Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Auto Show, Videos, Crossovers/CUVs, BMW
VIDEO: BMW X6 teaser with Chris Bangle
The build-up to the debut of the BMW X6 is nigh, and in addition to the de-camo'd mule that was spied earlier today, the boys from Bavaria have decided to let Chris Bangle explain the design ethos of the new SAV in front of a cloaked concept.
Mr. Bangle goes into detail over the six-minute flick about what BMW's aim for the X6 is, who it's targeting and what kind of capabilities we should expect from this 'ute in coupe's clothing. He even says that it might have some off-road prowess. We shall see.
In the meantime, check out the BMW-produced video after the jump and keep tabs on all the unveilings from the IAA in Frankfurt here.
[Source: BMW]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Hwins 7:36PM (9/04/2007)
Freaking horrible car. Horrible like the X5, horrible like the massive, bloated 6-series.
Make more cars like the 1-series, please. Oh and the 7-series would be nice if it wasn't so ugly. Ditch iDrive too, please.
Drop the facade and make "drivers cars" that are actually for drivers. Or drop the facade and quit claiming you do.
Reply
Trinitron 7:41PM (9/04/2007)
"excuse me, heheh you're talking about BMW here" Cocky.
Reply
Luis Martinez 8:05PM (9/04/2007)
In terms of looks Lexus/Infiniti/Acura seem to be eating the German vehicles up. I'd expect these designs from maybe Chrysler or something but not from BMW.
I am judging strictly by looks before anyone comes up with the "but Luis those brands have inferior performance" argument.
Reply
testa di cazzo 10:24PM (9/04/2007)
hahahahahhaha. japanese cars, with better looks than german cars? hahahahhahahahahhahahahahahahahahaha
Chris Gallagher 8:25PM (9/04/2007)
I'll be in the minority of people excited about this car. While the world doesn't need another SUV, there are a group of people (like me) that would love to have a sporty wagony thing. While we have things like the Subaru Forester XT Sports and Infiniti FX35, neither can be sampled with 6MT in the US. I think if done correctly, this could be a cool car.
Hwins, have you used iDrive? I used it for the first time in Germany (i'm from the us) this summer and it was brilliant. It got me from Munich to Nurnburg to Adenau and back. While magazines rag on it like its going out of style, its really a pretty easy system to use. Maybe its a generational thing. I'm not saying its the best Nav system out there, but its not complicated.
BMW, if you are listening, give us a 3 and 5 door 1series.
Reply
darth 8:34PM (9/04/2007)
is there a point to this car?
if its like the other bmw suvs it wont go offroad, it doesnt have utility
so why not just buy a 5 series?
Reply
British_Rover 8:54PM (9/04/2007)
Just give us the 5 series wagon with a nice big v8 AWD and a 6 speed please.
Oh and the M5 Touring for those people who don't need AWD.
Oh we can't get those cars but europe can because Americans only like SUVs so we have to get a useless vehicle like the X6.
Reply
AR 9:10PM (9/04/2007)
Why people (particularly men) rave about FX so much? Its conservative shoe-like shape and Prada-like curves understandably attract women, but I wouldn't want to be seen in that car. And Lexuses are just hideous and always will be. No matter what Bangle's plans are about butchering BMWs, Lexuses will still be several times uglier because they're always one or teo steps behind design-wise. Acura SUVs look better now, but it's them getting bloated, not BMWs.
X5 is the only good-looking Bimmer now. It's amazing how Bangle didn't screw it up. It's not bloated at all. A sporty offroad coupe like X6 is just as stupid parked on a suburban driveway, as any SUV, but it does have its purpose in the world (think Dakar). For all I care X6 looks clean and proportional unlike exaggerated Japanese macho (midlife crisis) crossovers like FX.
If it has manual transmission and retains X5's towing capacity (600lb TW), it can be my next car.
Reply
500 9:41PM (9/04/2007)
"A sporty offroad coupe like X6..."
I don't care what they call it; that thing's not a coupe. And it doesn't appear to have much utility as a wagon either. A sporty hatchback shape yes, but not a coupe.
