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.
Reader Comments
Wed Jun 25 2008 4:16 PM
InkMaster says
Wasn't that bloated Mini released just a little while ago? Seems like this is competing in the near exact same market...
Wed Jun 25 2008 7:09 PM
Gus says
BMW just gets sillier and sillier.
Wed Jul 2 2008 11:56 AM
mlevere1992 says
Looks just like an X6 that went through the dryer with the heat on to high.
Wed Jul 2 2008 2:57 PM
Germandude says
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?
Wed Jul 2 2008 10:16 PM
Dann says
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
Wed Jul 2 2008 10:47 PM
HECTOR says
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.
Thu Jul 3 2008 5:08 PM
NaBUru38 says
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.
Thu Jul 10 2008 11:20 AM
Varan says
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 ...
Thu Jul 10 2008 1:14 PM
dadan says
I doubt they will put a 1.8 in it...there will be a Xdrive18 but that will be a 2.0petrol/diesel
Thu Jul 10 2008 1:53 PM
Turkle says
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"?
Thu Jul 10 2008 1:57 PM
brad says
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.
Sun Jul 13 2008 8:02 AM
94 Taurus owner says
@Germandude
There are SUV convertibles
1.Wrangler
2.Hummer HX/H4
Sun Jul 27 2008 4:33 PM
ver says
what a bad car man
Thu Aug 28 2008 6:49 PM
NoNameDenton says
Oh goodie another crossover, like there are not enough of those in the world.
Wed Nov 5 2008 9:53 PM
JMB says
GOD. what has become of BMW...
Thu Nov 6 2008 12:07 PM
JSH says
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.
Mon Nov 17 2008 7:09 AM
azlan says
i dont see the point in making this car! soo stupid bmw!, waste of time and money.
Wed Jan 7 2009 5:09 PM
NoNameDenton says
Give it a 4 cylinder turbo diesel and it would be extremely fuel efficient
Thu Jan 8 2009 7:27 PM
justinhk2000 says
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.
Fri Jan 9 2009 12:08 AM
NoNameDenton says
Better looking then the MINI CUV
Fri Jan 9 2009 8:18 AM
danDAN says
what does the Mini CUV stand for...CRAPPY Utility Vehicle...thankyou I'm here all week!
Wed Jan 14 2009 9:00 PM
WizardsLore says
NoNameDenton - give it anything other than a 6 cylinder and it will be terrible on fuel efficiency. That car will be heavy !
Wed Feb 4 2009 6:37 PM
azlan says
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.
Wed Feb 4 2009 7:50 PM
NoNameDenton says
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
Tue Mar 17 2009 11:27 AM
NaBUru38 says
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.
Tue Mar 17 2009 4:27 PM
azlan says
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!
Mon Jun 1 2009 1:44 PM
james says
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.
Tue Jun 2 2009 10:49 PM
NoNameDenton says
Next up will be an X2 that will be a little brother to the X6
Wed Jun 3 2009 3:44 AM
azlan says
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
Wed Jun 3 2009 10:01 PM
NoNameDenton says
Quote:
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
Tue Jun 16 2009 10:52 PM
WizardsLore says
Quote:
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!
Tue Jun 16 2009 10:53 PM
WizardsLore says
Quote:
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
Mon Jun 22 2009 9:50 PM
khaosmatrix says
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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