BMW unveiled its first iteration of a SUV/Coupe (call it SAV whatever) at the Frankfurt Auto Show yesterday. Dubbed the Concept X6, 90% of what we see will remain on the production model, due for release mid-2008. The X6 is the first of its kind and although being a love-it or hate-it design, we are stunned by what we can call Bangle's first truly gorgeous design. The front clip is nearly identical to the BMW X5. However, from the A-pillar back, the roof slopes down considerably to make a coupe impression. The rear visibility looks to be the worst of the worst and the rear occupants would look down to their pants for the whole journey. However, coming down to the result, they are traits worth sacrificing.The engine options will be lifted from the X5 with a choice of a 3.0L petrol, diesel and the 4.8L V8. The X6 will be assembled at the Spartanburg, South Carolina plant in the US. The X6 is slated to go on sale in mid-2008. Continue reading to view a hi-res image gallery and the official press release.
[Source: BMW AG]
PRESS RELEASE: BMW CONCEPT X6
Inventing the Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV), BMW has established a highly innovative and, indeed, trendsetting segment in the automobile market.
And now the time is ripe for another brand-new concept: The Sports Activity Coupé combining an elegant, dynamically flowing roofline with the typical features of a BMW X model - a truly fascinating combination now borne out for the first time in the guise of BMW X6 Concept.
Presenting this concept car, BMW is proudly demonstrating the vision of a unique vehicle developing the striking design language of BMW X cars with a clear and consistent focus on sportiness and elegant presence.
BMW X6 Concept captures the eyes of the beholder through its highly innovative combination of design and concept features. The car combines four doors and a dynamically flowing coupé roofline with a high sill-line, muscular wheel arches, and a strong centre of gravity positioned right in the middle and making a clear reference to four-wheel-drive technology.
The result is a unique vehicle clearly presenting the DNA of a BMW X model but interpreting the character of such a vehicle in a unique and truly sporting manner. The design of BMW X6 Concept is the authentic visualisation of outstanding driving qualities borne out by the car mainly through BMW’s intelligent xDrive technology as well as Dynamic Performance Control.
Unique, aesthetic look: dynamic coupé line and the typical features of a BMW X model.
The front end of BMW X6 Concept is dominated by highlights in design clearly symbolising the car’s dynamic orientation to the road. From the side, in turn, the proportions are definitely elegant, the short front body overhang emphasising the dynamism of the car, the long overhang at the rear, its stretched and sleek look. The long line of the engine compartment lid merges smoothly and gently into the elegantly rising A-pillars, the greenhouse moved far to the back and the roofline tapering out clearly and consistently from the B-pillars interacting with the high window line to provide low and, indeed, almost flat window graphics.
The roofline, in turn, flows down gently to the rear spoiler, finally moving up again slightly in a small upward swing perfecting the overall line of a coupé and at the same time optimising the car’s aerodynamic qualities.
The dynamically stretched side lines highlight the aesthetic effect of this concept car, with BMW X6 Concept obtaining its impressive presence clearly through the unique combination of these lines and the design elements of a BMW X car.
Apart from the high window line, the large wheel arches and the centre of gravity visibly in the middle of the car, particularly this distinctive and powerful interaction of convex and concave surfaces, of the muscular side-sills with running boards made of drilled aluminium beneath the doors and the strong underfloor protection elements front and rear also made of aluminium express all the genuine DNA of BMW X.
Consistent focus on sporting performance.
BMW X6 Concept combines the design features so typical of a BMW X model with a truly individual, aesthetic look. In its character and design, this concept car stands out clearly from BMW’s highly successful SAV models, although the core features of those models provide a strong and sound foundation for the development of a unique personality in the guise of BMW X6 Concept as the Sports Activity Coupé.
With its impressively dynamic driving characteristics, the BMW X5 already excels as a true exception in its segment, and was indeed the forerunner creating the entire segment in the first place. Now BMW X6 Concept provides a clear impression of how an even more consistent focus on sporting performance in this class is able to set standards once again.
Through its design alone, this new concept car arouses the greatest expectations of the driving experience in a Sports Activity Coupé, bearing out the robustness and superior traction of a BMW X model in combination with dynamic driving qualities never seen before in this segment of the market.
World debut: Dynamic Performance Control in BMW X6 Concept.
Dynamic Performance Control making its world debut in BMW X6 Concept provides ideal qualities for experiencing new dimensions in driving dynamics. This drivetrain and chassis control system, combined with BMW’s intelligent xDrive all-wheel drive technology, offers a truly unique standard of driving stability in every situation, benefiting both driving dynamics and safety at the same time.
Dynamic Performance Control, a truly innovative system, spreads out drive forces as required in all situations, feeding a varying degree of power whenever required to the two wheels at the rear.
Dynamic Performance Control is the only system of its kind in the world able to provide its stabilising effect both under power and with the engine in overrun.
As soon as the system detects possible over- or understeer of the vehicle, for example in a bend, it will vary the distribution of drive forces between the wheels for perfect stability, dynamic traction, and forward motion. And in the process Dynamic Performance Control improves driving stability at all speeds, this unique chassis and suspension innovation ensuring not only safe traction when setting off and precise control when entering a bend, but also higher lateral acceleration and optimum directional stability when accelerating out of the bend.
BMW - setting the standard in a dynamically growing market segment.
Launching BMW X6 Concept, BMW is once again proving the company’s outstanding competence in the development of new car concepts. First, this fascinating study shows how the range of BMW X models highly successful the world over might be extended by yet another exclusive version; second, BMW X6 Concept presents the possibility to experience the sporting performance so typical of the brand in entirely new style and with brand-new features. The highly innovative Sports Activity Coupé created in this way is therefore once again paving the way into a dynamically growing market segment.
BMW X6 Concept is beyond comparison with any existing series production vehicle the world over. But at the same time it creates clear references and associations through its unique, sophisticated design, the world’s first Sports Activity Coupé guiding the fantasy of the particularly demanding motorist in a clearly defined direction: this car promises driving dynamics in a dimension never seen before.
Yet a further point is that BMW X6 Concept, through its extravagant look and appearance, opens up very tempting perspectives for the future, this Sports Activity Coupé boasting design ideally suited to prove individual style and character.
Unique, innovative - and BMW all the way.
BMW X6 Concept is unique and brand-new in the world of the automobile. But it nevertheless stands out as a genuine BMW at first sight, all design features of this concept study clearly reflecting the particular language of BMW design. Indeed, through its design language alone BMW X6 Concept makes a number of clear and highly recognisable statements simply because they are quite unique in this constellation: The car expresses sporting elegance, superior presence and stylish extravagance as well as the symbiosis of superior power and outstanding robustness so characteristic of a BMW X car and now enhanced to a significantly higher standard in BMW X6 Concept.
Clear orientation towards the product features characterising the concept of a Sports Activity Coupé gives BMW X6 Concept a fascinating look right from the start. Through its design alone, this car expresses the features essential to such an innovative vision of a completely new car. Conversely, this design principle now arouses the expectation that a BMW Sports Activity Coupé may well develop precisely the outstanding sportiness and superior power both on the road and offroad clearly borne out by this concept study.
So it is precisely the unique features of the vehicle that lead to its unmistakeable design. And it is this authentic design so typical of a BMW which gives the BMW X6 Concept its individual style and character and also reflects the image of the brand. In other words - only BMW is able to create a Sports Activity Coupé, and BMW X6 Concept shows what such a car must look like.
