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  The new X6 carries over what BMW calls an athletic and elegant "highly expressive design." Photo Gallery

The BMW X6 has surrendered to seating demands.

The overgrown four-door sports coupe will get a third seat as part of a minor facelift.

BMW's self-proclaimed "Sports Activity Coupe" will arrive in its mildly-tweaked form mid-year, led by the tri-turbodiesel BMW X6 M50d and finally featuring a back seat capable of catering for three rumps.

BMW Australia's Piers Scott suggested the seating change "opens up new possibilities for that car.

"We found some people loved the concept but wanted the flexibility of three seats in the back, it was made an option only recently .... but I think the four-seater aspect was a barrier for some people," he says. 

"Internationally the car has exceeded forecasts, locally I would suggest that one minor issue at launch it was a four-seater, whereas now every car coming has the rear three-seat bench, which opens up new possibilities for that car."

The updated range will have existing petrol and turbodiesel models but will also include new X6 M50d, powered by a newly-developed triple-turbo 280kW in-line six-cylinder diesel engine.

The unique triple turbo engine runs uses a series of bypass valves to allow three turbos to work sequentially through the rev range, with a common-rail direct-injection high-pressure fuel system to produce a peak torque figure of 740Nm.

Claims of acceleration to 100km/h in 5.3 seconds will frighten performance car drivers, while the EU combined-cycle fuel test suggests 7.7 litres per 100km.

The new X6 carries over what BMW calls an athletic and elegant "highly expressive design," with changes to the grille and secondary lighting on the snout giving the traditional BMW "kidney" grille more prominent.

While final spec and pricing isn't being released yet, the front end will also feature (standard on the top-end M50d and M models, or as an option) adaptive LED headlights, which also deliver a new take on the double-lamp set-up synonymous with the German brand.

Like more and more sports steering wheels, the new LED lights get flattened top and bottom bits and have the far more common LED running lights as well; the rump is endowed with LED braking and tail-lights as well.

Since its market launch, more than 150,000 of the Sporty Activity Coup#aace were sold within approximately three years. Despite being outsold eight to one by the X5 in Australia, the German brands says the X6 "far exceeded the original plans" and continues with a high level of demand.

"It's in line with expectations, the facelift is subtle and don't expect the sales ratio between it and the X5 to change a great deal - the X5 is the more practical bread-and-butter vehicle, the X6 has a more enthusiast customer base of people looking for something a bit different, which is why it's the first to get the M Performance treatment, it's a car people get to stand out from the crowd a bit."

"We've broadened the appeal of this car, it remains a niche car in our line-up," Mr Scott says. The standard fare includes leather interior trim (with the option of Nappa full leather interior in black or white) and a 19in alloy wheel with the option of a 20in version.

There's also an optional powerdome bonnet feature for X6 models. For the extra bit of personalisation - something many X6 owners do, says BMW - is the new M Sport Plus package, which among its features includes 20in M alloy wheels, power-adjustable sports seats, sports pedals, an M leather-wrapped sports steering wheel, adaptive LED headlamps and M door sill cover strips.