Motor Authority reports that a new, smaller Bavarian SUV has been caught running the 'Ring. And they're doing so with a straight face (BMW, not the Australian bloggers). Based on the 1-Series (not our favorite Bimmer), the X1 will be smaller than the X3. Uglier too, which is quite an impressive feat. The X1 will borrow design cues from the sleek CS Concept, including the big flat nostrils, headlights and an "aggressive bumper" (whatever that may mean). The X1 will not only be more expensive than the 1-Series (gulp), it will share many parts with the upcoming MINI Cooper SUV in order to reduce costs. You can also order your X1 with a 145 hp 1.8-liter four-banga or a 3.0-liter diesel, though probably not here. Look for your daughter's best friend to be driving an X1 xDrive35i to the prom in 2009.
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is this just the 1 series hatch with 4 wheel drive and a 1 inch lift???
I’ll reserve judgment on looks until I see it without the camocrudstuff, but 145hp driving 4 wheels sounds a little on the small side. Although I submit my vote for coolest camocrudstuff ever found via your link: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/sedans/spy-shots-2010-chevrolet-cobalt-nubira/
My car is white, so I guess I’ll have to use black duct-tape to match that level of awesomeness.
Next we’ll be seeing some new version of a John Deere tractor getting a ‘Ring time. What’s the point for anything but a performance car?
The elves don’t build SUVs , they build Sports Activity Vehicles. The U implies some level of off road capability. Is there any demand for this type of car in Europe? In the present US climate, the demand should be pretty soft.
That thing is wrong on so many levels, and don’t even get me started on the MINI SUV (talk about an oxymoron).
The 1-series hatch is actually a pretty cool car, and light on its feet with 4-cyl engines, although rear space is very limited.
But I guess BMW and VW will match one another model for model, leaving MB in the dust. When will a coupe version of the Touareg be vailable?
Isn’t it a good time to stop with the SUV crap? I thought most of the “I-can’t-drive-a-minivan (or-a-station-wagon)” crowd was slowly departing from the SUV bandwagon?
And PLEASE stop with the CUV crap. A wagon/hatch with the smallest of “lifts” does not a utility vehicle make.
Can we come to a compromise? Or at least a second stage in the “Weening from SUVs” program? Maybe if ALL manufacturers stopped at the same time, Americans would assimilate with proper car terminology…
offroadinfrontier :
“And PLEASE stop with the CUV crap. A wagon/hatch with the smallest of “lifts” does not a utility vehicle make.”
I totally agree. It’s just semantics and marketing.
a wagon/hatch IS a utility vehicle; unfortunately, somebody, somewhere decided it cannot be called that, so we’re stuck with a junk load of alternative names…
call it like it is…
IF, this could be had in NA with a small 4 cylinder engine, it could be a good thing (if they keep the weight down)…
As, it’s just a 1-series 5 door…
Why can’t we just have a 135i hatchback?
BMW is developing a 1.8L engine? Isn’t that counterproductive, since the current 118i is a 2.0 like the 120i?
What an unbelievable waste of development money. BMW is just determined to fill every nook and cranny existing in the car/SUV categories, even creating niches (X6, WTF?). Is the anti-wagon sentiment so great here that they just can’t send us the 1-series hatch?
Just wait until the Bimmer minivan shows up…
What BMW need is another smart car inorder to be all things to all people. But will the market support it?
X1 for the up market Suzuki Samurai.
Can they make sure that it weighs at least 4000 lbs?
“Robert Schwartz :
June 26th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Can they make sure that it weighs at least 4000 lbs?”
Oh, I believe they can…
What is with BMW? Oil is going nuts and they figure it’s a good time to release another SUV despite its size? Sounds like a half assed Big 2.8 decision. Can’t we just get the hatch the europeans have? I’d rather see a wagon version of this than the SUV.