The new BMW X1 – the successor to the model that blazed the trail for this class of car – treats the premium compact segment to an even more potent shot of Sports Activity Vehicle DNA. The second generation of this successful model, more than 730,000 units of which have now been sold, takes to the stage with a body design straight out of the BMW X model mould. The interior of the new BMW X1, meanwhile, offers significantly more space for passengers and luggage, a cutting-edge premium ambience and functionality grounded in solid engineering.
Four-cylinder engines from the BMW Group’s latest generation of power units, an efficiency-optimised version of the BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system and newly developed chassis technology all help to palpably enhance sporting ability and ride comfort compared to the outgoing model – with fuel consumption and emissions reduced by up to 17 per cent, model-on-model.
Alongside its market-leading dynamics and efficiency, a host of innovative equipment features also help to secure the new BMW X1 its stand-out position in the segment. Among the items on the options list are full-LED headlights, Dynamic Damper Control, the BMW Head-Up Display and the Driving Assistant Plus system.
The second-generation BMW X1 (fuel consumption combined: 18.74–29.2 kmpl; CO2 emissions combined: 149–109 g/km) lines up with an all-new selection of engines. Two petrol and three diesel units will be available from launch in October 2015, all of which have four cylinders and are members of the BMW Group’s new engine family. Outputs range from 150 hp to 231 hp. The engines link up with either a six-speed manual gearbox or an eight-speed Steptronic unit, both of which are new developments.
The xDrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system also takes its place in the new BMW X1 in a further developed form. The weight-saving, compact and efficient system uses an electro-hydraulically controlled multi-plate clutch to distribute drive between the front and rear axle just as required for the situation at hand. Joining the fray in the BMW X1 sDrive20i and BMW X1 sDrive18d, meanwhile, is a front-wheel-drive construction which has been developed to deliver the driving dynamics typical of the brand and has already proved its mettle in the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer and BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer.
