2020 BMW X6 M Spied at the Nurburgring, Sounds Angry

Oh, the X6 M. It's the original large 4x4 that makes you go "boy, that shouldn't handle like that." The original came out in 2009 with a 4.4-liter V8. Even a decade later, the company isn't going to downsize, though it will offer a bit more power. Expect 600 HP normally or 625 HP with the competition package, which most people will buy anyway.

Unlike the original, this new model will have no shortage of rivals, such as the next GLE 63 Coupe, the upcoming Audi RS Q8 and whatever model Range Rover will be around at the time. On top of this, you have more upmarket contenders such as the Porsche Cayenne Coupe, Lamborghini Urus and the Bentayga.

So track testing is more important than it's ever been, which is why the heavily camouflaged prototype can be seen blasting down the Nurburgring straights and torturing its tires in the corners. The exhaust also sounds pretty good, though we've come to expect that from the 4.4-liter.

Design-wise, the X6 M should very closely follow the lead set by the X5 M, which we recently showed you without a sliver of camouflage. In fact, even from a distance, you can spot the new air intakes and vents at the back. Inside, all the tech from the M5 will transition over. That means a new M gear shifter and steering wheel with bright red buttons. The Competition model might also get different seats for lightness.

The extra grunt over the M50i will be accompanied by serious drivetrain hardware. We're talking M-specific ceramic brakes or the torque vectoring system which you can actually see in action in the video.