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"   SPARTANBURG, S.C. \u2014 Imagine a conventional BMW X5 morphed into a hatchback coupe with a 400-hp twin-turbo V8 and a bleeding edge all-wheel drive system thrown in for good measure. Well, that&amp;#039;s the new X6, which furthers the four-door coupe trend started by the Mercedes-Benz CLS and Jaguar XF. Soon the mini segment will also include the Aston Martin Rapide and Porsche Panamera, but this BMW is the only crossover four-door coupe we&amp;#039;ve seen\u2014ever. And while some might find the look a bit odd, we think it&amp;#039;s positively dripping with machismo.   There are two versions of the X6. The base XDrive 35i uses BMW&amp;#039;s sweatheart 306-hp 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline six. The XDrive 50i packs an all-new 400-hp 4.4-liter V8 twin turbo. Both come with the computer-controlled XDrive all-wheel-drive system and a new, fast-shifting 6-speed automatic with shifter paddles on the steering wheel.   The V8 shows off a new design, unrelated to the one that served in so many big Bimmers (and Range Rovers) over the last 10 years. The direct injection packages the two small Garrett turbochargers and catalytic converters inside the V between the cylinder heads. There are even separate twin intercoolers. The result? A rather robust 400 hp and 450 lb.-ft. of torque at engine speeds as low as 1750 rpm.   The high-riding X6 is the first BMW vehicle to come with Dynamic Performance Control (DPC), a new version of XDrive that distributes engine torque between the front and rear axles and now side-to-side, too. In other words, there&amp;#039;s torque vectoring at all four wheels.   DPC uses an advanced computer control and an innovative rear differential that incorporates two planetary gearsets and two clutch packs. That lets the system multiply torque to an individual rear wheel so DPS can help steer the vehicle by directing torque to either of them. This unique BMW technology works while accelerating or decelerating and enhances steering precision, too. In fast corners with abrupt steering maneuvers or when the driver suddenly lifts off the gas pedal, DPC simply improves stability.   We drove the new X6 near BMW&amp;#039;s factory here, where the mountainous territory was filled with foggy, wet two-lane roads, Interstate highways, and wet and dry road courses at the nearby Michelin tire development test track. So we really got a taste of what the X6 could do, and we were impressed.   The X6&amp;#039;s body and chassis dynamics were surprisingly good. Well, maybe not that surprising, because this is a BMW, after all. But while many other crossovers have a tendency to plow into the corners, that&amp;#039;s not the case with the X6. Better still was the thrust of that techy new V8, with exemplary performance and nearly instantaneous torque delivery. And for those of us that crave a little magic from the exhaust tips, the X6 delivers a gutsy growl. At full throttle, it sounds downright hungry\u2014as if it wants to chow down on some Stuttgart steel. Perhaps a plateful of Porsche Cayenne?   BMW says the twin-turbo I-6 version will do the 0-60 mph run in 6.6 seconds, and the twin-turbo V8 version sprint to that speed in 5.3 seconds. Pretty darn good for a truck that weighs around 5300 pounds.   We dug the X6&amp;#039;s style and were impressed by the interior room\u2014well, at least the room that people will occupy. The back seat could easily swallow my tall frame, despite the sloping roof. But in terms of practical room for gear, the X6 is limited. If you need to carry more than 59.7 cu. ft. of gear with the rear seats folded, maybe the X5 (with an extra 15.3 cubes) is a better choice.   The XDrive 35i will start at $53,275, and the XDrive 50i will start at $63,775\u2014both figures including $775 destination and delivery. The long option list runs to 22 items and seven packages. BMW says that next year, it will offer the X6 with a new twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter clean diesel engine as well as a Two-Mode hybrid drive system. Now those two are certainly worth waiting for, if you ask us. \u2014Jim McCraw   RELATED STORIES \u2022 PLUS: BMW CS Concept Shows Luxury Future   BMW X6 on the road BMW X6 interior BMW X6 engine BMW X6 cargo area "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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