Carscoop's spy photographers have been working overtime lately managing to capture not one but two prototypes of the new BMW X1 small SUV - Crossover during development testing in and around the Nurburgring. In these latest scoops, BMW's forthcoming VW Tiguan and Toyota RAV-4 rival has lost most of its camouflage giving us a better view of the vehicle's design. As you can see in the photos, with the exception of a few minor details such as the absence of the aluminum skid trays and decorative rocker panels, the production model is almost identical to last year's Paris Show concept study.
This means that the X1 retains the concept's concave body surfacing and fussy detailing as well as the oversize kidney grilles inspired from the new 7-Series. In terms of size, the X1 is slightly smaller than the X3 measuring in at just under 4,500 mm or 175-in length, or around 112 mm (4.4-in.) shorter than its big brother which stands at 4,569 mm or 179-in. However, keep in mind that the next generation X3 will grow in size.
Beneath the sheetmetal, the X1 shares its underpinnings with the four-wheel-drive version of the BMW 3-series, though it has been rumored that BMW may offer rear-wheel drive versions of the SUV bearing the 'sDrive' moniker wheras the AWD variants will get the xDrive nameplate.
When the X1 goes on sale in Europe at the end of the year (there's no word yet on when and if North America will get the X1), it will be offered with a handful of gasoline and diesel powertrains.
The petrol range will include an entry-level 2.0-liter four-pot with 143 and 170HP along with the 3.0-liter straight-six units producing up to 265HP. Europeans will most likely be more interested in the diesel line-up that will consist of 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engines delivering between 143 and 204HP and six-cylinder units with up to 245HP.
And how about an X1M version, since BMW has already introduced its first ever 'M' crossovers with the X5M and X6M? We have no information whatsoever on a possible M variant of the X1, and to be frank, we seriously doubt that the Bavarian automaker will consider developing such a model for its small crossover.
7 Comments:
I hate to sound like the Midwest moron that I apparently am but can someone please explain this vehicle to me....I read that its larger than the current X3 but it’s called the X1?? Why not just keep X3 and make it bigger? Or call it the X4? And if iits the X1 is there an X3 replacement in the works that will be somewhere in between this car and the X5? If so, what’s the point? How may SUV's does one company need? I love BMW but am puzzled by their logic here (and that’s in addition to their decision to make all those weird hatch backey station wagoney cars...crazy.)
"How may SUV's does one company need?"
I don't mean to divert your statement elsewhere, but I will anyway. Look at GM. If you think BMW is getting out of hand with SUVs and crossovers, GM's been doing it for years.
"GM's been doing it for years."
And look where it got them.
@ anonymous:
The text says that it's "slightly smaller" than the current X3 and that the next X3 will be even larger. In addition, the X1 ist not so high and has a different positioning. Thus, it fits quite well into the current model range and is certainly more adequate to the current market conditions than the X6.
The X1 got to much black plastic like the X3 when it came out, big mistake.
I kinda agree with "anonymous". That car could have been a little less "plasticky". I liked the concept at 1st. I do think there's room for such a car in BMW's current line-up, and a need in where I live (northeast US). Around here, people are tired of the huge thirsty suvS and want something smaller but useful, that could drive easy in a snow storm, and has some sort of a cargo capacity bigger than a regular sedan.
I do see the point of that car.
I also think that there's market for this X1. We have 530i and X5 currently and am looking forward to this one in couple years to replace my 2003 530i. Not sure about X6 idea though.
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