The BMW X5 and BMW X6
The crossover vehicle market is one that is booming. People want to find a crossover that gives them the room of an SUV, however, drives more like a car. And BMW offered that to consumers through the X5. The X5 was first introduced in 1999 and became an instant hit for the company. The original X5 ended production in 2006 and was replaced with the X5 E70. However, they are basically the same vehicle for those that are considering these. The first generation of the X5 featured shares a lot of its characteristics with the Land Rover, since BMW still had a partial stake in Land Rover at this time. Though they were sought after by many consumers, they soon developed a bad reputation. The electric system in these cars were prone to break down and cost a lot to fix, thus when consumers were polled on their satisfaction with these vehicles, they rated low. In fact, in Europe, the BMW X5 received very low satisfaction ratings and put it at the bottom of the list for many people.
The second generation X5 which was now terms the X5 E70 was an attempt to change the reputation of the model. Which was easily achieved, as the company made sure that there were advancements in the technology that helped it to perform better and have a better reliability. The crossover used a new feature that had yet to be available in BMW crossovers and that was the optional third seat, which thrilled many consumers who needed the extra room. And because of this, the X5 E70 was soon a very good seller for the company.
Related to the X5 is the X6. The X6 is a slightly smaller version of the X5. In fact, it was termed a Sports Activity Coupe by BMW. It had the wide stance of an SUV, with the clearance of an SUV as well. However, the roof of the X6 is sloped so that it gives off the appearance of a coupe. It is longer than the X5, however, only seats four. It first saw production in 2008 and was released to the public in 2009. The X6 was a first in many ways for the company. It was the first vehicle that was enabled with the Dynamic Performance System that allowed for the vehicle to have maximum traction during all kinds of weather and on all kinds of terrain. This helped the driver to really control the vehicle much better than past vehicles offered by BMW. In addition, the system helped the vehicle to have less brake wear and it also allowed for one wheel to take the acceleration when in curves which allowed for better control.
The X5 and the X6 were both new additions to a market that BMW had not branched into. And because of this, BMW saw their consumer demographic rising. Though most people associate BMW with their high performance sedans and coupes, these two vehicles enabled the world to see BMW in a new light.