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After a long period of teasers, spy shots, and rumors, BMW has finally unveiled its third-generation X1 small SUV.
The X1 will launch internationally before the end of the year and has overhauled but familiar styling which brings it in line with the rest of BMW’s updated range. For the first time, the BMW X1 will have a fully electric spin-off, dubbed the iX1 (see separate story).
In terms of styling, a more squared-off body design is joined by an enlarged grille, refined headlights, and a new-look to the rear three quarter.
The X1 has increased in size overall, from 4447mm to 4500mm in length, as well as an increase in width of 24mm, offering a significantly larger boot area and for the first time, an adjustable rear row on rails.
Inside, the X1 includes the brand’s latest curved digital display panels, a new ‘floating’ armrest design, and redesigned seats, as well as the latest version of BMW’s ‘iDrive’ software suite also seen in the BMW iX electric flagship.
While Australian specification is yet to be locked in, overseas the X1 scores 17-inch wheels (or optionally up to 20-inch wheels), a 10.25-inch digital dash, a 10.7-inch multimedia display, a leather sports steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, LED headlights, and USB-C connectivity in the cabin.
The X1 range will arrive with two petrol and two diesel engines at launch, with 48-volt mild hybrid technology available on the more powerful of the two engine grades.
The base petrol engine will be the 1.5-litre three-cylinder sDrive18i which produces 100kW/230Nm, driven to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, Meanwhile, the upper-grade all-wheel-drive model, the 2.0-litre four-cylinder xDrive23i produces 150kW/320Nm assisted by an electric motor in the seven-speed transmission, which adds an additional 14kW/55Nm.
The base diesel engine is the 2.0-litre four-cylinder sDrive18d, sending 110kW/360Nm to the front wheels via a seven-speed DCT auto, while the upper grade is the more highly-tuned four-cylinder xDrive23d which sends 155kW/400Nm to all four wheels, assisted by the same 14kW/55Nm motor in the transmission.
Fuel consumption is pitched at 7.0L/10km for the sDrive18i, 7.2L/100km for the xDrive23i, 5.5L/100km for the sDrive18d, and 5.4L/100km for the xDrive23d.
Finally, topping the combustion range will be the plug-in hybrid variants, the xDrive25e and xDrive30e, both of which have combined fuel consumption numbers of just 1.1L/100km. Maximum combined output for the xDrive25e is 180kW from a 100kW petrol engine and 80kW electric motor, while the xDrive30e boosts that to 240kW from a 110kW engine and 130kW electric motor.
The plug-in hybrid variants have relatively large 14.2kWh battery packs facilitating up to 89km of purely electric driving range, and the on-board AC charger has been upgraded from 3.7kW to 7.4kW allowing a charge time of just 2.5 hours.
BMW Australia confirms the combustion variants of the new X1 will arrive in Q4 of 2022, while the fully electric iX1 will arrive in Q1 of 2023. There is no word yet if the plug-in hybrid variants will make it to Australia.
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