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Spy shots: BMW X1 SUV caught barely disguised

 
33 80,381 views Jun 16, 2009
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2010 bmw x1 rendering 002

spy shots bmw x1 june 2009 003

spy shots bmw x1 june 2009 003

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The next couple of years will be very busy for BMW as it launches a handful of new models including new versions of current top sellers and some models we’ve never seen before. The new X1 falls into the latter category and will take the carmaker into the compact SUV market currently dominated by the likes of the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. Just a couple weeks ago BMW revealed a set of official teasers, but today we can bring you spy shots of the new X1 almost undisguised.

The latest round of spy photos reveal the vehicle in the least amount of camouflage yet, going beyond outlines and curves to show off the detail of the bodywork and front-end treatment, with only a few lines of masking tape down the sides and around the rear tail light area.

The checkered cladding on the promo shots released by BMW earlier this month obscured the details, but left the grille completely uncovered, as well as the sporty new front and rear bumpers. Family traits can also be found in the front and rear lights, which resemble the recently revealed 5-series GT and the 7-series sedan, respectively.

Comparing the latest spy shots to the official video clip (below), as well as the previous renderings and spy shots, shows that BMW designers have stuck closely to the lines of the Concept X1 showcased at last year’s Paris Motor Show.

The new X1’s running gear is based on the 1-series compact car but its ride height will be taller. The car is actually expected to use a mixture of 1-series and 3-series parts, sort of bridging the size gap between the two - not that the gap was large to begin with. BMW’s X-drive AWD system will also feature.

The range will kick off with two base models: the xDrive18i and the xDrive18d, and these will be followed by an xDrive20d with 177hp (130kW), a 0 - 60mph sprint time of 8.4 seconds and fuel economy of 40mpg (5.8L/100km), as well as an xDrive23d with 204hp (150kW) and a 0 - 60mph sprint time of 7.3 seconds. Topping out the range will be an xDrive28i model.

Production volume is expected to top the 100,000 mark and will start at a BMW plant in Leipzig by the middle of the year. The X1 will be priced higher than the 1-series, likely starting close to the $30,000 mark. Much of the car’s components will also be shared with an upcoming SUV model from Mini to save on development costs, although the BMW model is expected to be significantly larger than the Mini.

Expect to see the X1 unveiled for the first time at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show with sales to follow shortly after.
2010 BMW X1 Preview
2010 BMW X1 SUV official teasers
2010 BMW X1 spy shots June 2009

2010 BMW X1 spy video


HI-RES GALLERY: 2010 bmw x1 rendering 002

HI-RES GALLERY: 2011 bmw x1 official spy shots 020

HI-RES GALLERY: spy shots bmw x1 june 2009 004




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Comments (33)

  1. By InkMaster Posted: 6/25/2008 1:16pm PDT

    Wasn't that bloated Mini released just a little while ago? Seems like this is competing in the near exact same market...
     
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  2. By Gus Posted: 6/25/2008 4:09pm PDT

    BMW just gets sillier and sillier.
     
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  3. By mlevere1992 Posted: 7/2/2008 8:56am PDT

    Looks just like an X6 that went through the dryer with the heat on to high.
     
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  4. By Germandude Posted: 7/2/2008 11:57am PDT

    Most pointless car ever! after the SUV-coupés and the mini-SUVs, what will they come up with next? A convertible SUV? maybe one with a crane on top or one that flies? Why not just buy a normal car?
     
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  5. By Dann Posted: 7/2/2008 7:16pm PDT

    to be fair this will probably compete with the 2 door wrangler, the soon to bew H4 Hummer and 2 door G Wagon. Rich kids who want a small 4x4
     
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  6. By HECTOR Posted: 7/2/2008 7:47pm PDT

    The other day I saw an 850 parked on the street. What happened to the BMW that would put out such meaningful cars?

    Now they put out the 1 series, the X1, the Mini SUV... They put gershift levers in the steering column, Chris *Flame Surfacing* Bangle, high glare DRLs....

    No need to say that whatever respect I have for BMW for cars like the 335 or the X5 is immediately negated by the abominations I mentioned above.
     
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  7. By NaBUru38 Posted: 7/3/2008 2:08pm PDT

    Spealing in European terms, the X1 will be a C-segment off-roader/SUV/CUV/BLAH. That is, its rivals are the Tiguan, CR-V, RAV4, Kuga, etc. I guess that the Mini Crossman will be a B-segment off-roader, so it will be priced closer (ok, not that much higher) than the Terios, Urban Cruiser and SX4.
     
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  8. By Varan Posted: 7/10/2008 8:20am PDT

    I hope its target is not the CR-V bc that would definitely be leaving the luxury market. I guess Acura has Honda, Infiniti has Nissan etc etc ... BMW really does not have a non-luxury brand to sell in so are they just making do? If so, that really will bring down the image of the brand ...
     
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  9. By dadan Posted: 7/10/2008 10:14am PDT

    I doubt they will put a 1.8 in it...there will be a Xdrive18 but that will be a 2.0petrol/diesel
     
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  10. By Turkle Posted: 7/10/2008 10:53am PDT

    I would love to see what kind of consumer index data pointed to this being necessary. How many people strolled out of the BMW dealership saying, "Gosh, I would get an X3, but I want an even smaller luxury SUV"?
     
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  11. By brad Posted: 7/10/2008 10:57am PDT

    what is with this guy hector complaining about DRL's, we get it you dont like them, but you dont have to post about it in so many forums.
     
