Originally Posted by martinbo

People, forget about the naysayers and the fence-sitters (I'm one of them) and think of this purely from a marketing point of view. The X6 is a showcase vehicle that has resulted from BMW recognising that many people like SUV's. They like the ride height, the space, the perceived robustness of the raised suspension (speed hump - what speed hump? mentality) and not to mention the prestige of owning an SUV. The consumer psyche around SUV's is quite different from car buyers who recognise the value and importance of having a more compact, sleeker and efficient road-going vehicle.

The time was right for the introduction of this new take on the luxury SUV theme. We can argue about the pointlessness of the X6 until the cows come home but the fact remains; it's a daring and dramatic looking vehicle that will do nothing but enhance the popular opinion of the BMW brand. I've said this before:

"The idea is to entice rich exhibitionists who like the lofty SUV driving experience but want to make a style statement without the farmer-and-his-dog connotations." This means that BMW positively do not want the X6 to appeal to the buyers of Discoveries and GL 500's (no offence Jack - I love that car sir).

The X6 inspires a whole new way of thinking about SUVs / SACs from a crossover vehicle perspective.. It dismisses suggestions that SUVs can't be dynamic and sporty. That the X6 is mooted to be BMW’s first SUV that gets the full M-Division treatment is indicative of its place in the market.

The X6 may be misguided in terms of its practical value but its inspirational and aspirational value is unquestionable.

A highly intellectual and car mad - yet soberingly practical - close friend of mine said this about the X6: "It's pretty awesome". In my books that's a monumental indictment considering from whence it comes.

The more I see of the X6 the more I appreciate what it means to automotive progress and I strongly doubt that it will bomb.