German Car Zone

Also important: don't be fooled by the X5 like front mask ... It's just a part of a disguise. Also side mirrors will not be so boxy in the final version, though the big size will stay (new EU regulation ).

The front (incl headlights) will be very sleek & dynamic. Incorporating new interpretation of twin shell like kidney grille. I'm sure this will stir some controversy. But overall design is gorgeous.

Also the chunkiness of the disguise is VERY deceptive (at front & rear!)! You'll be shocked to see how short the overhangs are IRL.



And how dynamic X6 design looks. Really - like a true child of X5 & 6er.

Hey Eni i cant thank you enough for all this info. This is one car that i truly cannot wait for.

An once again Im wondering maybe even more so than when i heard about the X3, what is the point of this segment????

It's not what point does this car serve, but how can the BMW brand be expanded to create a new and exciting segment that will showcase BMW virtues in all their originality. This is a car for those that want to express themselves in the most nonconformist of ways, who enjoy and indulge in freedom of expression, but want the ultimate in driving dynamics and performance in combination with all rounder ability.

Mind that production green light for such vehicles is also based on market researches, consumer behavior researches, trend researches etc.

BMW is very rational & conservative regarding model line (therefore no mid-engine supercar in their portfolio!). The decisions for new vehicles are not a product of emotions, but reason.

X3: BMW marketing department detected bigger SAV demand in Europe, yet researches showed established SAVs were too big and too expensive. Customers prefered RAV4 size, but wanted more premium product. And BMW made one. Last year BMW sold more than 111,000 units of X3 worldwide!!!

X6: Large SAV segment is becoming crowded, compact SAV segment is also developing - meaning BMW will face more & more competition there (GLK by MB, Q5 by Audi, Lexus is thinking about RAV4 based vehicle etc). So BMW went out and researched the trends & needs. They found out some people want very sporty SAV - with emphasis on sportiness, not utility. A lifestyle vehicle. A statement. X5 was too "utility" for many. People wanted some sort of off-roadish coupe. A vehicle with SAV-like sitting position, but with a driving dynamics, performance & shape of a sports coupe. Where utility is a second hand matter. And BMW will offer such vehicle: X6.

V5: Especially in Europe wagons are very popular. But they are also perceived as "utility vehicles" ... with a sporty touch. But there is a need for different vehicle, researches showed. People want an upscale vehicle with a specific design (to differ it from wagons), luxury of a big sedan, space of a wagon, and sportiness of a coupe. And BMW will offer one: V5. Also MB detected such trend, but they interpreted it wrongly: they thought people wanted van-ish like luxury people mover. Also they somehow (???) detected US is more potentil market than Europe. They missed the will a bit. BMW interpretation will be much better. You'll see.

Also:

1. eg. what's the point of 4dr coupe CLS??? But the vehicle proved to be a hit, and now many other manufacturers rush to be there ASAP with their own products.

2. BMW also detected a need for premium compact hatches in Europe, and offered a 3er Compact in 1994. Unfortunately the product was mis-marketed, also the design was not too well excepted, so the car was not a success. But with the introduction of 1-series hatch BMW proved to be correct: 1er is a hit.

...

Eni: it would be really really great to have an X-drive that can be totally disabled. I like that Idea. Thanks man

One more thing, have u seen the actual car ?

What about the interior? Any info on that?
Will it follow the styling of the X5's interior, of the upcoming 7er or will it be totally new?

I was a bit worried about that. It's good to hear they're only using the E70 X5 kidney for the test models. Otherwise, the car would look a bit to similar perhaps.

Eni, you sound like you've seen the X6 already...Is this true? I mean, you could have, since the final design is ready!

I haven't.

But someone who did described the final design to me very in details. And that person also tried to sketch it but those sketches very a bit funny. I laughed at them.

But from what I heard about X6 & V5 (V5 still not officially chosen name), BMW will again stir some controversy - not that much with design but general idea about such vehicles / segments. Just they did with E53 X5 when press generally bash X5 as not being a true BMW - because of being a SUV.

When X6 & V5 hit the roads the line "At BMW, ideas are everything." will finally makes sense.

so it will have a newer interpretation of the the kidney grille. Will it me like on the X-coupé concept? Or something simular? Or more like on the Z4, which actually does resemble the one used on the X-coupé.