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BMW X6 Crossover Unveiled in Frankfurt...Will Design Over Function Work?

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Today BMW unveiled the new X6 Concept, which is supposed to be very close to what we will actually see in showrooms. The X6 crossover is an exercise in design over function, which is apparent with the raked roof that plunges downward after the B pillar. This significantly compromises rear seat room and the luggage capacity of the X6. BMW is betting that X6 buyers will be willing to give up that extra space for additional style over its X5 crossover.

Will it work?

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Visit Autoblog to See Even More Photos of the X6

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PRESS RELEASE:

Release 1

The BMW Concept X6. Warrant of apprehension. A character: Concept innovation world-wide first of the sport Activity Coupé. BMW as founders of the vehicle category of sport Activity Vehicle (SAV) again presents a consistently again developed concept. Sportiest development of a BMW X of model. The drivingactive Potenzial is particularly strongly stressed. The superior driving dynamics is taken up by the BMWS typical stylistic idiom and visualized in the Design authentically. The extravagante body Design connects the sporty elegance of a BMW Coupés with the salient BMWS X genes. Wheel orientation, the generous clearance and the voluminoesen wheel housings lend the strong operational readiness level characteristic of BMW X of models to the BMW Concept X6. The BMW Concept X6 orders performance control for singular trace stability and precision in each driving conditions as well as over the intelligent all wheel system BMW xDrive as far far the first vehicle over dynamic. Exterieurdesign: The strong operational readiness level of the vehicle body connects itself with the flat roof process of the Greenhouses. This flowing roof line is likewise a characteristic element of the Coupé silhouette like the short front body overhang, the long wheel base and the long tail overhang. In the Design of the BMW Concept X6 the characteristic BMWS X of genes come to the expression. The optical balance between front and rear wheels, represented in the side view, serves BMW xDrive as reference to the intelligent all-wheel drive. Wheel orientation is the second dominating element of the body Design. Those are muskuloes of formed out wheel housings and the large wheels expression for the stable conditions. The Exterieur is coined/shaped by the tensionful change between convex and concave surfaces. The dynamically rising lateral lineline line and to the rear the increasing distance between shoulder and Schwellerlinie produce a dynamic wedge form. The salient, broad-oriented frontal view shows the expression typical for BMW X of models. This coined/shaped by the large sized BMWS kidney as air intake with durable staffs, the sharply begun to cut headlights and the clear accentuation of the side panels, which out-step the wheel housings far leave. The large air intakes reveal the high cooling need of the engine, let the vehicle appear optically lower and underline the sportyness of the front. The hood has clearly formed out outlines partitioned by sharp lines, which taper themselves to the BMW kidney. Elegant seeming is coined/shaped also by the bumper elements with December ducks plastic applications in the typical style of the BMWS X of models, painted in car color. The singular form of the D-column expresses strength and stability. The innovative rear light Design stresses those width of the vehicle. The final pipes of the exhaust system positioned far outside and the horizontal lines underline the broad trace. The low-dark vehicle lacquer finish in the contrast to chromelementen symbolizes the sporty-technical character. High-quality accents set the lateral Schwellerleisten, the chromfarbenen props and the set in fog headlights in the outside air intakes as well as the chromium-plated final pipes. The Unterfahrschutz consists in front and in the back of milled aluminum. Into the rear lights white signal light lines are integrated. The night Design shows homogeneous shining light bodies.


Release 2

Warrant of apprehension. A character: - world premiere for the BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid, which connects a clear efficiency gain with the BMW typical joy in driving. - the close conceptional connection between the new fahrzeugklasse of sport Activity Coupé and the innovative BMW ActiveHybrid technology leads to an authentic agreement between Design and technology. The Potenzial of the BMW ActiveHybrid of system unfolds its optimal effect in the world-wide singular concept of the sport Activity Coupé. This holistic beginning creates the condition for a perfectly new driving experience. - the BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid - the BMW under the hybrids. - in the area of the driving dynamics the BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid shows a clear superiority opposite conventional hydride vehicles. Its consumption and emission values are over smaller up to 20 per cent than with a comparable vehicle with conventional drive. - the sportiest development of a BMW X of model is presented in connection with innovative hybrid technology. The superior driving dynamics of the sport Activity Coupé is taken up by the BMWS typical stylistic idiom and visualized in the Design authentically. The extravagante body Design connects the sporty elegance of a BMW Coupés with the salient BMWS X genes and purposeful referring to the innovative propulsion principle. Technology: - the driving experience in the BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid corresponds to the character of a typical BMW coined/shaped by highest dynamics. Load requirements are converted with extreme Spontaneitaet and precision and at any time by haptische and acoustic feedbacks in styles of a combustion engine vehicle confirmed. - BMW ActiveHybrid is a firm component of the development strategy BMW EfficientDynamics. With this technology BMW carries out the next step in the continuous reduction of fuel consumption and emissions. BMW ActiveHybrid is based on an unit construction system, which makes the integration of the optimal in each case components Best possible OF hybrid "in accordance with the strategy for" into different concepts. - by the integration in the Two mode Aktivgetriebe by means of electrical support two modes of operation are realized. A mode is available for starting and low, second for higher speeds. In this way the optimal utilization of the produced torque takes place as a function of the driving conditions. - the innovative Two mode Aktivgetriebe makes a variable power transmission possible over through planetray gear-corrodes represented ramification of performance. It integrates beyond that an electric drive and a driving into firm drill steps in a system. The drivingdynamic and efficiency Potenziale of combustion engine and electric drive are linked with one another in such a way in new and intelligent form. - hybrid co-operation with general of engine and DaimlerChrysler in Troy/USA successfully develops the Two mode Aktivgetriebe. The BMWS specific design of the hybrid drive strand is secured thereby. Exterieurdesign: - the strong operational readiness level of the vehicle body connects itself with the flat roof process of the Greenhouses. This flowing roof line is likewise a characteristic element of the Coupé silhouette like the short front body overhang, the long wheel base and the long tail overhang. - in the Design of the BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid the characteristic BMWS X of genes come to the expression. The optical balance between front and rear wheels, represented in the side view, serves BMW xDrive as reference to the intelligent all-wheel drive. - wheel orientation is the second dominating element of the body Design. Those are muskuloes of formed out wheel housings and the large wheels expression for the stable conditions. - the dynamically rising lateral lineline line and to the rear the increasing distance between shoulder and Schwellerlinie produce a dynamic wedge form. - the salient, broad-oriented frontal view shows the expression typical for BMW X of models. This coined/shaped by the large sized BMWS kidney as air intake with durable staffs. - the hood has clearly formed out outlines, which taper themselves to the BMW kidney, partitioned by sharp lines, and over a strong curvature with salient power cathedrals outline. - the singular form of the D-column expresses strength and stability. The innovative rear light Design stresses those width of the vehicle. Horizontal lines underline the broad trace. - the Unterfahrschutz consists in front and in the back of brushed aluminum. The rear Unterfahrschutz is extendable and takes off during purely electrical travel of the BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid the final pipes of the exhaust system. - entrance borders with blue strip and BMW ActiveHybrid signature refer to the singular propulsion principle. The bright body lacquer finish stands in strong contrast to the dark window diagram. 21-Zoll-Raeder with an innovative, three-dimensional rim Design.

