Just before their official unveiling at the Paris auto show next week, BMW has released images and preliminary information about the next-generation X3 not-so-compact crossover – or SAV, as BMW calls their sport-utes – and the next-generation 6 Series luxury coupe.
Just before their official unveiling at the Paris auto show next week, BMW has released images and preliminary information about the next-generation X3 not-so-compact crossover – or SAV, as BMW calls their sport-utes – and the next-generation 6 Series luxury coupe.
The X3 will be the first to arrive, hitting dealerships in Canada early in 2011, and it promises to provide the Audi Q5 some competition for the best-looking luxury ute in this class, as well as the boxier but still popular Mercedes-Benz GLK. It also gives BMW a fresh entry into one of the fastest-growing segments in the market, offering a Start/Stop function as well as an eight-speed automatic to help save fuel.
BMW is calling the 6-Series it is showing in Paris a concept, but its production-ready look suggests that BMW is simply calling it a concept so that it can tout the “world premiere” of the production 6-Series later on, likely at the Los Angeles auto show in November.
The large 2+2 coupe will offer a platform based on that of the 5-Series, and also closely related to the one in the flagship 7 Series; full LED headlights, and a “floating” iDrive position located on a zany ramp that flows from the airbag cover in front of the passenger seat down to between the centre armrest.
The latest 6-Series will also offer the latest version of ConnectedDrive, which in some models will also offer support for the new iPhone 4 and other smartphones, new iPod-friendlier functions, a WiFi hotspot for passengers to surf, as well as the Blackberry text to speech function.
source: theglobeandmail
