For many journalists this kind of 'new car' presents them with a philosophical challenge, that really doesn't matter that much to those of us who buy cars.

I work with the motoring press (as a hobby) and see a lot of the internal industry politics. I have also commentated on this to the marketing press from within my own industry (I'm a marketing consultant).

BMW (as with many other german firms) presents quite an arrogant persona to many of the anglo-saxon press, which isn't helped by coming up with new naming classifications such as SAC (which really gets up the noses of the british press in particular). Culturally we are at odds with the germans and some of the old school journos feel compelled to argue (intellectually) against it.

From the perspective of those of us who the X6 is aimed at. It is 'just' another shape of SUV, but this time less dynamically compromised and with more creative expression than the usual boxy SUV design. If you don't need a 5th seat (which I don't) then it still provides more boot/trunk space than my ML, and I like the fact that it will look less incongruous on the road (i.e. looking more car-like than a typical 4x4).

It really appeals to me because it will do everything I can do with my current SUV, but for the first time in over 30 years it will actually look different and provide a noticeably different driving experience. The change is good - and I predict will cause a shake-up within other manufacturers leading to new and more innovated designs within the SUV sector.

I am disappointed that most of the established journos have failed to realise this need for change, and the influence that the X6 is likely to have in triggering this.

The end result should be more choice for us (the customer) which is always a good thing, but I still believe that the X6 on its own will be far more successful than some people realise.

Steve