The BMW X6 has received mixed reception since its debut last year. Mechanically essentially the same as the much-more-useful X5, the 2009 X6 trades interior and cargo space for… what could be called… styling.
Legendary German BMW tuning house AC Schnitzer has largely succeeded in making the best of the BMW X6’s rather strange design language with the 2009 AC Schnitzer X6 Falcon. But X6 upgrades don’t stop at the aerodynamics and styling level. Choosing to tackle the X6 diesel variants, AC Schnitzer has given the X6 Falcon real usable everyday power and an aero and styling kit we really like.
A wide-body kit, especially prevalent in the rear, envelopes AC Schnitzer Type V11 22 inch wheels that look perfectly at home on the X6 Falcon. A black-and-gold two tone paint job on the promotional model would make Bruce Wayne jealous, and further accentuates the lines of the X6 Falcon’s aero kit.
AC Schnitzer leaves no stone unturned when giving the BMW X6 the Falcon treatment, promising better grip and sharper cornering from a heavily-modified suspension. The Falcon interior gets signature AC Schnitzer two-tone leather as well.
BMW X6 performance parts can be purchased from AC Schnitzer separately, or the Falcon will be available as a total conversion soon. Contact AC Schnitzer for pricing information.
X6 Fires a Broadside
Official AC Schnitzer Press Release
AC Schnitzer Presents New Addition to Falcon Territory
Falcons are becoming increasingly common in town. Now a particularly imposing variant of the agile predator is conquering the road valleys with its broad wings: the Falcon based on the X6 by AC Schnitzer. It follows the styling features of the X5 version of the same name, already successfully launched. Other identifying marks are the striking wing extensions of PU-RIM, a high quality plastic which is far more flexible and robust than for example GRP laminate or deep-drawn materials such as ABS. The dimensions of the X6 in the attractive lengthways format are 70 mm wider at the front axle and 80 mm wider at the rear. In other respects too the Falcon is perfectly adapted to its habitat. Instead of sweeping through the sky, it swept around the North Loop of the Nürburgring in numerous laps until the chassis developers and Engineering Director Manfred Wollgarten were totally satisfied with the setup of the new AC Schnitzer springs. Now the X6 remains firmly on the ground even at speeds which a normal falcon only achieves in a nosedive. And of course, on every corner. Downforce instead of lift, was the motto in the design of the impressive plumage, styled by Chief Designer Michele Viandante. The aerodynamics package includes a front skirt with diagonal air inlets, and repositioned fog lamps. The submarining protection has been removed in favour of a dynamically contoured spoiler edge. The Falcon rear now wears a solid skirt with edge frame. In contrast to the original, all components are painted in body colour throughout, so that the body appears drawn further down and hence more dominant. Instead of the submarining protection also originally fitted here, AC Schnitzer has opted for a rear diffuser and completed the effect with a new rear spoiler.
While birds generally sing in high keys, the bass engine note of the Falcon is more suggestive of a big cat. The twin-flow exhaust system in AC Schnitzer Racing Design however has an excellent resonance section. A lot of noise about nothing? On the contrary: thanks to the Control Unit, AC Schnitzer takes the series diesel engines, already excellent as standard, of types 30d and 35d to 200 kW / 272 HP instead of 173 kW / 235 HP, and 228 kW / 310 HP instead of 210 kW / 286 HP respectively. Perfect handling with corresponding Look and Feel is achieved with the “EVO” 3-spoke sports airbag steering wheel.
Instead of the falconer’s rings, the “legs” of the Falcon are decorated with the multipiece
AC Schnitzer alloy wheels Type Vll. With black or silver paint and a dense sequence of spokes, the 22″ rim perfectly complements the challenging appearance. The alternating spread angle of the web pairs gives a refined look. Decorated and equipped in this way, the AC Schnitzer Falcon really has no natural enemies out there.
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A total of 199 attacks on speed cameras in the UK last year cost operators over £500k (US $800k) in repair cost. The figures, reported by the Mid Sussex Times in response to a freedom of information request, do not include the far more substantial amount of revenue lost before replacement devices could be put in place to resume ticketing. Most recently, a pair of cameras were destroyed in Cambridgeshire on October 25 at around 7pm. One of the devices issued tickets on the A605 Elton bypass while a second was stationed near Peterborough. This represents the third time the A605 camera has been set on fire in the past six months. In the past fiscal year, Cambridgeshire spent £93k (US $150k) repairing cameras. including replacing an automated ticketing machine at Stow-cum-Quy, after an April 14 attack. The replacement cost was £35k (US $55k). Other areas have seen smaller repair bills. Sussex officials spent just £16k (US $25,900) to resume ticketing after fifteen separate attacks. For example, activists in Crawley burned the camera located on the C406 Bewbush Drive in August 2007, while a March 2008 attack merely involved tampering with the lock on the camera housing.
Simon Mayo must be a Top Gear fan. After getting Richard in to talk about, let’s be honest, his new book, James May is taking his turn today.
