For the last few years, enthusiasts have criticized BMW for creating new vehicle segments. Some would even say that they are diluting the brand with all of these different models. At the forefront of this debate is their sports activity coupe, the X6.
When the first generation of the X6 was released in 2008, quite a few people chimed in about how it looked and that it was not nearly as useful as the popular X5. And when the M division got their hands on it and released the X6 M in 2009, M loyalists went looking for their pitchforks and torches.
Though there were some criticisms, BMW knew what they were doing and has sold so many of the X6's, that they decided to make a smaller version with the X4. And now Mercedes Benz wants a piece of the sports activity coupe pie and has released the GLE Coupe. Their designers seemed to have called this one in though, because if you squint your eyes when you look at it, you will swear it's an X6.
And if they are going to compete with the base model, may as well let their AMG division produce their own version. The AMG GLE63 S Coupe has a 5.5 liter biturbo V8 that produces 585 horsepower compared to the 567 horsepower from the 4.4 liter TwinPower Turbo V8 in the X6 M. We all know more power isn't always the answer, but these cars weigh over 5,000 pounds, so it is fairly important!
Did BMW's rival produce a vehicle that can compete with the company that created the segment? We've heard first hand that the new X6 M and X5 M are impressive vehicles, and may be breaking the laws of physics to perform as well as they do. Motor Trend got their hands on both of them and put them to the test in their latest Head-2-Head.—Nate Risch
