BMW X6 M Becomes Official MotoGP Safety Car

While Mercedes supplied Formula 1 with the high-performance E63 AMG safety car, BMW's sport division M provided the X6 M for the new MotoGP season. Displayed since Thursday at the New York International Auto Show and presented at this weekend's Qatar Grand Prix, the new MotoGP safety car is powered by a newly-developed 4.4-liter V8 high-performance M TwinPower Turbo engine that generates 555 bhp.

In terms of performance figures, the car jumps from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds, with top speed reaching 275 km/h (171 mph).

"For the majority of the millions of worldwide MotoGP fans, and indeed the MotoGP riders, it will be the first time they will see the BMW X6 M either trackside or on TV. A absolute worldwide platform for people to see this car for the very first time," BMW said in a statement.

A wide array of enhancements are also available, including bi-xenon dual headlights for night time driving as well as a solar sensor that provides information on the amount of susnhine in order to control the automatic air conditioning, as the company explained.

"The season ahead is eagerly awaited by fans on all continents who follow what is surely one of the most exciting forms of Motorsport, and what better way to start it, than with a BMW X6 M heading the MotoGP grid under the floodlights of Qatar this weekend," the German automaker said.

For those of you who missed the news, the Qatar Grand Prix was heavily affected by rain, with the queen class delayed until Monday due to bad weather conditions.