2011 BMW X1 View dozens of detailed pictures that accompany our article with close-up photos of exterior and interior features
Initially, in 2011 the BMW X1 will be offered as one model called the xDrive28i. BMW Xdrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system will be standard. Engine alone would be a 258-horsepower 3.0-liter inline-6 making at 6600 rpm and 228 pound-feet of torque at 2600 rpm. BMW says 0-60 will arrive in 6.8 seconds. To improve fuel economy, X1 will feature Brake Energy Regeneration, Auto Start-Stop, and the gearshift point indicator. Equipment and full features today, but the X1 will come with standard safety features like six airbags, tire pressure monitor, traction control, electronic stability control and adaptive brake lights. X1 has achieved the highest rating of five stars in Euro NCAP crash tests, which bodes well for the company and a score in the IIHS side crash NHTSA pool.
Optional equipment will include panoramic glass roof, Xenon headlights, Adaptive Headlights with High-Beam Assistant, USB interface, and Performance Control, which applies the brake at the wheel in corners to help turn the vehicle and gives a sporty character. It is unclear whether BMW's iDrive control interface will be standard, but it will come up with models equipped with the optional navigation system. Now easier to use in the fourth generation, iDrive provides a central interface for controlling entertainment, navigation, communication and climate functions
Find BMW X1 xDrive28i 2011 early 2011. Other engine options can follow, including diesel, and BMW can make the rear-drive models are available as well. Expecting Pricing $35,000.
t's been a decade since BMW entered the SUV/crossover market with its X5, creating its own niche with what it describes as the 'Sports Activity Vehicle'. In that time, the X Series family has become a major part of BMW's line - these vehicles now account for a fifth of all BMW sales, so it's no surprise the firm is looking to expand on the theme.
The range grew to include the compact X3 in 2004, followed by the seven-seat capable X5 in 2006, and the segment-bending X6 crossover coupe last year. The newest member of the family is the X1, which has just gone on sale in Europe. It's the company's smallest crossover to date and will be going on sale in Canada come 2011. But is it worth the wait?
Before that question can be answered, let's put the X1 into context. For starters this isn't an all-wheel-drive 1 Series hatchback. Despite the "1" in its name, the X1 shares basic underpinnings with the 3 Series Touring, which for the first time in the X range opens up the opportunity to build a rear-wheel-drive model, dubbed sDrive. All-wheel-drive models are also available, and are distinguished by the xDrive name. Due to the popularity of all-wheel drive in Canada, it's unlikely that the X1 will be offered without all-wheel drive.
Another European exclusive is the X1's diesel-biased engine line: out of the four different engines currently offered, only one of them is gasoline-powered, the xDrive28i. While BMW hasn't confirmed which engines will be sold here, it's a pretty safe bet to assume that this one's on the list
For those not yet familiar with BMW's rather convoluted new model naming format the 'x' denotes all-wheel drive and the '28i' a 258-hp straight-six engine. Confusingly, the engine's displacement is 3.0 litres, rather than the 2.8 you might expect. And to add further confusion, this is the same engine that's featured in the X3 xDrive30i and BMW X5 xDrive30i, rather than the 230-hp six found in the 128i and 328i models or newly-introduced 215-hp 3.0L six found in the X3 xDrive28i. Go figure.
Ah yes, the X3. You're probably wondering where the X1 fits in comparison. In terms of its pricing in Europe, the X1 is cheaper than both the X3 and 3 Series Touring, and that's likely to remain the same for Canada. Size-wise the X1 is 115 mm shorter than the X3 and rides on a 35-mm shorter wheelbase. It's also a significant 165-kg lighter, to the benefit of fuel consumption, handling and performance. The X1 hits 0-100 km/h in 6.8 seconds compared to the X3 xDrive30i's 7.6.
Reflecting the X1's junior X5 looks is its performance and the way it drives. With a meaty weight to its controls - not just the steering - this baby crossover feels just as solid as it looks. Unlike the X3 and X5, you sit relatively close to the floor, which adds to the sporty feel, although the overall seating position is 80 mm higher than in the 3 Series.
BMW is an expert at filling niches that buyers probably never even thought existed. Witness vehicles such as the 5-series Gran Turismo, the upcoming Mini SUV, and the smallest member of the X family, the X1.
This new BMW baby ute is 175.4 inches long, 70.8 inches wide, and 60.8 inches high. That makes it 2.8 inches shorter than a 3-series wagon and 4.5 inches shorter than an X3. Although this may suggest it’s based on the 1-series, the X1 is actually closely related to the 3-series wagon, down to axles, powertrains, and identical all-wheel-drive systems.
The X1 is not a serious off-roader—there are no differential locks, for instance. It’s more of an on-road driving machine with forest-exploration capability. In everyday driving, the AWD system delivers 60 percent of the engine torque to the rear axle and 40 percent to the front, but the multidisc clutch pack is able to apportion torque to whichever axle needs it for traction.