I will admit that I kind of like it. Sort of has an early-80's AMC look going for it...
jg 10:11PM (9/04/2007)
Why isn't it a coupe? Looks to me like a serious cut in interior volume took place here.
vdk 10:29PM (9/04/2007)
Talk IS350? IMO the IS looks 'priceless' better than a 3-series, or any BMW for that matter.
praetorian 9:20PM (9/04/2007)
Ooooooooh how I loathe that man.
Fire them all, go back to the e30, and start over BMW.
Cheers,
prat
Reply
Stealth E34 10:02PM (9/04/2007)
Why does every car have to be practical?
Why should all cars have tons of cargo room and headroom?
Why should we even bother to build convertibles, and 2-door sport coupes, or small cars? After all, they're not really that practical for much except driving.
Why then build a sporty, coupe-like 4-door off-roader? To DRIVE. And carry four people. And enjoy the ride. And look damn good while doing it.
That's what BMW is and always has been about.
Reply
vdk 10:27PM (9/04/2007)
No it hasn't. That's what you think a bimmer is all about. That's what 99% of BMW owners think it's about.
JC3 11:11PM (9/04/2007)
Very excited to see this.Something new.This will leave boring SUV design in the dust (finally)
Reply
g unit 11:27PM (9/04/2007)
I don't think the x5 is the only good looking bmw, I love the z4 and it's aged particularly well in fact (imho) looking better than ever. The coupe and sedan 3's are quite modern looking compared to other cars on the road, and the 5 is more dynamic in person than can be translated or represented by mere photos alone. And they do all possess that one inherent gene, the driving dynamic of a BMW. I'm fortunate to sample all the cars on a daily basis, and while i'm not a fan of the seven, i'm amazed at how well it drives (like a much smaller car) I do believe that because BMW is so innovative, you will see this be a more prevalent shape in the years to come as manufacturers clamour to imitate. As for the one that commented on the IS350, look at previous lexus designs and see how well they hold up, in other words, classic? or dated..My E46 coupe looks way better than that IS350 of it's time and the design is getting better with age. Same can be said of my Z4. While japanese cars are good, they are essentially a different execution of a different philosophy but they suffer from mediocrity and "safe" design. The last great japanese design was the Z32 300zx (1990-1996) Everything else is a bit of a "copy" of something else
Reply
John R 7:11AM (9/05/2007)
I love the Z32, especailly in targa form, but the "last" great japanese design? That is your opinion. The last NSX, IMO, has it beat. And the next EVO and GT-R are looking very good.
g unit 9:07PM (9/05/2007)
Response to John R @ Sep 5th 2007 7:11AM
I love the Z32, especailly in targa form, but the "last" great japanese design? That is your opinion. The last NSX, IMO, has it beat. And the next EVO and GT-R are looking very good
It's just an opine but i stand by it and should qualify it by saying, "the last great original" japanese design..the NSX while a beautiful car, was, let's be honest, pretty derivative of mid engined form supercars. The best thing i loved about it was it's pure Honda philosophy cockpit (great visibility) and user friendliness. Don't get me wrong, my favourites include the genIII Rx7 and the modern interpretation of that 60's lotus, the NA miata MX5. Japanese design reached it's originality apex around 1993 and hasn't been inspired since. It slowly came back around with the current crop of infiniti "G"s but methinks that Nissan is still sporting too much renault in their design cues. (even lexus IS' are manga versions of 3 series) Those EVO's and GTR's, while i respect their performance capabilities, my heart doesn't race when i see the current versions. I lament .
that spoilers are to cars today, what tailfins were to cars in the 50's
Greg 1:56AM (9/05/2007)
I'm very excited about this vehicle. This shape is clearly where future SUV designs are heading.
But terrible camera work in the clip. It was more annoying than any MTV show.
Reply
big L 3:20PM (9/05/2007)
Yeah! that moving camera was awful.What is the matter with these people.
Looks like BMVay wanted to create a MBZ CLS w/o being me too.
Understand that, then the car may make some sense. But weight is the wholething with bm, to me. The 3 series is way to heavy and close to becoming a "gold-chains boulevardier" like the 300zx became at the end.
Reply