Rendered Speculation: BMW's next CUV, the X1
Audi came out and said it was going to bring 26 new models by 2009. The way BMW is going, they have the same idea, they simply haven't announced it. We don't know who started it, but BMW appears determined not to let Audi or Mercedes occupy any segment without a BMW-branded competitor.
Next up in the waiting-on-official-word roster is the BMW X1, a CUV to come in beneath the X3. The car would compete with Audi's coming Q3 and Mercedes' soon-to-be GLK. The X1 would use the same engines as the 1-series cars and the 4WD system from the X3. Annual production is speculated to be near 100,000 units, and the mini crossover will set you back €30,000.
The X1 is still in development and expected to be unveiled by 2010. If t does well, what follows it could be enough X's to almost finish the series, like an X4, and an X7.
[Source: Motor Authority]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
felipe 8:11AM (9/19/2007)
Rendered Speculation Shmeculation.
hate seeing those words.....and it looks like the SUV's they already make, "look i drew the X3 smaller"
also, if it starts with X- it should come with porn.
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sean 8:20AM (9/19/2007)
Hate to say it but it looks like BMW is going down Mercedes' root of creating a car type for everyman and his dog, and then a few more. I will probably loose respect for them within a few years, right around the time all these new models have appeared and suddenly they find themselves in a financial black hole. I get a sinking feeling that the Japanese manufacturers are much better at predicting the future market demands.
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Mike Botros 9:56AM (9/19/2007)
It's not necessarily that they're better at predicting. It's that they are defining the trends.
www.bavariarent.ro 2:03PM (9/19/2007)
wow! anyway bmw is doing a lot in car industry so they don't need to annouce anything.
mercedes just started a cooperation with bmw connected with some engines..so...the future's bright for bmw!
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Viv 8:32AM (9/19/2007)
Pretty soon i will be able to buy a BMW car that is a rival to my cobalt. I honestly can't waitttt.
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brand dilution 10:47AM (9/19/2007)
So ... they managed to conquer the high school senior market with the X3 ... I guess there is an untapped market in 9th grade learners permit holders ?
Seriously - if you are buying one of the budget BMWs, you need to rethink your priorities. Buy a CPO honda civic, save your money, and maybe someday you can buy a _real_ luxury car, not a lame little pretend one.
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Doogs 11:30AM (9/19/2007)
Er...I thought Mercedes was building the GLK to compete with the X3...
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Gooch 12:32PM (9/19/2007)
Wow -- high school seniors driving X3s can now look down on the frosh and sophs driving X1s while responsible adults tool around in CPO Honda Civics saving for the day when they can finally buy a "real" luxury car instead of a "lame" one...
The mind boggles at what people think is luxury nowadays. "Near" luxury (really, WTF is that?), "ultra" luxury, regular luxury ... what is a person to do? Are these definitions merely class distinctions?
I understand that change is the only constant in the world, but let's face it -- the "near" luxury Lexus ES 350 is far more luxurious than the lux cars of as recently as the mid-1990s. It has more power than the original LS and more features and content; yet, it is not considered a "full" luxury car. What is the determining factor of luxury in America -- price? Features and content? The manufacturer? Image?
Considering that Mercedes are taxis over in Germany, do the Euros look at luxury in the same vein as Yanks? The lesson I have taken from them is just because the car is from a certain manufacturer does not mean it is a luxury car. The X1 is probably not meant to be a luxury car -- it is only lux in that it will be made by BMW.
Luxury is defined by the buyer, not by the marketing department. To the marketing department, the M3 is a luxury car. To me, it is a high performance sports coupe. I look to define cars by what the manufacturer designs them to accomplish. Driving pleasure -- sports cars/sports sedans/coupes. Coddling, quiet ride full of features and content -- luxury cars. And on and on.
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SPG 3:10PM (9/19/2007)
They did such a good job with the X3 they should make more models like it.
I see WAAAAY more Porsche 911's then X3's in Winnipeg it would be almost impossible to measure.
Not that they are in the same class by any means, I am just saying a usable all weather CUV seems like it would sell more then an expensive sports car.
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