At first glance, the winner of this BMW duo seems obvious. How could a 5300-pound, high-riding SUV beat the iconic and bar-setting M3 on one of the most challenging race tracks in the world?
Sure, the X5 M makes a whopping 555-hp from its 4.4-liter, twin-turbo V-8, which is 141 hp more than the naturally aspirated 4.0-liter mill in the M3. But the M3 is almost 1600 pounds lighter, lower to the ground, and more nimble. The X5 M, however, has a few more tricks up its sleeve like all-wheel drive and a torque-vectoring differential. On the track, its high ground clearance would be an obvious handicap, but watch the following video to find out how the X5 M uses it to its advantage at the infamous "cork screw" turn at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.