- For 2024, BMW has given the X5 M and X6 M new powertrains, updated looks and huge dash-mounted displays.
- The only competition now is the 2024 X5 M and X6 M, which combine BMW’s latest twin-turbo V-8 with a 48-volt hybrid system.
- Matching their new-look front end is a redesigned dashboard with a curved display running the brand’s iDrive 8 infotainment software.
Hybrid technology continues to proliferate in BMW’s hallowed M lineup. Perhaps to ease the inevitable spread in the iconic M3 and M5 sedans, the 2024 X5 M SUV and its hunched-over counterpart, the X6 M, are the first of the brand’s highest-performance vehicles to adopt a 48-volt electrical system, which is widely Part of the mid-cycle refresh.
new kind of competition
Previously, the BMW X5 M and X6 M were offered with an individual Competition package, which added an additional 17 horsepower, a rowdier exhaust note, and larger-diameter rear wheels and tires—other bits. For 2024, both models are now only available in Competition guise, meaning all of the performance-enhancing hardware becomes standard.
At its heart rests a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8. However, it has been heavily modified. BMW says that the new S68 engine gets a myriad of changes intended to make it more responsive and efficient than its predecessor. Peak output remains the same at 617 horses and 553 pound-feet of torque, but is now complemented by an electric motor paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The motor produces 12 hp and 148 pound-feet, with the 48-volt system also acting as starter-generator.
The transmission featured improved cooling components and new gear ratios. The first three gears are now shorter, with wider ratio splines than before. Despite all these powertrain changes, BMW doesn’t expect the ’24 X5 M or X6 M to be any quicker than last year’s. Both are still claimed to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. BMW expects them to produce lower engine emissions thanks to the new catalytic converters. Official EPA ratings have yet to be announced.
Other mechanical changes to the X5 M and X6 M include revised dampers and rear-suspension tweaks aimed at improving high-speed stability. BMW also says that both the SUV bodies are now more rigid due to the extra bracing. Both Mutes still have standard all-wheel drive and an electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential, but they can now operate independently of the stability-control system.
M SUVs Get A Nose Job
While BMW’s latest design language is arguably its most divisive yet, the brand appears to have avoided the brunt of the backlash with its facelifts of the X5 M and X6 M. Instead of giving them the polarizing pig nostrils worn by the four-door M3 and two-door M4, or the alien-looking arrangement seen on the X7 SUV and 7-Series sedan, M-badged mid-size SUVs consists of a less invasive nose job. Of course, we’re sure some people will still find ways to be offended.
The front of the X5 M and X6 M now feature narrower headlights with arrow-shaped accents that double up as daytime running lights and turn signals. Their black kidney grille gets horizontal slats, and the nameplate badge is bigger than before. A black section now frames the grille in the front bumper as well as the one below it, forming an X-shaped motif. A separate set of air intakes on either side contribute to the nose job.
At the rear, the X5 M and X6 M feature taillights that echo the X motif at the front. That and the lower vertical reflector constitute the rear changes for 2024. BMW also adds more metallic paint options which include Isle of Man Green as well as Brooklyn Gray and Frozen Pure Grey.
a step into tech
For those who don’t already know, BMW is retrofitting a giant curved screen into models that don’t currently have it, which so far includes the X5 M and X6 M. The setup pairs a 12.3-inch gauge cluster with a 14.9. inch touchscreen under a single piece of glass. The infotainment system supports the company’s iDrive 8 software, which provides multiple interaction controls with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The curved display takes up most of the real estate at the top of the dashboard and brings a redesigned layout. The latter applies to slimmer HVAC vents and a new ambient lighting strip with a crystal-like texture. The lighting element is customizable and can also alert the user of an incoming call.
Other changes inside the X5 M and X6 M include new carbon-fibre paddle shifters behind the steering wheel. Carbon fiber is also the default interior trim, but it can be replaced with wood elements.
Prices for the 2024 BMW X5 M start at $123,295. It’s $4100 more than the ’23 model with the Competition package, but it also includes a number of notable updates. The 2024 X6 M starts at $128,195—a $4200 increase over before. Both models are set to begin production in April and will likely go on sale this summer.