German Car Forum

But that was the point of distinguishing the X6 from the X5. People would have almost no reason to buy the X6 when they want the space that you can find in an X5.

I agree that these acronyms are getting ridiculous. It IS an 4X4 and that's that. However, you can seperate the people that want offroad capability + space vs. people that want presence and bling factor. The X6 falls in the latter category.

Case and point... how many times have you seen people driving in a Cadillac Escalade ESV with more dvd screens in peoples homes... and there's no one in the rear seats most of the time.

I was looking more into the website. The X6 has air intake flaps that open and close depending on whether the engine needs cooling or not. This supposedly helps with drag thus reducing fuel consumption. Never seen anything like that before.

Useful or gimmick?

Between reading through all the posts, I have been playing with the color and wheel combinations....this is brilliant!

Which color and wheel combo is the (dark greyish) one from the concept?

Quote from EnI: "Again: X6 does not target an average SAV / SUV owner, nor a typical sports car fan. But it targets a niche group who wants both worlds in one car. Such a group is out there ... and it's not that small. It's not something that's made up - it's a fact."

Fact. I am one from that niche group.

I always wanted an M3. But I liked the X5, alot. Last year, just around this time, I was talking to someone about cars, and telling them how I wished my favourite car manufacturer (BMW), would come up with something that would be in between both worlds. And now, they have. Does it make me impractical for desiring a coupe, but knowing it is not realistic for me to have at the moment? Or does desiring an SUV for mainly aethestic purposes make me non traditional? Luckily for me, (and thanks to patience being my true virtue), waiting has paid off well. With the purchase of a new car right over my horizon, my market niche was answered. I asked this question. And they responded to the little voices who are not the majority. But I believe that its success will outnumber those who think this shall fail-it will convert some, make owners out of others. And make observers out of everyone.

Now, back to my question at hand. Does anyone know that concept color?

I'm not sure if it's the same color as the CS, but I think it's called something like shadow chrome? It's a special color only for concept cars. I think the closest you'll get to that is space grey even though it is a lot lighter.

Where are these flaps located? Other cars have had this before and I'd say anything nowadays to save a little fuel is worth it.

M

4.4 liters Twin Turbo V8, 407hp and 600nm between 1800-4500 rpm.

For this is the first eight-cylinder gasoline engine in the world to feature its turbocharger in the V-section between the two rows of cylinders.

The BMW X6 is the only car in the complete segment of BMW X Models to feature a sports steering wheel with gearshift paddles as standard, which enable the driver to shift gears manually on the six-speed automatic transmission

BMW is the first carmaker in the world to use FlexRay technology in a regular production car.

And last but not least, it almost goes without saying that the engine fulfils both the US ULEV II emissions standard as well as the EU5 requirements in Europe.

(Still playing with the Visualizer).....


Is it just my eyes, but is the Tasman metallic the grey seen on the concept? I know men are known to be color blind , but it is a bit deceiving, for it also seems to look like a metallic pale green...

Indeed. The name does not matter. Product does. And it does for a quite large group of people.

And I told you why such product is offered, and why eg. your & Luw's & of other irrelevant non-targeted group opinion does not matter to BMW.

And please, would you be so kind and stop with your constant "argument" every BMW explanation is "an excuse", "a spin" etc.

You seem to live in this fantasy world that believes that somehow the people "targeted" with this marketing stuff actually believe it. The bottom line is that in the real world people will look at the X6 and like the way it looks and/or drives and buy one. No one is going to refer to the X6 as a SAC or whatever, it will be called a SUV or Crossover.

Now because Luw and I don't subscribe to the BMW bible of endless acronyms our opinions don't matter. Man this is too much.

You seem to imply that somehow the people that BMW will "target" with their marketing of this vehicle are either smarter than everyone else or that they've been waiting for a SAC to come along. I can't tell you how ridiculous all of this is.

If the name doesn't matter and the product does (your words) that right there proves what a crock all this SAC nonsense is in the first place. When the product is outstanding (which the X6 appears to be) all this other marketing fluff really isn't needed. All people have to do is get a look at the thing.

Furthermore this "targeted group" nonsense is really something because you're telling me that BMW actually is going to target a select buyer and not the SUV/Crossover market in general? People who don't fit your target group don't get to buy? They aren't worthy?

The whole thing is nothing but a marketing spin plain and simple. When what we're really talking about here is a sportier take on the suv/crossover with a unique shape/design.

M

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Indeed. We are talking about Sports Activity Coupe.
Such names are here to attract attention.
It could be easily labeled as a crossover, or sporty SAV / SUV. But that's so not BMW enough.

Regarding targeted group: they are the primary target, and all focus will be on them. Of course some other will also buy X6, but won't be targeted directly.

Btw, now you live in a fantasy world ... Having an idea marketing is not important & redundant (in the case the product is right). Marketing IS all about offering the right product (properly). But I guess you talk about promotion. Right? Of course there has to be some promotion activity - to inform the market the product is finally available. OK, BMW customers will be informed via direct communication (since they are in BMW's customer data base), yet other have to be informed: the Audi, Porsche, Infiniti, MB, RangeRover owners.

Ok this I get, having a gimmick to get people to look is very understandable.


Who are they, this targeted group? Are they not typical SUV/Crossover buyers or are they someone else all together? BMW 3,5,6, and 7-Series owners that have never owned a SUV aren't going to be targeted?


