BMW X1 Initial Details Emerge - Official Prototype Images Released

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.