LEAKED PICTURES - The next generation BMW X6, yeah right, leaked by BMW themselves... LOL...

Official images of the second-generation BMW X6 have leaked online

Official-looking images of the new BMW X6 have emerged online, fuelling speculation that a full reveal isn’t too far away.

From what we can see here, noticeable changes over the current model include a more prominent, upright version of the German brand’s trademark kidney grille, a longer front overhang, and a reshaped bonnet.

It’s also clear that the X6 shares a number of design cues with its smaller and all-new X4 sibling, including closer headlight and grille integration, as well as pronounced creases running over the rear wheelarches and trapezoidal exhausts.

As before, it’ll share underpinnings with the latest X5, so it’s perhaps unsurprising the new luxury crossover looks set to feature a similar front bumper, tweaked for a sportier, more aggressive appearance.

For starters, the front fog lights sit wider on the X6, gaining distinct casing lines in the process. This sharper design theme carries through the side air intakes –which also appear to house a chrome trim – and the central bar connecting them.

The X5 connection is even clearer inside, with the same three-spoke M Sport steering wheel and a similar dashboard layout including 10.2-inch infotainment screen, layered design and two-zone climate control.

Although these images don’t tell us what’s going on under the metal, the engine range is likely to made up of larger xDrive30d, xDrive40d and M50d six-cylinder diesel engines, all mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox with four-wheel drive.

An X6 M will arrive later in the car’s lifecycle, prior to which a 4.4-litre petrol V8 xDrive50i will top the range. The 2015 X6 may also be offered with a plug-in hybrid for the first time.

Sales of the new BMW are expected to begin later this year, with the first set of deliveries likely in early 2015.

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