The New BMW X6

C

cj10jeeper

Lifer
 Lichfield, England
While waiting for parts I spied a new X6 in my local dealer. Just arrived and the pretty much top of the range in the brochures colour 'red' Looked very nice from some angles but awkward on the rear corner. Sort of a coupe on stilts.

Build quality seems amazing as doors just glide too. Rear vision is nil with the sloped roof and shallow angle rear screen.

Would I buy one - NO. If I needed carrying space I'd have the X5 (which I already do) If I wanted performance in a 4 seater coupe then, well I'd get a real coupe. This is as big as an X5 and only a 4 seater?? Seems all compromised in the wrong way.

Favourite features 0-62 in 5.4 seconds!!! OMG - that leaves my 3.01 Z standing. Paddle shifts and heads up display.

So my question here is I noted that active steering means a small movement of the wheel at low speeds tuns the wheels considerably. At high speds the same amout of turn turns the roadwheels less. Doe sthis mean we've broken the direct physical link betweel steering and road wheels or added some sort of extra movement into the steering rack or a gearbox?? Interested in how they do it.
 
I absolutely love the looks of this vehicle, but a 4 seater would definitely be a no-go for me (I have 3 kids). BTW, what's up with all this marketing of 4 door vehicles as "coupes"? By definition a coupe has only 2 doors! What's next, 4-wheeled motorcycles?
 
Well I thought it was growing on me a bit, but now TBH I'd rather have an X5 (or even better, an Infiniti FX50).

Direct steering info here

Active steering is an automotive technology utilised by BMW which varies the degree that the wheels turn in response to the steering wheel. At lower speeds, this technology reduces the amount that the steering wheel must be turned -- improving performance in situations such as parking and other urban area traffic maneuvers. At higher speeds, the performance is such that steering becomes more responsive and provides improved directional stability.

In a parking situation, the computer varies the ratio so that the steering wheel needs less than two turns to move the wheels lock to lock. As vehicle speeds increase, the steering ratio increases, so it takes more turns of the steering wheel to move the wheels and increases vehicle stability. Besides providing variable steering ratios, the computer is linked with the vehicle stability control system to aid in directional stability of the vehicle.

If the driver experiences a skid or slide because of poor road conditions, the Active Steering will react to information from the yaw rate sensors to modify the steering angle of the front wheels to stabilize the vehicle. This occurs much faster than the driver can react. If the Active Steering angle is not enough, then the Stability Control system intervenes to help as well.

Safety is one of the prime objectives of this system. Steering angle sensors on the steering column sense the direction the driver wants to go and the system only intervenes if the car is beyond stable limits. If an error or problem occurs in the electronics, the computer shuts down the operation of the electric motor, locking the ring gear of the planetary gear set and making it fixed ratio steering. Finally, if there is a problem inside the planetary gear unit (an unlikely scenario), there is a second shaft that runs all the way through from the steering wheel shaft to the steering rack so that conventional steering is available.
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I went to my dealer this morning and saw the X6 in person for the 3rd time. I love it. I especially like the rear quarter. I have an X5 and I would definitely take the X6 over it. I just don't need the extra space.
 
rabman5 - I think this choice is all about space/style

Mike this tells you it does it and what it does, but not how, just generic things like 'computer' and 'variable'.

I'm interested in how they do it - the mechanical aspect of changing the steering wheel input into greater or lesser road wheel movement. Is it an epicyclic (sp)gearbox?
 
I've just seen one of these on the motorway.

Front end in nice, but gee the back - that is one ugly BMW!

The one I saw was in black and in the distance it honesly looked like a 3 series saloon on monster truck wheels!!!

Maybe it would look better in a lighter colour!
 
Would look alot better in the dark with no moon, lights off in a different country on another planet. :thumbsdown:
SOS
 
cj10jeeper said:
So my question here is I noted that active steering means a small movement of the wheel at low speeds tuns the wheels considerably. At high speds the same amout of turn turns the roadwheels less. Doe sthis mean we've broken the direct physical link betweel steering and road wheels or added some sort of extra movement into the steering rack or a gearbox?? Interested in how they do it.
Click to expand...

I had a Honda Prelude a while back it was the 4 Wheel Steer but also had the feature that the steering became hard and less movement when you was on the motorway is it not just computer clever stuff?

Best bit was the 4WS, it took roundabout so well and felt like the back end was hanging out with the rear wheels turning too......

Cheers

PaulN
 
I have an X5 and I would not trade it for an X6. It's not growing on me. :thumbsdown: I do like that "Vermillion Red" color however. :thumbsup: It is indeed bizarre that 4-door "coupe" designation.
 
pmeloche said:
I have an X5 and I would not trade it for an X6. It's not growing on me. :thumbsdown: I do like that "Vermillion Red" color however. :thumbsup: It is indeed bizarre that 4-door "coupe" designation.
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I too am an X5 driver and woudl not swap, but that probably because we are in a different sector and I assume others will go for the X6.

The launch brochure colour is without doubt always the one to go for on a car. In the instance of the X6 it's the red. Whenever I buy new that's the colour I always get as the Marketing and photography people know what they are doing.
 
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