BMW lowers X6 price

BMW Australia has announced a 3.0-litre diesel version of its controversial X6 SUV-coupe crossover, priced at $109,900 and available from June.

The new X6 range opener, which undercuts the X6 xDrive 35i ($118,500) by $8600 but remains $17,800 more expensive than the similarly engined X5 xDrive 30d ($92,100), is designed to cash in on unprecedented recent demand for oil-burning BMWs, which last year outnumbered petrol BMW model sales for the first time.

Powered by the same 180kW/540Nm 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbo-diesel that motivates well over half of all X5s sold in Australia, the X6 30d ‘sports activity coupe’ is claimed to sprint to 100km/h in 7.5 seconds, making it less than a second slower to the legal limit than the turbo-petrol X6 35i (6.7 seconds) and the X6 40d twin-turbo diesel (6.9), which costs $124,900.



However, the X6 30d, which also comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission, Dynamic Performance Control and BMW EfficientDynamics measures such as low rolling resistance tyres and brake energy recuperation as standard, offers best-in-class fuel consumption of 7.4L/100km – the same as the X5 30d and significantly lower than the most frugal X6 previously available, the 40d (9.0L/100km).

Other standard X6 30d equipment includes 19-inch star-spoke alloy wheels, sport seats, a sports leather steering wheel, bi-Xenon headlights, Nevada leather trim, head-up display, rear-view camera with ‘top view’, Professional navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, USB audio interface, high beam assist, automatic tailgate and front/rear parking sensors.

An optional sports package comprising 20-inch light alloy wheels, high-gloss shadow line and anthracite headlining will be available for the X6 30d, priced at $5000.

As we’ve reported, Australia’s X6 – sales of which slumped by 35 per cent to 374 last year and have softened a further 48 per cent so far in 2011 to just 38 units – is now also available for the first time in five-seat configuration.

The X6’s newly available second-row seat accommodates three occupants and includes three-point seatbelts while retaining the four-seat X6’s folding centre armrest and 60/40-split folding rear seatback function.

2011 BMW X6pricing:
xDrive30d	$109,900
xDrive35i	$118,500
xDrive40d	$124,900
xDrive50i	$149,000
X6 M	$185,000