Comments (13)

Allen:

It depends as to how much of a give it is for this to work. That is, if its a minimal trade-off, sure, I can see people buying it. But if its a large trade off I can easily see this car making a very limited production run, and solely being used by the wealthy and style conscious.

Peter:

That's a nice looking large hatchback. And a hatchback is what it is. It's not an SUV (which is really just a tall station wagon). It's not a 'Crossover'. It's just a hatchback with different "crossover" marketing.

330I Owner:

There are no interior pics? Not even one with a door open? So far it looks like BMWs version of the Outback. It will have to add functionality missing with a 3??IX sedan but be more sedan-like than the X3 and X5.

Andrew:

This is similar to the Lexus Rxxx Series SUV. The Lexus does not offer much in terms of cargo space, but then, who buys these types of vehicles for that usage?

The typical buyer most likely looking for an all weather vehicle and some ability to haul golf clubs.

John:

^^^ My friend has a RX330 and the extra cargo space comes in handy when we go camping or haul something from home depot. You'll be surprised that Lexus/BMW/Benz owners do things other than golf.

Greg:

John - face it... most people who buy SUVs, and even trucks, nowadays don't need them for 'hauling' stuff - kids to a soccer game is NOT hauling. And the one time they use it to haul something in the 10 years they own it doesn't count. They should be buying cars (yes, for their golf clubs and briefcases) and calling their friends with trucks who actually use them to haul & tow things.

Diesel:

This is actually very good if they stuffed batteries in undercarriage and used that as motivation for the crossover design.

WareWolF:

Looks like a big AMC Gremlin!

Davy:

This looks a bit like... well its profile reminds me of the Skoda Rapid. It's a car for the global domination brigade though, who need to hide behind black glass. No eye contact is possible, so don't let 'em out of side roads. The performance of the car is no doubt (yawn) stunning!
I love the poorly translated pidgen English-Deutsch PRESS RELEASE though! Two (2) quotes stand out for me now, but I'm sure I could find a few more:
1. "..bumper elements with December ducks plastic applications.." Does this mean the bumpers are made from recycled plastic ducks? Now, that's eco-friendly!
2. "..The night Design shows homogeneous shining light bodies.." Alien consultations from a passing UFO.

Marvin Weide:

Looks like a flash back to the 83-84 AMC Eagle!

Marvin Weide:

Looks like a flash back to the 83-84 AMC Eagle!

Sphere:

YES, bingo! Flashback to the AMC Eagle, right on the money!

http://www.americandreamcars.com/1983amceaglecustom0106.jpg

Allen:

I would not call it a tall coupe by any means. Having used an X5 offroad before, I will say they are capable off-road vehicles. They are not a Hummer, or even that pitiful Hummer wannabie the H2, but they do what most people use SUVs for better than most other SUVs.

Most SUVs and trucks will spend their lifetime on the roads, not in the dirt. And BMW has embraced that with their SUVs, even going so far as to call them SAVs. They are meant more for the road than offroad, rather than equally useful on both. Compare this to heavier, less stable platforms like the Chevy Tahoe, which were designed originally more for ranches and outdoors-y types but became suburban mom-mobiles.

I'd rather see a fleet of these in the suburbs then truck based SUVs. It'd save gas, and probably reduce fatalities (having big SUVs carve through whatever other car they hit is going to cause more trouble than if the cars just bounced off each other).

As for the styling: again, this is a make or break kind of thing. Either it will be adopted as the new people mover, or just take share from the X5, or just be Hollywood-used.

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