BMW says its new X6 won't harm X5

BMW Australia managing director Guenther Seemann is adamant that the new X6 SUV will not cannibalise sales from the related X5 SUV when it goes on sale in the second half of 2008.

“I do not believe so, because people who buy X5, they have big families, they go long distances in the car. The X6 is a four-seater – it will appeal to a different market,” he said.

Mr Seemann believes the “coupe-crossover” is a ground-breaking design, in the same way, he said, that X5 was at its inception. “When we designed X5, we had two competitors. Now we have 18 competitors. So I think this will be the future direction.” Meanwhile, the new M3 coupe, which went on sale last week, has sold out for 2007 deliveries with its allocation of 120 cars. There is a three-month wait on existing M3 orders.

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