Frankfurt 2009: 2010 BMW X1 shows up
2010 BMW X1 - click above image for hi-res gallery
While us Americans will probably never get the three- and/or five-door 1 Series, we will be getting the new BMW X1. Here's your pudding proof. For some this is a maddening reality. For others it's like music you dislike. Still, we were a bit surprised by how much we liked the looks of the X1, especially in brown. With a grill lifted right off the 7-Series and a sinister set of angel eyes, the X1 is easily twice as handsome as big brother X3. Which might very prove to be the X1's major selling point. Just like the 3 Series and the 1 Series, the X3 and X1 are very closely related, not only in terms of powertrains, but mechanicals and chassis, too.
Engine choices are the usual BMW fare, ranging from the 258 hp double-VANOS straight-six in the xDrive28i to the 295 lb-ft of torque twin-turbo and common-rail diesel xDrive23d to less powerful diesel models like the 258 lb-ft xDrive20d/sDrive20d. There's also the sDrive18d which can get up to a BMW claimed 54.3 imperial miles per gallon. If you've somehow forgotten, the "x" in BMW-speak stands for AWD and the "s" stands for RWD. BMW claims the latter is the "most efficient rendition of spontaneous driving pleasure." If you can figure out what that means, let us know.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
AK 5:05AM (9/15/2009)
Never thought BMW could make something uglier than the X3, but there are pictures of it on my screen.
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future-autos.blogspot.com 10:55PM (9/15/2009)
Bunch of whiners. This being 1 inch lower than the 5 series GT and just 2-3 inches taller than the 5 and 7-series (as well as 4 inches longer and 1 inch lower than the Toyota Matrix, and 2 inches lower than an Infiniti EX35), expect this to be very carlike for a CUV. It's basically a 3-series hatchback in a more traditional sense (I.E. not a GT)
AC0 5:08AM (9/15/2009)
Ok BMW, I'm begging now... Please don't build this, please don't build this, please don't build this. The X3 is bad enough, I don't want to have to look at an X3 they shrunk and and drove into a wall. The front is so wide and flat that, aesthetically, it looks like the rest of the car can't support the weight of it. This world doesn't need any more ugly, but the sad thing is, i know i will see so many of them :-(
Wheels are nice though.
P.S. Please don't build this.
P.P.S Let's get a production version of the Efficient Dynamics concept rolling instead yes? Ok great, glad you are seeing clearly now.
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FSM 8:52AM (9/15/2009)
too funny, I almost shot ice out of my nose
Flea 5:15AM (9/15/2009)
ok, I had gotten rather used to fronts of BMWs looking like the face of a laughing or grinning guy with an odd moustache...now they gave it eyeliner...
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khaosmatrix 9:26PM (9/15/2009)
If this was more hatchback and less suv then it would be a nice series 1. However a series 1 with real world room is not a suv, sorry BMW
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spyker 7:36AM (9/15/2009)
Whenever I see an X3, I can't believe how tiny and awkwardly shaped it is compared to the X5. Now this X1 must be the size of a sedan.... :P
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Avinash machado 8:39AM (9/15/2009)
Of late BMW and Honda seem to be making a lot of ugly cars.
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vespid82 8:45AM (9/15/2009)
I still don't see the business case for this vehicle. Not with the X3 in existence that is...
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kboyd 9:00AM (9/15/2009)
Oh that's where my other shoe is.
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Artega 9:44AM (9/15/2009)
this propably wouldn't fit in the american market, but very good into the european one
and thie X3 will get a little bigger in the next generation (next year or so)
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MikeInNC 9:55AM (9/15/2009)
I never thought the X3 was a bad looking vehicle at all but this....looks a bit like a Jeep Compass which IMO, is hideous. It's better than that but, that isn't saying much.
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BigEd 10:43AM (9/15/2009)
No.
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Berto 11:32AM (9/15/2009)
So the X1 did show up.
See, the X1 is like that person at work you know that has that huge deformity you can't stop staring at. It's not so much that you hate them for their inevitable ugliness, but you just rather go on with your life without having to see them. They are a constant reminder of what could go wrong in nature and the world.
Unfortunately, you know that if BMW is going to show up, the X1 will come along.
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Franz 11:36AM (9/15/2009)
Meh... it's not that bad, but I'd never buy it. My girlfriend might like it though...
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Rick 11:57AM (9/15/2009)
So, BMW just admitted they just don't like designing cup holders. So now you get an aftermarket looking clip on cup holder? On a $40k+ car?!
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fmwso 12:25PM (9/15/2009)
This is obviously BMW's answer to a question no one asked, just like the Crosstour.
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fmwso 12:26PM (9/15/2009)
oops, just like the Crosstour is Honda's answer.
zloy 1:37PM (9/15/2009)
the cup holder to the right of the shifter is the best piece!
this must be a really big engineering challenge to design a proper one...
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Taglane 2:30PM (9/15/2009)
Next to a human, this looks like a 1 series with a Rolls Royce-Sized hood.
Terrible.
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