I sat in the X6 today

[Steved]

I was over in Geneva and took some time to sit in the X6 and discuss BMW's plans with some of their lead engineers.

Firstly the space in the X5, I am 6ft 1in and sitting in the rear seats I could pass 4 fingers above my head without touching the roof, so it feels in terms of headroom exactly the same as a 5 series sedan in the back.

Some people have suggested that the X6 feels cramped in the back, it does not. A far better way of describing it is that it feels cosy and intimate. Rear seat passengers can lean their right arm on the door and their left on the raised centre armrest, making it feel like a throne and far from second best to sit in. There isn't room for a 5th seat, that would definitely make the X6 seem cramped, whereas with just two seats in the back it feels fine.

Even sitting in the front feels different to an X5, you sit lower and the knee pads on the centre console are quite prominent, again adding to the cosy feel. Speaking to BMW reps the windscreen is canted at the same angle as the X5, however it feels more steeply raked. All in all the inside of the X6 is not cramped, but it is more intimate than the X5 which is somewhat of a plus point for me. I also took a look through the rear view mirror and did not find any problem with seeing objects behind. Sure, it's not as good as the X5 in this respect but it is 'nothing' like the Z4M Coupe I used to own.

The X6's on the stand were in VR and White, one a x50i and the other an X35d. I preferred it in VR, it looks classy and I also preferred the Style 259 wheels on it rather than the Style 214 wheels which was on the white one.

One interesting point of note was that since the X6 carries a little more weight in the rear axles (due to its new differential) BMW decided to reduce weight in the hubs, so they developed a unique lightweight aluminum hub (not available on the X5) just to counteract this extra weight.

Other snippets worth of note, BMW do not intend to share the 35i or 50i engines with the X5, they are determined to maintain a differentiation between the two models for at least the first 2-3 years, but they do not rule out fitting them later in the E70 X5's life-cycle. Same goes for the X6's new rear differential, BMW tell me that they will not fit this to the X5 and instead want to reinforce the different characters of both models. The engineer that I spoke to was at pains to stress that the X6 was not an X5 Coupe, but instead a different model.

So, all in all I'm glad I've now seen the X6 and had the chance to finalise my spec. It was getting loads of attention on BMW's stand, beating the M3 Convertible that was parked nearby. BMW representatives seemed genuinely pleased that I had chosen to buy one and were keen to tell me that it does not feel like a 2 tonne SUV instead they say it has the agility and feels the same weight as a 5-series sedan. I can't wait to drive one.