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  12. By 94 Taurus owner Posted: 7/13/2008 5:02am PDT

    @Germandude

    There are SUV convertibles
    1.Wrangler
    2.Hummer HX/H4
     
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  13. By ver Posted: 7/27/2008 1:33pm PDT

    what a bad car man
     
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  14. By NoNameDenton Posted: 8/28/2008 3:49pm PDT

    Oh goodie another crossover, like there are not enough of those in the world.
     
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  15. ma_JMB avatar JMB Posted: 11/5/2008 6:53pm PST

    GOD. what has become of BMW...
     
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  16. ma_JSH avatar JSH Posted: 11/6/2008 9:07am PST

    Instead of taking the taking the 1 Series wagon and jacking it up to pretend that it is a SUV, why not just give us the wagon. It would save a lot of money and be a better vehicles.

    I'm tired of manufacturers ruining perfectly good wagons by trying to make SUV's out of them.
     
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  17. ma_azlan avatar azlan Posted: 11/17/2008 4:09am PST

    i dont see the point in making this car! soo stupid bmw!, waste of time and money.
     
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  18. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 1/7/2009 2:09pm PST

    Give it a 4 cylinder turbo diesel and it would be extremely fuel efficient
     
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  19. ma_justinhk2000 avatar justinhk2000 Posted: 1/8/2009 4:27pm PST

    I really think they need a compact SUV in the segment. I live in CT and when it snows, it goes down hard. So i would like a small "SAV" that can go over the snow and maintain traction. You might argue that i should just get a 328xi but it's not high enough. It's not a waste of money, many people would buy this car. But, the styling could be a little improved, the kidney grilles are overly sculpted.
     
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  20. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 1/8/2009 9:08pm PST

    Better looking then the MINI CUV
     
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  21. ma_danDAN avatar danDAN Posted: 1/9/2009 5:18am PST

    what does the Mini CUV stand for...CRAPPY Utility Vehicle...thankyou I'm here all week!
     
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  22. ma_WizardsLore avatar WizardsLore Posted: 1/14/2009 6:00pm PST

    NoNameDenton - give it anything other than a 6 cylinder and it will be terrible on fuel efficiency. That car will be heavy !
     
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  23. ma_azlan avatar azlan Posted: 2/4/2009 3:37pm PST

    this car is just useless in all aspects. if someone wanted a small suv from beemer whats wrong with the x3(apart from everyting!) this car just doesn't give anything more than an x3 that will urge people to buy it. i hate it! its ugly small probly not even fuel efficient. i think it should be made into a shape of a bum hole and raped.
     
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  24. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 2/4/2009 4:50pm PST

    WizardsLore since the actualt vehicle has not been shown no one knows how much it weighs, so that is a guess, plus a with DI and a turbo an inline 4 could power a vehicle of this size, which is why the MINI crossover will have one
     
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  25. ma_NaBUru38 avatar NaBUru38 Posted: 3/17/2009 8:27am PDT

    Until true pictures are released, I won't comment on its design. But the idea of a sub-X3 soft-roader is great. Lots of people certainly want C-segment luxury crossovers. Audi will launch a similar car, the Q3, that is the production version of the Cross Coupe Quattro concept car.

    If the X1 only had four-cylinder engines, the engine bay could be shorter and the cockpit roomier.
     
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  26. ma_azlan avatar azlan Posted: 3/17/2009 1:27pm PDT

    i dont see the point of this car... i really think bmw are wasting there time and money.. even though people will probably buy it(for some crazy dumb reason) i just think they have the suv thing covered the x3 is small enough you dont want any smaller than that.. why would you want smaller for a 4wd!.
    i respected bmw for making the x6 even though i dont see the point in that either atleast it struck its own market! the x1 just fits in with the q5 and tiguan... i want to see more originality out of bmw!
     
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  27. ma_james avatar James Martinez Posted: 6/1/2009 10:44am PDT

    i'll tell you the point right now: people will buy it.
    hate to tell you azlan, the average american isn't keen on hatches or wagons. we like giants; even downsized giants... i guarantee you that this will sell just as well as BMW plans for it to sell. in conclusion, people are dumb.
     
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  28. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 6/2/2009 7:49pm PDT

    Next up will be an X2 that will be a little brother to the X6
     
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  29. ma_azlan avatar azlan Posted: 6/3/2009 12:44am PDT

    i know tis is will sell... but im truggling to think how this is different to the x3...... or is this a replacement lol i dunno
     
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  30. ma_NoNameDenton avatar NoNameDenton Posted: 6/3/2009 7:01pm PDT

    i know tis is will sell... but im truggling to think how this is different to the x3...... or is this a replacement lol i dunno

    Being smaller and sightly cheaper, that is it, otherwise it is the same thing
     
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  31. ma_WizardsLore avatar WizardsLore Posted: 6/16/2009 7:52pm PDT

    Instead of taking the taking the 1 Series wagon and jacking it up to pretend that it is a SUV, why not just give us the wagon. It would save a lot of money and be a better vehicles.

    I'm tired of manufacturers ruining perfectly good wagons by trying to make SUV's out of them.

    because the main consumer market for these types of cars (the USA) does not full emabrace the wagon (for some unknown reason, car dynamics with the space of an SUV), and prefers to have an SUV shape!
     
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  32. ma_WizardsLore avatar WizardsLore Posted: 6/16/2009 7:53pm PDT

    WizardsLore since the actualt vehicle has not been shown no one knows how much it weighs, so that is a guess, plus a with DI and a turbo an inline 4 could power a vehicle of this size, which is why the MINI crossover will have one

    now that we have seen pics i believe it will be a slug without a TD or hipo 4cyl
     
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  33. ma_khaosmatrix avatar khaosmatrix Posted: 6/22/2009 6:50pm PDT

    BMW should drop the X1 and use this as the '10 X1. It fails as a SUV, but it might work as a Five Door Sedan.
     
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