With 567 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque on tap from its 4.4-liter, twin-turbocharged, V-8 engine, the 2015 BMW X6 M is one of the most powerful production SUVs->ke145 in the world. By that logic, it should also be pretty fast. But how fast can Bimmer’s hulking, new coupe->ke141 SUV go? According to BMW M->ke546 project manager Herbert Bayerl, the new X6 M could complete a lap around the Nurburgring->ke999 in the same time as the previous BMW M3.->ke2366

German auto site Sport Auto set the time for the M3 E92 when it set a lap of 8 minutes, 5 seconds at the Nurburgring back in December 2007. If the new X6 M is capable of posting a similar lap time as Bayerl is saying, it would take the ‘Ring’s SUV lap record from the Range Rover SVR, which posted an 8-minute, 14-second lap time.

Not only is that nine seconds faster than the Range Rover SVR’s time, it would also be about 20 seconds quicker than the 8-minute, 24-second lap time set by the previous X6 M!

For an extra slice of perspective, the Audi R8 V8, Alfa Romeo 4C,->ke3773 and the Porsche Cayman S all posted lap times of 8:04, presumably making them only one second faster around the ‘Ring than the new X6 M.

On the other end of the time sheet you have the 2004 Subaru WRX Sti Spec-C, which clocked in a lap time of 8 minutes, 6 seconds, a second slower than the new X6 M.

At this point, all that’s left is actually seeing the new X6 M post that lap time. As much as I’d like to believe Bayerl, I have to admit that it’s hard to believe these claims unless we see it for ourselves.

Click past the jump to read more about the BMW X6 M.

Why it matters

SUVs->ke145 aren’t supposed to go this fast around one of the world’s most treacherous race tracks. That was a strong belief, at least before the Range Rover SVR posted a time of 8 minutes, 14 seconds. From there, the possibility of an SUV posting a sub 8-minute time around the Nurburgring opened up.

If there’s any truth to Herbert Bayerl’s claim that the BMW X6 M can finish a complete lap around the ‘Ring in just 8 minutes, 5 seconds, you better believe that other automakers will be gunning for that number.

Doing so would have to entail getting closer to 7 minutes, 59.99 seconds, which is becoming more realistic at this point. Right now, the important thing is for the X6 M to actually prove it can cover the check that Bayerl just wrote. As soon as it can verify that, then it’ll ascend to the throne as the fastest production SUV to run a lap around the ‘Ring until another model supplants it.

BMW X6 M

The BMW X6 was first introduced in 2009, becoming the first coupe-like SUV to proudly wave its aesthetics to what was then a confused market. Since then, the X6 and its more powerful variant, the X6 M, has planted its flag in the business and become an integral part of BMW’s lineup.

The recently unveiled 2015 X6 M represents the newest and smartest update of the model, complete with a fresh new look and important changes to its 4.4-liter, twin-turbocharged, V-8 engine.

Nobody’s going to mistake the X6 with the 2015 X6 M. The latter has a more aggressive style, accentuated by its now trademark fastback design and the massive aerodynamic digs are all there to help the SUV achieve its performance pop.

Under its hood, the 2015 X6 M’s V-8 engine can produce 567 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, a subtle bump from the previous X6 M’s 555-horsepower and 501-pound-feet of torque output.

With these numbers, the X6 M is able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just four seconds to go with a top speed of 155 mph. The latter can be bumped up to 173 mph with an optional M Driver’s Package.

The 2015 X6 M is priced from $103,050 in the US.