New cars: BMW X6 M

 What the critics say about the $89,725 BMW X6 M

Car and Driver

Those ever-tinkering Bavarians in BMW’s M division have created a 555-hp monster that flashes to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds. That makes it the fastest SUV we’ve ever tested, even beating a Porsche Cayenne Turbo by 0.1 second. So we’ll overlook the Aztec-like “skyscraper butt,” the choppy ride, and a rear seat that can accommodate only two passengers.

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Why does this car even exist? BMW’s regular X6 “makes little sense,” since its coupe-like styling interferes with its cargo-hauling purpose. Cranking up its horsepower, raising its center of gravity, and stuffing it with performance-enhancing electronics may make the M version “a heckuva lot of fun.” But that isn’t a compelling reason to buy one.

Automobile

Why did BMW make it? It got tired of watching loyal customers buying Porsche Cayenne Turbos. The X6 M’s 4.4-liter twin turbo V8 is probably “the least laggy” in the world. The automatic transmission also has no peer, and no other vehicle in this weight and height category can match the X6 M’s handling. Still, the car weighs “as much as a small fishing village.”