Sydney show: BMW flies two coupes

IN A surprise reveal, dubbed a southern hemisphere debut, at this morning’s Australian International Motor Show, BMW threw the covers off its X6 coupe-crossover and revealed that the segment-busting vehicle would be released Down Under in the final quarter of 2008.

Flown direct from Frankfurt, where it made its world debut last month, the close-to-production X6 “concept” strikes an imposing stance with its exaggerated kidney grille and sweeping side profile (sans B-pillar) that makes it look more like a hatchback than the X5 wagon upon which it is based.

“It is a measure of the importance BMW attaches to Australia as a market for our X Series vehicles that we have been able to secure this vehicle for display,” said BMW Group Australia managing director Guenther Seemann.



Left: X6 and M3 coupe (below).

“The best news, of course, is that we will be building a car based on the Concept X6 very soon and will have it for sale in Australia during 2008.” The 1 Series coupe did not materialise as expected – that will now be shown at the Brisbane International Motor Show next February – but BMW did, as promised, unveil its stunning Concept CS four-door coupe, which is another model confirmed for production and is expected on sale here from 2009.

Rounding out the stand was the forthcoming twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre diesel “3.0sd” X5 – fitted with what BMW claims is the world’s most powerful straight-six diesel donk – along with the new M3 coupe, updated 6 Series coupe and convertible, and the German marque’s new base diesel engine in the X3 2.0d and the 520d.

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