BMW X1 Initial Details Emerge - Official Prototype Images Released

BMW X1 prototype

By Thami Masemola
June 2, 2009 1:12 PM
Filed Under: BMW, German, Spy Photos, Teasers

A fleet of BMW X1 prototypes were made available during a special media event held in Mallorca, Spain. Simultaneously, BMW has released 135 photos of the compact SAV in action.

The X1 has been spied time and again in various places under different conditions. While the exterior is pretty much a well-known entity at this point, despite all the cammo, it was the interior that interested many people.

Some speculation has been going around as to what the car would look like inside. Not too much can be seen in these pictures but what is visible seems to suggest that it borrows a few styling elements from other models like the 1 and 3 Series. Yet it contains its own unique personality. The controls are similar but arranged in a different way, and the navigation screen does not pop up like it does in the X3. Instead it is built into the dashboard.

In addition to two new baseline models, namely the xDrive18i and the xDrive18d, BMW will offer three versions of the X1 at launch. The first is the xDrive20d with 177hp (130kW). It has a 0 - 60mph sprint time of 8.4 seconds and returns a fuel economy figure of 5.8 litres per 100km. The second model is the xDrive23d which makes 204hp (150kW), has a 7.3 second 0 - 60mph sprint time and top speed of 223km/h. The third vehicle is an xDrive28i powered by a petrol engine with a 230km/h maximum speed.

BMW's xDrive may not be the only drive system available; a rumour suggests that rear-wheel-drive models are also on the cards.

The BMW X1 will begin selling in Europe this autumn.

 

Source: auto-news.de via bmwblog.com

Comments

3Iceman
June 2, 2009 2:23 PM
Thrying to copy Mercedes Benz's way of presenting new SLS.

kimbo
June 2, 2009 3:18 PM
BMW, please stop. How such a great car maker can produce something like this? Is it a kind of a joke. If yes, it's not a good joke. Bring back CSL!

kalle_Karlstrom
June 2, 2009 3:21 PM
why cant they just show the finished car? waste of time..

ShinyG
June 2, 2009 3:25 PM
Why would I want official professional photos of unfinished camouflaged pre-production prototypes? What do I learn from these, except the fact that the manufacturer is desperate to hype up the car!? This is automotive friggin' SPAM!

awhk
June 2, 2009 3:49 PM
Because the car with camouflage is better looking than the actual thing.

alessandro
June 2, 2009 3:43 PM
What BMW is trying to proof? Is it really me or sombody else, who don't knows what he does expect from car industry for his money or what?

Speedoholic
June 2, 2009 4:22 PM
BMW are getting ridiculous. They should focus more on keeping Audi at bay. Audi are catching up quickly.

MAB
June 2, 2009 6:46 PM
Essentially this is BMW's answer to the Infiniti EX? Talk about answering a question no one asked. It either makes the EX look too expensive or it makes a 3 Touring seem too large. I'd love to see this updated styling on the next X3, though, something with some height and a more substantial presence.

I guess I don't 'get it'.

N20_Purge
June 2, 2009 6:55 PM
Hah, they used camo because they knew the X1 design was an epic fail. Great idea BMW....

awhk
June 3, 2009 2:26 PM
Maybe BMW should consider introducing a camoflaged panel option so that customers can hide some of the ugly panels to keep self from embarrassed riding in this thing.

scratchy996
June 3, 2009 12:35 PM
i'm curious how much it will cost.

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