- Facelifted BMW X1 adopts Neue Klasse styling but keeps FAAR combustion platform.
- New Panoramic iDrive and interior tech bring it closer to next-generation electric models.
- One of 40 BMW launches by 2027, including new i3, as brand ramps up big product push.
BMW’s X1 looked pretty sharp when it debuted in 2022 with its crisp panels and flush handles, though the front end was still kind of trad. But now we know the German brand was holding onto the good stuff until after it had launched its groundbreaking Neue Klasse cars, and with those now out in the open, it’s time to bring the baby SUV up to date.
The biggest exterior change concerns that previously rather ordinary front end. For this mid-life refresh BMW has ditched its old-school grille and headlight setup in favor of the brand’s new visor-style face, the same look we’ve seen on the iX3 and the freshly revealed i3 sedan. It’s smoother, cleaner, and a bit more digital, and the rest of the bodywork already looks modern enough that the new nose should blend in nicely.
Related: BMW’s Smallest EV Now Looks Like A Mini iX3
An updated cabin brings BMW’s latest tablet touchscreen and Panoramic iDrive display, stretching across the dash and cutting down on physical buttons. It’s the same tech BMW is rolling out across its next-generation EV models, giving the X1 a much more modern feel than before.
But here’s the catch. This isn’t a Neue Klasse car under the skin. Instead, the X1 sticks with its existing FAAR platform, shared with the 1-Series hatch and various Mini models. So while it might look like BMW’s shiny new EV-era machines, it’s still powered by familiar 1.5, 2.0 and 3.0-liter combustion engines and hybrid setups depending on the market.
Army Of New BMWs
SH Proshots
That split personality actually says a lot about where BMW is right now. The company is in the middle of one of the biggest product offensives in its history, with around 40 new or updated models planned by 2027. Some will be full Neue Klasse EVs, including the brand’s first fully electric M car, the M3 EV. Others, like this X1, will borrow the design and tech while sticking with existing hardware.
And the X1 won’t be alone. Though some BMWs, like the 7-Series, won’t fully jump onto the Neue Klasse face trend yet, leaked images suggest, dozens of models will. Expect similar treatment for cars like the electric iX1 5-Series and i5, the X3, X5 and 3-Series and 4-Series. However, those last three cars will go further than just a small styling tweak, and should be almost – but not totally – indistinguishable from their genuine Neue Klasse electric counterparts.
