BMW SPECIAL
4x4 SO FAR
The all-new X1 makes a lot of sense in today's car environment, but it won't come to Thailand any soon due to several strategic reasons
- Published: 10/07/2009 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: Motoring
Styling & Packaging
BMW is continuing its product offensive by unveiling the X1 for the first time as seen in these official pictures.
The all-new baby SUV remains faithful to last year's concept car in appearance and has more restrained design cues in line with many new BMWs of post-Bangle era.
At 4,454mm long, 1,798mm wide and 1,545mm tall, the X1 is just a shade smaller than today's X3. The wheelbase length of 2,760mm, in particular, is just 35mm shy of its next bigger SUV brother.
Such a strategy clearly means that the second-generation X3, most likely to emerge next year, will move upmarket in size. The current X5's bloated dimensions allow the X3 to move up the SUV ranks.
The X1 becomes the new-entry level SUV for BMW and is claimed to take five people in comfort. Interior versatility is guaranteed with rear seats that can fold 40/20/20. Like in the X5 and X6, the dashboard is tilted slightly towards the driver.
The X1 is understood to be built on modified platform of the 3-series with some suspension components being made from lightweight materials like aluminium. Depending on variants, the X1 tips the scales at roughly 1,650kg.
Engine & Transmission
There will be six variants to choose from initially: one petrol and five diesels which just go to show how popular oil-burning power is in Europe. All are based on existing engines with some getting eco-friendly features like auto stop/start and brake energy regeneration tech.
- The sole petrol version is xDrive28i using a 258hp/310Nm 3.0-litre inline-six. The 0-100kph figure is timed at 6.8sec and average fuel economy is rated at 10.6kpl.
- The most powerful diesel is xDrive23d utilising a 204hp/400Nm 2.0-litre twin-turbo inline-four with 7.3sec and 15.9kpl records.
- The xDrive20d and xDrive18d feature the same 2.0-litre single-turbo diesel with outputs of 177hp/350Nm and 143hp/320Nm respectively. Economy is rated at 17.2kpl and 18.9kpl accordingly.
- For the first time for an X model, there is RWD-only in the so-called sDrive20d and sDrive18d. But unlike the others that have six-speed automatic, the sDrives only get six-speed manual. The sDrive18d is the most frugal X1 with 19.2kpl.
Market & Pricing
BMW becomes the first premium maker to offer an ultra-compact SUV of this size which would eventually persuade rival brands to follow suit (see sidebar).
The X1 is set to make its world debut in Frankfurt this September with right-hand drive versions following a month later. However, executives of BMW Thailand told Motoring that sales aren't being lined in the near future yet for a couple of reasons.
Like the 1-series, the X1 has been conceived with European buyers in mind, so as to explain the diversity of diesel engines on offer.
BMW cabins are becoming very similar these days.
Small packages with premium nameplates don't necessarily work in Thailand and many other Asian countries, explaining the 1-series's dismal sales performance. Even Mercedes-Benz was forced to halt local assembly of the A-class last year.
Since there is no immediate plan to build the X1 in Thailand, prices in imported form would invade that of the X3, which is built in the country with prices ranging from B3.299-3.8m in xDrive20d and xDrive25i forms.
By next year, BMW's Mini division is planning to sell the production version of the Crossman Concept at approximately the same prices of the X1. Since Mini is a success story in Thailand, the Cross has higher potential to sell due to its funky image.
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