Big changes have been made to how the cars look. Their front ends now feature the brand’s new open, blacked-out kidney grilles, bringing them in line with other performance BMW models, although stubbier than the M3’s controversial ‘teeth’. Gaping air vents add to the “muscular” look as well as aiding engine and brake cooling.
Other touches include twin-dual M Sport exhausts as standard, forged alloy wheels (21in at the front and 22in at the rear), slimmer LED headlights, and Competition badges. The rakish X6 M Competition gets a black spoiler lip.
Inside, there are similar luxuries as before. It is clad in merino leather, features the dashboard-wide BMW iDrive curved screen and is fitted with carbonfiibre shifters.
Both cars will replace the current BMW X5 M and BMW X6 M in the German car maker’s global line-up, mirroring the UK’s offering.
They will be built at BMW’s Spartanburg plant in the US, with production starting in April. They will share a production line with the X3 M, X4 M and XM.
They are available to order now and pricing starts at £123,350 for the X5 M Competition and £126,050 for the X6 M Competition, up from £110,610 and £113,310 respectively. But with an array of options available, average sales prices are likely to move above £150,000.