BMW releases new teaser clip for X1 SUV

[Plex]

Expect to see the new X1 make its world debut at September�s Frankfurt Motor Show

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.

The latest round photos and video clip, released as official teasers by BMW, reveal the vehicle in the least amount of camouflage yet, essentially showing off its details but still hiding the overall design. Most notable is the completely undisguised grille, and 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.

Previous renderings and spy shots also show 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.



Motorauthority

[Plex]

BMW continue to tease new X1 SUV


BMW X1 SUV Teaser Photo -steering wheel/dashboard

BMW has dropped four new teaser photos of the new BMW X1. The four photos turned up on the Facebook page dedicated to the vehicle.

The decision to continue with the tease campaign is somewhat unusual since virtually uncovered photos of the BMW X1 have already turned up during Nurburgring testing. Further, BMW showed off X1 prototypes during a p.r. event in Mallorca, Spain, earlier this month. Still, it is nice to see uncovered shots of the rear light cluster and the engine start button.

Several petrol and diesel engine choices on the X1 guarantees the SAV will get up to 204 hp. The xDrive all-wheel drive system will be available from launch, while the rear-wheel drive unit -dubbed sDrive- should be up for purchase a little later.

After plenty of spy pictures and official teaser images and videos the X1 will finally make a splash into the European market this autumn. Power will come from petrol and turbo diesel engines with horsepower figures of up to 204.

You'll be able to see the full reveal of the BMW X1 when the SAV takes a bow at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Worldcarfans

[Sheriff!]

Shortly after images leaked out onto the Internet through XBimmers.com and BMWBLOG.com, BMW has confirmed its new X1 will arrive in Europe this fall and in the U.S. for calendar year 2011. If the production X1, shown here, looks familiar to you, it�s no surprise: This BMW X1 was already shown at last year's Paris auto show under the rather unimaginative but BMW-typical "Concept X1" moniker. This will be BMW's fourth size of SUV�sorry, �SAV��after the X3, X5, and X6.

The elderly X3 is having an increasingly difficult time in a changing marketplace that now includes the Audi Q5 and the Mercedes-Benz GLK. The X5 and X6, on the other hand, have been getting flak for their politically incorrect appetite for fuel�even before BMW, in a somewhat incendiary move, added the over-the-top X5 M and X6 M.

Smaller than X3, but Only Slightly

To send out a good vibe to more socially minded SUV lovers, BMW has chosen to launch a smaller, lighter, more-efficient ute. Based on the company�s small rear-wheel-drive platform, shared with the 1-series and 3-series, the X1 is about 600 pounds lighter than the current X3.

The X1 tips the scales at about 3300 pounds, which is impressive, considering that all-wheel drive is standard, and that its exterior dimensions are not far from those of the X3. The X1 is 5 inches shorter in length and height and 2 inches narrower. We figure the next-gen X3 will grow slightly to better accommodate the X1 in the range.

Thanks to its lower profile, the X1 looks sportier than the X3. More important, with its lower center of gravity and lower weight, the X1 promises to handle and accelerate better as well. Inside, the dashboard resembles that of the 3-series, betraying that BMW dug into the corporate parts bin.

The Old Country�s Engine Buffet

Thanks to that vast parts bin, the X1's engine choices are restricted only by marketing considerations, and not platform limitations. In Europe, the X1 will start as the xDrive20d and xDrive23d using two variations of the 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine, rated at 175 hp and 201 hp, respectively. The xDrive28i�powered by the naturally aspirated, 3.0-liter straight-six rated at 261 hp�will also be available at launch. BMW will later add the xDrive18d and xDrive18i (both rated at 141 hp) as well as the 168-hp xDrive20i.

Performance will be passenger car�like, with the xDrive20d, 23d, and 28i topping out at 132 mph, 139 mph, and 143 mph; 0�62 mph takes 8.4 seconds, 7.3 seconds, and 6.7 seconds, respectively. Fuel economy is especially impressive for the diesel versions; the X1 23d gets 37 mpg in the wildly optimistic European cycle. BMW will later add a rear-wheel-drive version that gets over 47 mpg on that cycle. (EPA fuel economy numbers likely would be lower by about 30%.)

The X1 will be offered in Europe starting at about �30,000�that's roughly �5000 less than a comparably equipped X3 and equivalent to $42,000. The production model will stand at the Frankfurt auto show in September, with sales beginning shortly thereafter. BMW confirms the X1 will come to the U.S. as well, but says it is still contemplating which drivetrain configurations will be available here. It will be interesting to see how pricing is affected by production location, since the X1 will be built at the Leipzig, Germany, plant, while the next-generation X3 will be built alongside the X5 and X6 in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Aside from within the marque, there won't be a lot of competition for this compact and sporty SUV. Closest will be the Volkswagen Tiguan and the upcoming Audi Q3, but the latter is still almost two years away.







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