on M vehicles. The latest models to get the M Performance treatment are the X5 and X7 SUVs. We can already hear the howls of purists.

The 2020 BMW X5 M50i and X7 M50i use the same engine, itself an upgrade of the 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8 already used in both SUVs. The M Performance version of the engine produces 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, increases of 67 hp and 74 lb-ft over the standard X5 and X7. That will get the X5 M50i from zero to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds, according to BMW, while the larger X7 M50i takes 4.5 seconds. Top speed for both vehicles is electronically limited to 130 mph with all-season tires or 155 mph with summer performance tires.

Read more
Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?
The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.

Read more
Cybertruck production reportedly halted over pedal issue
Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck. Tesla

Tesla’s Cybertruck has been hit by a production delay caused by an issue with a part of the vehicle, a number of media reports have claimed.

Read more