BMW has so far not officially revealed the X5 M and X6 M, but through several posts on Instagram by @wilcoblok, we see the X5 M Competition and X6 M Competition, the hardcore top of the range X5 and X6 models. These shots we pulled from Instagram reveal not only what the new Motorsport SUVs will look like, but also some of the special touches that BMW will apply to the more exclusive Competition versions.

You will be able to tell the X5 M and X6 M apart from lesser models in the range through the usual assortment of M touches:

-* More aggressive front and rear bumpers

-* Beefier side skirts

-* Unique mirrors

-* Big, lightweight wheels

-* Massive M-branded brakes

-* Quad exhausts poking out the back

-* Color options that are exclusive to the M models.

Inside, the Instagram shots revealed the usual M goodies like:

-* An Alcantara-wrapped sports steering wheel (that doesn’t have a flat bottom, it must be mentioned)

-* Quilted leather on the doors and seats

-* Unique graphics for the digital gauge cluster

-* A dark-colored (usually black) headliner

-* Carbon fiber trim for the dashboard.

These are all predictable changes that we could have speculated on without these leaked shots, although they certainly do help in order for us to have the best possible understanding of these upcoming super-SUVs.

In this spec, the engine is rated at 617 horsepower and 750 Nm (553 pound-feet) of torque, and it is believed that the non-Competition X5 M and X6 M will have 592 horsepower to go with the exact same torque rating. Expect it to sprint to sixty miles per hour in under four seconds.

BMW M5 Competition Package Drivetrain Specifications

Engine type

4.4-liter V-8 engine

Cylinders

8

Valves per cylinder

4

Stroke

88.3

Bore

89

Displacement

4,395

Compression rate

Engine power

617 HP @ 6,000 RPM

Engine torque

553 LB-FT @ 1,800-5,860 RPM

0-60 mph

3.1 seconds

Top speed

155 mph

Top speed with M Drivers Package

189 mph


The gearbox for all X5 and X6 Motorsport models will be the same eight-speed BMW uses in pretty much everything, although it will receive special software tuning to provide sharper response than in lesser versions. This not only gives M models a commanding feel but actually help to improve performance as well. One difference between hot versions of the 5-Series and X5 is the fact that the latter won’t be offered with the selectable rear-wheel drive-only mode that’s standard on the M5, although we would like to see it make an appearance on the X5 as well.

I’ve already tried out the hottest non-M X5, the 400 horsepower M50d variant, and it not only goes in a straight line, but it also steers and instills much more confidence in the driver than you would expect. And, that’s just the warm version, nowhere near as special as the X5 M that should arrive first, before the X6 M, sometime next year.

The X5 M and X6 M will be in a class of their own when it comes to blending luxury, performance, and handling, with no real rival to speak of other than the Porsche Cayenne. In fact, Porsche just revealed its direct BMW X6 rival, the 2020 Cayenne Coupe, a model that alongside the Mercedes GLE Coupe will pose a serious sales threat. Both the Cayenne Coupe and GLE Coupe will be offered as high-performance models as well, so the X6 M will have a harder time than ever staying relevant, especially since there’s also the very enticing - albeit more expensive - Lamborghini Urus to tempt high-performance SUV fans.

Further reading

Read our full speculative review on the 2020 BMW X6 M.

Read our full speculative review on the 2020 BMW X5 M.

Read our full speculative review on the 2019 BMW X6.

Read our full review on the new, 2019 BMW X5.