BMW lobs X5/X6 M Competition pricing from $209,900

BMW Australia has revealed the pricing of its two most hardcore and aggressive SUVs to date with the new X5 M Competition and X6 M Competition twins able to be had from $209,900 plus on-road costs and $213,900 respectively.

This will be the first time in Australia that just the Competition variants are offered, a move that mirrors the decision to offer only the M2, M5 and M8 Competition variants, rather than the standard versions.

Due to hit Aussie showrooms in May, the new X5 and X6 Competition twins are powered by a 460kW/750Nm version of BMW’s twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine (up 37kW), enabling them to slingshot from 0-100km/h in 3.8 seconds – almost half a second faster than the outgoing models.

Weighing in at 2310kg and 2295kg respectively, this sub-four-second dash to the tonne is possible due to the mountain of power being put to the ground by all four wheels via the same eight-speed automatic transmission used in the M8 Competition.

Being the Bavarian brand’s flagship performance SUVs, the X5 and X6 Competition twins score adaptive M Suspension Professional and M Servotronic steering, active M differential and a rear-biased tune to the xDrive all-wheel-drive system.

The latest version of the M compound brake system takes care of stopping duties with six-piston callipers up front gripping 395mm drilled and inner-ventilated discs while floating single-piston callipers take care of things at the rear (380mm discs).

All of this amounts to a claimed stopping distance from 100km/h of just 32 metres.

To distinguish themselves from the regular X5s and X6s, the M Competition twins boast larger intakes, “dynamic rooflines”, unique 21-inch front and 22-inch rear alloy wheels and more aggressive M body kits.

Inside there are heated M multifunction sport seats finished in full ‘Merino’ leather upholstery paired with BMW Individual Alcantara headliner.

The standard equipment list is almost as impressive as the power and performance figures, which includes BMW Laserlight, ambient interior lighting, Apple CarPlay, automatic four-zone air-conditioning, BMW Live Cockpit Professional, 12.3-inch M Multifunction digital instrument cluster and 12.3-inch Control Display, BMW Gesture Control, BMW Individual Instrument panel finished in leather ‘Walknappa’, BMW Individual roof rails, head-up display, Comfort Access System with proximity function, ConnectedDrive Services, DAB+ digital radio, electric seat adjustment with lumbar support, Harman Kardon surround sound system, Parking Assistant Plus, panoramic sunroof, soft close doors, temperature controlled cup-holders, tyre pressure monitoring, Condition Based Servicing and wireless phone charging.

On the safety front, Driving Assistant Professional, Intelligent Personal Assistant and Reversing Assistant are all included as standard.

So far this year ending January BMW has shifted 207 X5s and 45 X6s, accounting for 13.9 per cent and 3.0 per cent of the $70,000-plus large SUV segment, making the X5 the second-best seller behind the Mercedes-Benz GLE (331).

Compared to the same time last year, X5 sales are down 20.4 per cent (207 vs 260) while X6 sales have increased by 95 per cent (45 vs 23).