Make a cross with a sports car, a coupe and a SUV, what you might have, is the new jewel of BMW, the X6; which they call a SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle). It is declared as the world’s first Sports Activity Coupe. The vehicle is already in the production line and soon expected to reign over the roads.

The vehicle was announced a couple of years ago. However, since then some of the designs have been changed and as displayed in the shows this year, the car looks little different than the prototype design and concepts. However, the design is yet in the pretty stylish BMW way.

The concept car was first unveiled in Frankfurt at the IAA 2007. It has a massive set of 21 inches wheel and little lower than the current model X5. However, another new model of the X5 series is released in the mean time, which is different from the new generation X6.

BMW introduced the xDrive technology which is an all-wheel-drive technology having electronic control to redistribute power among the two axles. In X6, the technology is also called “Dynamic Performance Control”. This is expected to provide an excellent handling and smarter and intelligent four wheel drive,. However, some critics mention about some compromises in the aspect of stability. But ultimately, the test drives proved the X6 being much more comfortable, resistant to dive or roll and a complete satisfaction in terms of vehicle control. Thanks to the hybrid concept ActiveHybrid, a result of collaboration with GM and Daimler.

Two versions of the X6 are expected to be on sale from May 2008; the BMW X6 3.5i (V8 engine variant producing 300hp) with a starting price of $52,500 and a later release of BMW X6 5.0i (inline six-cylinder engine variant producing 400hp) with a starting price of $63,000. However, this price is kept lower in the US for commercial reasons, so the selling price in Europe could be higher. Both the versions will have Twin Turbo and direct injection engines.

It will be manufactured in Spartanburg, South Carolina. There are no real technical details known yet. There will also be a new version of the BMW X5 in 2006 that will lead the way.

This BMW X6 is considered to be the real hot BMW after a long time. Let’s just see, how many units they sell!

BMW first started to deal with Satellite Navigation System in the 90’s when they wanted to digitalize the whole road network of Germany. To localize the position of the car on the digital map, they used the GPS. GPS is the Global Positioning System invented by the United States Department of Defence.

GPS uses a constellation of artificial satellites orbiting around the Earth. The Satellites transmits a radio signal which is received by the GPS receiver. However, the satellite orbits are set in such a way that there are always more than four satellites above the horizon of a certain place. So, any GPS receiver would receive simultaneous signals from minimum four satellites. Since the signals from the satellites are synchronized with atomic clock, the differences of signals from different satellites allow the receiver to calculate its own position on the Earth’s surface.

The geographic location obtained by the GPS is referred in terms of latitude and longitude, the geographic co-ordinates. The accuracy of the position locating is around 100 meters.

Then the navigation system matches its database of maps and routes with the own position and displays a map of the locality with own position plotted. The system also indicates own direction of movement, speed and in some cases the altitude also. The database of the map is also very important component of the system. This could be a built-in memory or a removable memory like CD, flash drive or mini discs. The map data may contain multifarious information along with the roads. It may contain utility location, like gas stations, servicing centres, hotels, clinics, parking, police station, etc. you can plot your destination and the system will show you the recommended route to be followed. It may have inbuilt voice guidance system to help you take a turn without looking at the monitor. You can also customize your system, like adding a new stoppage or a location, or memorizing a particular route you followed.

BMW satellite navigation system also gets feedback from the multi-point navigation and map-matching. They are incorporated currently in various models like MINI and Series 7 cars. This is also available as options for the X5, 5, 3 and the compact model series.

BMW pioneered in-car satellite navigation when it took the initiative to map Germany's road network in the early '90s. This led to BMW becoming the first vehicle manufacturer to introduce a factory-fitted navigation system for the European market in 1994. Since then BMW has successfully introduced the navigation system in locations around the world, in models ranging in size from the MINI to the luxury 7 Series sedans.

If you have ever thought about driving the ultimate smart and intelligent car, you need to experience the iDrive. iDrive is the dream came true technology from BMW which is a computer-based system to make driving an easier and comfortable thing, along with making it safer.

The system is a complex automation of four primary interactions a driver does with the car or the accessories. It involves the communication, the comfort, driving-assistance and entertainment.

Though most of the vehicles still have different independent peripherals to interact, iDrive brings them all together, in the same panel.

The system was first demonstrated in 1999 and came into production in 2001. The BMW models from E60 5 Series and E63 6 series vehicles boast of this state-of-the-art technology.

The system has a main panel of control and output display.

A display monitor is placed at a suitable position so that the driver can have a look without removing his line of vision from the road ahead. The monitor is so smartly positioned that it will prevent any distraction of the driving concentration.

The large display shows all sort of information a driver needs, starting from the basic speedometer and tachometer.

The important and safety related information and the control is at the nearest part of the system, so that the driver can access them quickly. Other information like onboard entertainment control, temperature control is located on the next portion.

Most of the information can be accessed through knobs and buttons and be displayed. The second level menu and sub-menu items can be pulled down and accessed after selection.

The new technology of wireless communication is used as the interface between the modules. The current technology in use is the UTMS, which is a mobile communication protocol called the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System that allows a smooth and quick communication at a data communication rate of 2 Megabits per second.

While driving have you ever thought of your headlights focusing a curve before you made the turn so that you don’t have any surprise on the bend? Yes, most drivers feel it that way. Though the headlights are supposed to shine right ahead, when you are on a curve, the other side of the curve needs to be illuminated, too. But the headlights, being fixed with the car’s front part, normally lighten right ahead. And when your car’s head has completed the curve (it’s the moment you have lights on the curve), it’s too late. Many incidents took place in the curves, at night due to this characteristic of the light.

Then came BMW with a solution, when others groaned, oh sh*t, why didn’t we think of it before? It’s the technology of Adaptive Lights; lights that are intelligent and know where to focus when you drive. Lights that turn as soon as you start wheeling, which is much before the body has turned actually!

The adaptive headlights have a control system which is geared with the steering to anticipate your turning on a curve. It has two sets of variable headlight mechanism which will enable the driver to see both right ahead and on intended curvature. The mechanism is based on sensors which gets the change of course from the steering system and a computer that calculates the variation of the headlight focus angle.

Apart form shining the curve, the Adaptive Headlights also automatically controls the illumination level in function of the speed and direction of the car. So they can automatically switch between a full beam and a dipped beam also.

At present BMW is offering the Adaptive Headlights with the new 5 Series cars and new models.

In addition to the Adaptive Headlights, there are Adaptive Brake Lights also. They are also “intelligent” to switch automatically between a “normal” and an “enlarged” light area depending upon the brake level. These brake lights are already installed in all BMW Series 7 and 3 Coupe/Cabriolets. They are also available in the Z4 and X5 models.