Spied: Honda testing BMW X6 rival
August 15, 2008 by George Skentzos
Well here’s something you don’t see every day – a tent towing a caravan.
In actual fact, this is a new sports crossover vehicle from Honda undergoing preliminary testing under the cover of darkness in California.
Likely to fall under the Acura nameplate in overseas markets, Honda has the soon-to-be-released BMW X6 set squarely in its sights.
Little is known about this new model at this stage; however its low-slung roofline and huge alloys suggest this will be more of an urban assault vehicle rather than an off-road warrior.
Early speculation suggests we will catch our first official glimpse of Honda’s new SUV by 2010.
Print it: 
i absolutely love the x6! it will be great to see some stylish competition for it!
if it will be badged an Acura, it will get that big ugly grill, so hopefully it’ll come to aus badged as a honda with a normal grill.
How the hell do you contrive that as an X6 rival, unless you’re trying to justify the existence of the horrendous-looking X6 by making out out that Honda would be silly enough to try and compete with it?
Looks more like an Audi Q5 rival to me.
I don’t understand why Honda keep releasing these crappy SUV’s. There’s already the CRV, MDX (Pilot in in the USA), RDX and Element. The market is crying out for a decent japanese offroader (with a real transfer case, and seperate chassis) to compete with the Prado. Toyota have this market totally sewn up, competition would be nice!
PS – I have always been a Honda man, but recently traded in for a KIA because Honda didn’t have a real-offroader in their line-up.
An ex-Honda 05 CRV owner. PS – Love my Kia Sorento Diesel.
mmmmmmmm,I hope it looks a lot better under those bras,the X6 is a hot looking drive,wish they would have made it as a wagon though not jacked it up!
Interesting idea of camouflage Honda have there, wrapping the whole thing in canvas and mesh might not be the best idea.
In relation to the last comment, I agree the Prado is a good vehicle, we use a couple and they are pretty reliable, reasonable for covering distance and you can easily take them through a reasonable amount of rough stuff. But mate I do question you classing your Kia Sorento as a “Real-offroader”. I would have classed it as a soft-roader. I can’t comment on the vehicle as I’ve never used one, but a Kia isn’t something I’d take any more bush than a dirt driveway…
The X6 is one ugly piece of rubbish.
Hi Austin
The Sorento has soft roader styling but features a separate chassis, low rage gearing and good flex in the rear. Its as capable as the Prado, and features a beautiful turbo diesel with plenty of torque. I think you’ll be very surprised with the latest Sorento.
I test drove both the Prado and Pajero when I ultimately chose the Sorento.
PS – 4×4 Monthy recently took 2 stock standard Sorentos (with road tyres and no suspension lift) through the Aussie desert and tried real hard to break them. Guess what, they didn’t. The writers were pretty impressed particularly when they got up big red. GU Patrol and LandCruiser drivers were surprised as hell…
Anyhow, I’m digressing. I was meaning to focus on the Honda…
Ok zool
Looking into it Zool, others seem to agree, something to do with Kia’s history building vehicles for the Korean army evidently. Learn something new every day.
Anyway, sorry I took the thread off topic.
Austin no need to apologise. It’s all good :)
i reccon from the c-pillar backward is camoflage, trying to cover its coupe like shape. i reccon its an x6 competitor also. just because the price gap is different doesnt mean it can’t compete.
its the same ‘field’. this is like. hmm. i dunno, VW Passat CC to the Mercedes-Benz CLS. although i think the VW is really disgusting.
and to all those who think the X6 is ugly, go and see one in person before you judge it, and then if you dont like it, drive the twin turbo diesel model. then if u still dont like it, THEN you can say its crap.