LEAKED: High-res shots of 2010 BMW X1 hit the information superhighway
by Chris Paukert on Jul 1st 2009 at 9:55AM 
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2010 BMW X1 - Click above for high-res image gallery
Although it is isn't slated to be officially revealed until this fall's Frankfurt Auto Show, it feels like we've been seeing the wraps come off BMW's X1 baby crossover for years now. Thanks to a steady stream of spy shots over the last 18 months or so, we feel like we ought to be able to tell you not only the shape and size of the glovebox, but the material its walls are made of. Regardless, these are the first official shots of the X1 that have leaked out on the web, apparently because of German magazine FOCUS online.
As we've already seen almost all elements of the X1 already, the final shape doesn't surprise us, which appears much like a shrunken X5 mixed with styling cues from the bull-nosed 7-Series, 5-Series Gran Turismo, and of course, last year's X1 Concept.
The inside is typical Bimmer fare as well, with a sober but handsome and well-screwed-together look. The usual accoutrements are present in the photo models' driver oriented instrument panels, including iDrive, USB ports, and thumb-shifters for the automatic.
We're already tired of BMW's awkward model naming conventions, but regardless, the CUV is expected to launch in Europe in xDrive18i and xDrive 18d configurations, along with an xDrive20d model whose 177 hp diesel is apparently good for 60 mph in 8.4 seconds, an xDrive23d model with a 204 hp oil-burner (0-60 mph in 7.3 seconds, top speed of 139 mph), as well as the xDrive28i, which is apparently good for 143 mph. No word yet on what models we'll see in the U.S. just yet, but we'd be surprised to see anything less powerful than the xDrive28i in Stateside dealers, and we'll keep our fingers crossed for a diesel variant.
According to current scuttlebutt, the X1 will launch in autumn exclusively paired with all-wheel drive, but rear-wheel drive versions are expected to come on line soon thereafter. Check out the gallery below and keep checking back with us for further details as they become available.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Bird 10:07AM (7/01/2009)
Great
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Jei 11:23AM (7/01/2009)
Pee-yuck! It doesn't really look all that great. It fills a market category, of course, but it lacks inspiring design features. Was this a rush job? And the next-gen model will look much better, right?
Protzenegger 12:48PM (7/01/2009)
@ AutoCritical: That's because the "concept" was really nothing more than a spruced-up production car. The X3, for instance, was preceded by a "proper" concept called X-Activity. This is not the case here.
REDBLIND 1:17PM (7/01/2009)
The front looks horrible. The rest is just ok.
@AutoCritical: That was a shameless plug, but your blog posts are actually pretty interesting.
AutoCritical 7:25PM (7/01/2009)
Thanks REDBLIND - I'm not sure how else to put up my comments as they would take up too much space!
Zamafir 10:12AM (7/01/2009)
5 series GT inspired front, a little tribecca in the rear, not as ugly as the x3 but still not a looker, and such a pointless class of car
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audi_arena 10:33AM (7/01/2009)
but it will sell like crazy
J 10:33AM (7/01/2009)
Pointless class? Over half of Americans now live in cities, where smaller = better. Throw in that many of us often transport things that won't fit in a sedan, and that many people in the northern half of the country appreciate the extra ground clearance and all wheel drive of small SUVs (vs. the mini, for example), and this class becomes very attractive.
The X1 in particular is a smaller, marginally lighter version of the X3, with better looks and gas mileage. It offers better handling and driver enjoyment than other small SUVs. I'd love to have a 335i coupe, but that's just not practical for my location and how I use the car. Sign me up for an X1 test drive.
travisty 10:42AM (7/01/2009)
*yawn*
wake me up when BMW starts focusing on driver's cars instead of soccer-mom-mobiles and yuppie status symbols (1-series excluded). basically ask yourself, "will I see this vehicle dominating the LeMons circuit in another 20-25 years?" If the answer is no, I'm not interested...
zamafir 11:09AM (7/01/2009)
"Pointless class? Over half of Americans now live in cities, where smaller = better."
I own a pair of hatchbacks. I've driven the 1 series, all 3 series variants, the a3, a4s, all a5 variants (even been inside the sportback) and q5, x3 and x5. This is pointless. If you want something smaller than the X3, grab a 3 series wagon with awd. the x3/q5 class of cuv are already quite small.
Building a pointless class of half steps between full on hatch backs and the already diminutive, about half a foot longer than their sedan brethren, CUVs is pointless. Especially at the price BMW will sell this.
Erik 10:12AM (7/01/2009)
Yay! Just what we needed!
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ASEVENSEE4 10:14AM (7/01/2009)
The back looks awful.. they did a great job with the front-end however.
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Protzenegger 9:23AM (7/02/2009)
The front looks like Sebulba.
http://www.nerf-herders-anonymous.net/images/Sebulba.jpg
Biomech 10:17AM (7/01/2009)
This looks pretty good actually, except that weird bulge in the back just makes it look weird (especially in pic #8).
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British_Rover 10:22AM (7/01/2009)
Do not want. Give me a AWD 3 series touring with either that 204 horsepower diesel or for a real performance diesel wagon the twin turbo six cylinder from the regular 3 series.
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WorksForMe 10:31AM (7/01/2009)
Every time I see one of these on the road,, I think 'what a waste of money. They could have bought the sedan or even the wagon..'
SUV's are universally ugly and always will be. I agree with Zamafir: What exactly IS the point of these things?
Are they supposed to appeal to women because of their alleged "safety" and because they're not that big?
Their high centers-of-gravity would argue otherwise, especially at interstate speeds.
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Art 10:25AM (7/01/2009)
I'll take mine in 3.5sDrive guise please.
That's with the the TT 300hp N62, and RWD. Good for 0-60
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Avinash machado 10:23AM (7/01/2009)
Remember the good old days when BMW had a neat simple lineup. The 3,5 and 7 Series and the Z3 roadster. I liked BMW better at that time.
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Bloke 10:55AM (7/01/2009)
Neat for you, but here the 3-series, 5-series and 7-series were always each available with a raft of engines and trim variants.
Avinash machado 11:08AM (7/01/2009)
I agree Bloke. But at least they did not have all this crap like SAV's. They really focused on driving pleasure in those days.