Car Advice

BMW X6 outsells Porsche Cayenne

By David Twomey |

BMW’s segment busting X6 Sports Activity Coupé has proved a niche sales hit for the company, outselling its German import rival the Porsche Cayenne.

In ten months, 545 of the crossover BMWs have been delivered in Australia, highlighting its customer appeal.

BMW says that approximately 40 per cent of X6 customers were new to the brand, switching from a luxury competitor, and many buyers stepped up from a traditional coupé to the roomier Sports Activity Coupé.

Although niche by BMW standards, the Sports Activity Coupé this year outsold cars such as the Fiat 500, Jaguar XF, Lexus IS F, Mazda MX5, Mercedes-Benz CLS, Audi A6 and Volvo C30.

The BMW X6 outsold its closest competitor, the Porsche Cayenne, this year by almost 20 per cent.

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Further highlighting its success as a premium niche model, the X6 Sports Activity Coupé found more customers in Australia, since arriving last year, than the entire Maserati range.

The X6 debuted last August with a choice of two powerful and efficient twin-turbo six-cylinder engines. This year BMW’s first-ever V8 twin-turbo production engine joined the range.

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BMW says 36 per cent of X6 customers this year opted for the efficient in-line six-cylinder twin turbo diesel engine, followed by 33 per cent for the petrol twin turbo V8, with the remainder choosing the twin turbo six-cylinder petrol engine.

BMW plans to shortly bring the performance character of its M division to the X6, and says the X6M will set a new standard in its class in terms of dynamic performance thanks to supreme acceleration, lateral dynamics, steering behaviour, short stopping distanced and efficiency.

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“Only the innovative spirit of BMW’s engineers could result in the creation of the X6,” said BMW’s general manager of marketing, Tom Noble.

“It’s a niche that nobody thought existed, until BMW developed a desirable coupe styled SUV, with the handling manners of a sports car.”

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“Australians have embraced the X6 and sales have exceeded our initial expectations. Already we have growing interest in the arrival of the X6 M, later this year,” he said.

Globally, more than 35,000 customers have taken delivery of the BMX X6 Sports Activity Coupé.

For more information on the BMW X6, click here.


 
  • http://caradvice lexusboi

    545 Visually Impaired people bought a car last month. :P
    It’s probably an amazing piece of machinery / engineering – but WTF is it?
    Money doesn’t buy taste.

  • Flying High

    Well the Cayenne is butt ugly so no surprises it was outsold by a far better looking car. The main problem with the Cayenne is that it cannot shake the image that are purchased by rich wankers – whether or not they really are is debatable – but that is their reputation. The BMW is somehow more socially acceptable – even if they do have similar prices.

  • Alex

    Well I have driven both and I think that the X6 is better anyway. Far more sharp. i know what I’d buy.

  • Dion

    This car actually looks so hot in real life it’s amazing

  • DesignEngr

    lexusboi Says:
    June 18th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
    “Money doesn’t buy taste”

    That would explain the success of Lexus then wouldn’t it?

  • FrugalOne

    Well you simply have to say, “the market has spoken” and people make choices with there wallets!

    Hows the sale of the Porker V6 diesel going?Cheapest new Porker you can buy.

    Main photo of X6 is at the Albert Park GP Track, xxxx CORNER, hope you/they where not going over 60kmh!, heavily policed/camered…

    Kudos to BMW for having the guts to build it, i like it but my budget is @ the X1 level.

    Cheers

    F-0

  • Alex

    Lexusboi, I have to agree with DesignEngr. You can’t like Lexus’ and then go on about taste.

  • Jameson

    This car has been purchased by people seeking empowerment and one-upmanship by getting a car with high high ride height.

    Extra ride height for the gutters they will never dare climb, the dirt roads they never dare trek, and the puddles they will violently avoid on a rainy day.

  • The Realist

    Good work BMW.

    The M-version will be a monster.

  • Captain Mainwaring

    Sounds like a tragic testament to Australian taste (hear that BM (.)(.)?)
    Wonder what the worldwide figures say.

  • Twilight

    i really love this car, and it is of no suprise to me that the Australian market do to… Money doesn’t buy taste, agreed, but i think this care is immensely tasteful. =]

  • Joober@work

    That said… You buy a Porsche for a Porsche ala sports car not a SUV. BMW on the other hand buying a SUV is expected.

  • demonaz

    X6 is one of those cars that look absolutely astounding in real life. Class, brute muscle and road presence rolled into one semi-coherent round shaped… thingie. I like it!

  • Hemi-Head

    Loving this site at present.
    BMW’s are choice vehicles,some of the people that own and drive them are questionable I reckon ( 1 of 4 in Oz ! )
    Some of their pets are sad too (rusty the dog that holds onto wheels )
    Keep up the great work guys.

  • http://www.thriftycarsales.co.za Susan | Thrifty Cars

    It doesn’t surprise me that they out sold the Porsche Cayenne, this is a good looking car, I wouldn’t mind having one myself

  • http://carz.com/ Carz

    I agree this car looks great in real life. Interior is really nice as well as performance.Cayenne is a bit expensive but worth every penny.

  • nobody

    It’s encouraging to see car buyers willing to give niche market cars a go, will only mean we’ll see more such cars coming our way. I’m quite surprised to see it outdo the Cayenne as I see alot of them on the road, but then it’s been in the market for awhile and the new model coming out soon.

    Great to see aussies still loving big cars and thrashable ones like the X6 too. Really didn’t expect it to be doing so well, since it’s really a niche within a niche type of car. Can’t wait to see X6M in action here.

  • Blaze

    We (our family) went to our local BMW dealerships to find our next car. I (being the youngest) wanted something racing, namely the 335i. But mum and dad wanted an X5. In speaking with a few of the sales staff that there’s been a shortage of X5s, and as such BMW Australia are offering financial incentives (in the form of $8k-$22k) for the X6s, to entice potential X5 buyers to get people to buy late (Nov-Dec) 08 plated X6s.

    Perhaps this is distorting the figures?

  • Alex

    Blaze, if your parents haven’t bought yet you should try and convince them to get an X6 50i. Then you’ll both get what you want. Very fast and fantastic to drive at the same time as being an SUV.

  • Alex

    OK, now I’ve just read on another page that you have bought. Which engine did you get in the X6?

  • philip

    I just laugh whenever I see an X6 on the road. Who would want a car that looks like an X5 that’s been dropped on its roof? New money, that’s who.

  • MB

    One is old one is new. Same could be said Boxter V Z4 V SLK, With a twin turbo SLK coming out looking like the new Gullwing the balance will swing to Mercedes again.The Cayenne has been around a few years and the new kid on the block is getting the attention.

  • Missile/Nut Hater

    I have read so much negative press on this car,with some suggestion that it is niether 1 thing nor another
    ( suv-sports car )Does anyone out there own or drive one on a regular basis,what are they like.They look odd from some angles but I wouln’t mind one for Xmas.

  • http://juicydogcouture.blogspot.com Samthepoodle

    The choice of poodles….really…well actually poodle owners.We have the green with oyster interior aka THE HULK.
    The kind of person who buys the X6 has superb taste and truly loves to drive.
    Philip….’new money’comment….money is money old or new it all spends the same.
    Flying High comment…Porsches driven my wankers now I am not going to argue with that one.