Production X6 - first view

[Steved]

Originally Posted by hpjunkie

it's like and x5 - (minus) instead of an x6 seats only 4 and about the size of an x5 and it's supposed to be a crossover coupe. Total waste of resources if you ask me. Beutiful and stunning no doubt but.....

I disagree. I have owned SUVs now for just over 10 years and in that time owned 'four' X5's. I now own an AMG ML63. Basically I like the SUV versatility, being able to follow whichever track or road I choose, without loosing much in the way of driving dynamics or enjoyment. I prefer the higher seating position, find the view into corners better and these days even for the X5 and AMG ML the driving dynamics are better than sedans/saloons used to be.

But I want more.

I've gone down the excessive power route and it is fun, but I drive cars very fast and I do find that having 500+bhp under my right foot in an SUV incurs the wrath of other road users who just aren't expecting an SUV to be that fast.

I use my SUV for family trips, ski trips of 1500 miles, summer holidays of 2-3000 miles and we love them for that. But we never take more than 4 people in the car and I'd like 'the most' dynamic version of an SUV that is available. The X6 seems aimed squarely at my needs - excelling on the dynamics whilst preserving the usability of an SUV in a package that moves away from the 'box on stilts' look of the conventional SUV and instead adds style and real design beauty in its place. Given the anti-SUV sentiment over here in the UK, that may (potentially) also help, although knowing the tree-huggers they will still preach the 'resistance is futile' message at us.

Over here in the UK we have different body shape variations on a saloon car theme; there is usually the saloon (or sedan as its called in the US), the Hatchback and the Estate. The Hatchback is a 5-door variant of the saloon and the Estate is the box shaped equivalent of a typical SUV. Now I don't hear people saying that a Hatchback is a waste of resources compared to an Estate. Both are more practical than the saloon and its up to the buyer which body style he prefers, the Estate model being the 'most' practical, but not by much. The only sense in which the X6 varies from this philosophy is being a strict 4-seater, which is fine for me but I understand will be less suitable for those with more than 2-kids.

Either way, I like the idea of the X6 and provided the price premium over the X5 is modest then I look forward to an SUV with less dynamic compromises than any predecessor. That's a good thing in my book, but if practicality is your thing then BMW will continue to offer the X5.