After six years, the 2nd generation of the BMW X1. The completely newly developed SUV will be launched for at least 29.950 euros.
The X1 has a new technical base that it shares with the family BMW 2 Series Active Tourer. It has front-wheel drive and transversely installed engines under a much shorter hood. The first X1 had the previous model of today's 3 Series Touring as a gene donor, i.e. a space-consuming engine placed lengthways and of course rear-wheel drive.
The enormous increase in space is important for the new edition. Although the X1 is shorter by barely visible 1,5 centimeters, the knee room in the rear grew by an impressive 6,6 centimeters when the rear seat was pushed back. The roof was 5,3 centimeters higher, the occupants were 3,7 centimeters more at the front and 6,4 centimeters more at the rear from the road surface. The trunk increased by 85 liters to 505 liters.
At the start in autumn, BMW will initially offer two-liter four-cylinder, two petrol and three diesel engines. Their power delivery ranges from 110 kW / 150 PS to 170 kW / 231 PS, except for the sDrive18d all with all-wheel drive. In November, the three-cylinder with front-wheel drive will be added, 100 kW / 136 PS for the gasoline engine and 85 kW / 116 PS for the diesel. The 8-speed automatic was also newly developed, which is standard in the more powerful versions and otherwise costs € 2.100 extra. Not to forget the further developed all-wheel drive, which favors the front wheels during normal driving. If necessary, the electronics send the power to the axis where it is needed. In extreme cases, even completely on the rear wheels.
Of course, BMW chose the most powerful diesel from all the variants in order to give the X1 to someone else for the first time. With its basic price of 42.500 euros, it is also at the top of the price list, has all-wheel drive and automatic as standard as well as some extras (e.g. cruise control or rear parking beeper). The engine with its 231 hp has no problem with the SUV, which has been slimmed down by up to 60 kilograms. The automatic allows the xDrive25d to dance lightly through the eight gears, quickly shifts up in economy mode and is immediately wide awake when force is requested by energetic pedaling on the right pedal. Behavior moves, he is satisfied with 5,0 liters per 100 kilometers. In practice, it was 200 liters due to the temporary hurry of 8,1 haste on the highway. The X1 did not take offenses even in medium-difficult terrain, even if hardly any of its future users will ever move it off solid roads.
The standard for the new X1 is always the guarantee of success for the BMW company cash register. Because the newcomer should easily expand his position as one of the best-selling BMW models.
Author: Peter Maahn / SP-X