BMW offers us One for the off-road

All-paw grip is taking a tighter hold on the BMW Group as the German luxury maker works to strengthen its key babies against the growing threat from compact SUVs.

The Mini has already been previewed as an all-wheel-drive wagon called the Crossover Concept, and now BMW has revealed its X1.

The 1-Series wagon is more than just a BMW body flopped over the Mini's mechanical package; BMW says the two vehicles are totally different and aimed at very different buyers.

The Mini is intended for adventurous 20-somethings, whereas the Concept X1 will go into production as a safe, practical family car.

There have been rumours of the X1 plan for close to two years, much as there were early leaks of BMW's plan to downsize the successful X5 wagon into the X3.

Details were to be revealed at the Paris motor show, but BMW claims the X1 is an extension of the Sports Activity Vehicle concept it developed.

It talks about “cool elegance, modern style and variable function” for a vehicle that's obviously a puffed-up, high-rider, 1-Series hatchback.

The X1 has a similar five-door body and, like Subaru's Forester, isn't intended for serious off-road work.

It's being previewed at a time when BMW is facing some tough challenges: Volvo has just put its XC60 all-wheel-drive wagon on the road; Volkswagen has a three-month waiting list for its compact Tiguan SUV; and Audi has confirmed it will have a Q5 to sit below its Q7, with the potential for a smaller Q3.

The X1 Concept will probably have a diesel engine, full-time AWD and 18-inch wheels.

Its shape has been chosen to reflect the X1's wide track and higher ride height, with squared-off wheel cut-outs, black body surrounds, silver roof rails and a small spoiler over the rear window.