Wrong because marketing is one thing and believe it down the letter is another, here is where you and I differ. Any and everything BMW says about any of their new products you'll buy hook, line and sinker and where you're really off base is in the belief that car buyers, luxury car, luxury suv/crossover buyers are going to believe this nonsense so ardently. They aren't.

So in other words you're "targeting" your basic luxury suv/crossover buyer? We're back to square one, i.e. these are ordinary luxury car buyers, not some super consumer that cares about what a SAC is. This does answer my question in my first paragraph of this post though.

I guess at the end of the day you can tell them anything long as you get them in the showroom to test drive and hopefully buy, that being the bottom line, no matter how specious the lure is/was.

M

When it comes to the marketing and names, do I look at them? No. Guys, as a reminder, the majority of women who buy vehicles doso for two purposes mainly-aethestic and practical reasons. Every so once in a while, you will find one that cares what is exactly under the hood. The X6 will appeal to women. When I look at it, I just think "crossover". I do call it an all purpose coupe. I lean more on the "SUV" side about it.


I have. Put aside all the marketing and names, I wondered when this would (ever) happen.


I believe it will target the crossover genre entirely. It's too small a niche to get specific.

True!

I'm very interested to see what other women have to say about this vehicle, so if you guys would be so kind to ask your spouses or girlfriends, b/c overall this may attract more women buyers.

Something reads wrong with your request.

M

My request? To ask the ladies in your lives what they think of the X6? What does it look like and would they buy it?

Launching a completely new product / car is a very serious & expensive act.

It's not like carmaker decides "Oh, lets create something new! OK, let's make something unusual - an SAV+coupe crossover."

Numerous extensive marketing (and also financial, purchasing, technological, logistical, etc) researches are done before making such a decision. And the project gets a green light only when analyses show the project will be successful in all aspects. So, eg. the demand for such a product has to be detected first before even starting seriously considering offering a product to address that demand. It's not like - "OK, will produce something, and wait what will happen". Absolutely not! Too much resources / investments are at stake for such a move. So, everything has a very rational base.

So, all those "crazy crossovers" everybody is bitching about are not there because companies are bored & start to offer more unusual cars. No. Except in Renault case. Of course some brands are not as desirable as other - therefore failure. Not in BMW case though.

Regarding targeted group: primary people who want a high sitting position of an SAV, powerful car, sporty appearence, and don't care about utility much. According to research such people are mainly the current high-performance SAV buyers. But I'm sure some others will be lured as well. Eg. some posers who don't really care what they drive - they just want to drive what's hip. I can't see many typical 6er, 7er or 5er owners considering X6. 5er Touring more likely (if utility is not the case, and high sitting position is OK). X6 is really a niche vehicle ... wanted by a niche group.

You are right EnI,

there is no doubt that this car is the result of intensive market research.

Nothing, your revised post clears it up.

You say you've been waiting on such a vehicle. The Infiniti FX arrived about 4 years ago. I take it wasn't to your liking?

M

The concept colour isn't really that grey in real life, it has a hint of blue to it when i saw it in the motor show. Maybe it is the lighting but the colour is definitely different from the ones in the offical photo. Check it out here.
http://www.germancarforum.com/pit-gen...ew-photos.html

So I've been playing with Photoshop.....

Far more level post Eni. Much more realistic than that stuff you were giving before though this isn't anything we didn't already know.


M

Women population is a very important SAV customer base. Some women seem to be attracted to good looking big, powerful, masculine (yet smart, agile & dynamic) vehicles. I guess a) they feel secure in / with them b) they feel stronger & more powerful & important (even more visible) in / with them. I will dare to say: same drive as by choosing a man.

OK, some like it large, some medium, some small. Therefore SAVs of different sizes are popping up lately. But they are still considered as a "safer, stronger, more masculine etc" alternative to regular cars & wagons.

Btw, SAVs already are crossovers!

Yes, women are an important group of X6 prospect buyers. Those who really do not need a cargo or people mover - who car about utility, but not that much as an average SAV / SUV buyer. Of course here the performance won't be crucial ... women (I guess) will go for X6's look. It's sexy. C'mon. Admit it.
X6 is a performance an SAV, and performance SAVs are also more about the look (not only performance) that the usual SAVs.

Most man will like it more due the performance part, while most women will be more interested into the appearence. But as said: the ones who don't care about utility much, and who enjoy higher sitting position. I'm sure some soccermom with 4 kids & a dog won't be interested in such a vehicle. Nor will be someone who enjoys low sitting position of a classic coupe (or even sedan or wagon).

Really Monster?? It's not grey?? It looks oh so good like that, I wish they added it as an exterior option! I can't WAIT to see this in person. I'm going to print out a huge photo of that concept color and go searching for a custom paint job...

Just_Me, I'm marveling at the color in the photoshop. Between the two of you, I'm now considering custom paintings...what color do I start with initially if I wanted to do that?

Merc1, it took the X6 to come along for me to pay close attention to the FX now, and I see where the similarities in design may have come from. And it's only now that I like the FX. I hardly noticed it before. They say some things are weird like that, you won't notice until something else comes along and the prior is referenced alot.

Oh really?

Really. Because some are afraid they won't be able to handle it if it is too large.

Car, of course.

Especially in Europe where parking space is a bit more limited than eg in US, and city streets are not quite wide.