At a glance, the X1 looks very similar to the bigger X3. The main differentiation is its giant BMW kidney grille and more steeply raked windshield and liftgate. Inside, the X1’s décor and layout mimic those of the 3-series. Surprisingly, in view of the vehicle’s compact dimensions, there’s plenty of room out back for a couple of adults. The fifth passenger’s space is compromised by the way the center console runs back into that rider’s seating area. The cargo area varies between 15 cubic feet with the rear seats slid all the way back—there’s another 3 cubic feet available if they’re slid forward—to 48 cubic feet with the seats folded flat.
When the car goes on sale in the U.S. in early 2011, the initial model offering will be the X1 xDrive30i, powered by a 260-hp version of BMW’s familiar 3.0-liter inline-six also found in the X3 and the X5. A 2.0-liter, four-cylinder twin-turbo diesel may or may not make it to these shores. In Europe, the inline-six is mated only to a six-speed automatic transmission.
The X1 definitely wants to be the sports car in the compact-SUV segment. The Servotronic steering system is tuned comparably to the 3-series’ helm and feels much more responsive than the X3’s. The optional Sport package lowers the ride height by 0.8 inch and comes with 18-inch wheels and tires in place of the standard 17-inchers. Despite this, it’s more comfortable than the X3 and exhibits better body control in taking corners. Harsh impacts cause fewer tremors than in the X3.
Exactly what the X1’s niche is, though, we’re not quite sure: the sporty member of the really small and expensive cute-ute category, perhaps? When it goes on sale, it will be in a class of three, joined by the Land Rover LRX and the Audi Q3, and it will likely start at about $36,000.
My wife hates wagons. Loathes them with the kind of passion and fervor normally reserved for sexual predators and real estate agents. But despite this, she drives the prototypical wagon-on-stilts, a Honda CR-V.
That unbridled disgust for any low-riding hatchback is something I've been trying to figure out for the last seven years, but it's a problem nearly every European automaker peddling its wares in the States has been dealing with for decades. The solution, it seems, is to downsize the standard CUV into a more compact package, while still providing the elevated ride-height and commanding view that consumers in a post-SUV world crave.
For BMW, the answer is the X1, the Euro-only-for-now crossover that slots in where the X3 used to reside before it blew up to near-X5 proportions. And fitted with BMW's new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, which U.S. customers will sample for the first time in the Z4 sDrive28i roadster, it makes a compelling case for itself. So much so that BMW's Leipzig, Germany plant is tapped out, meaning importation into the U.S. isn't going to happen anytime soon.
Based on bits of the beloved 3 Series and packing a range of fuel-efficient powerplants in Europe, the X1 embodies everything a would-be wagon-buyer could want: ample storage, acceptable ground clearance, upright seating and... it's not a wagon. Stylistically, it's more of the same from the Germans – a one-design-fits-all approach that seems to be making a comeback after BMW's aesthetic fall from grace in the early Aughts.
The front fascia and kidney grille stand at attention, a subtle swage line runs the length of the profile, with the crease terminating in a pair of attractive, post-Bangle taillamps that integrate cleanly into the sizable hatch. The silver trim on our tester gives the X1 a slightly less ponderous stance and matches the 17-inch brushed aluminum wheels fitted with 225/50 R17 M+S Michelins at all four corners.
Those faux-metal accents find their way inside, framing everything from the push-button start to the iDrive controller, all of which is mounted inside a tasteful blend of high-gloss wood trim coating the dash and center tunnel. The plastics and textures are exactly what you'd expect inside an entry-level Bimmer – mostly good, with a few less-than-appealing pieces mounted near your knees and feet. The leather-clad seats up front provide more than adequate bolstering for a high-riding hatch, and while there's room for two in the rear, if you're carting anyone over six-feet-tall up front, leg room is on the uncomfortable side of minimal. For the occasional big-box shopping spree, those rear thrones can be folded (40:20:40), expanding cargo capacity from 14.8 to 47.6 cu-ft.
Our tester was fitted with BMW's standard six-speed manual transmission, a gearbox we'll likely never see available in the States if the X1 ever makes the trek. Instead, an eight-speed automatic pulled from the 5 Series GT should suit American tastes, as will BMW's sports-oriented xDrive all-wheel drive and a host of safety-related acronyms ranging from Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) to Dynamic Brake Control (DBC), Cornering Brake Control (CBC) and Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), the latter of which allows for a minute amount of wheelspin and slip, primarily for rain and snow... or deserted off-ramps entering the Autobahn.
Although the X1 has been on sale in Europe since 2009, the big news for 2011 is the replacement of the 3.0-liter inline-six with BMW's new 2.0-liter turbocharged four. Developing 245 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 258 pound-feet of torque beginning at 1,250 rpm, this all-new TwinPower mill (BMW parlance for a single, twin-scroll turbo partnered with Valvetronic, double Vanos and direct injection) is more about blending efficiency and fuel economy with six-cylinder smoothness. But it's no slouch in the motivation department.
BMW claims the 3,300-pound CUV can run to 60 miles per hour in 6.1 seconds (6.5 with the automatic), yet we found 3,000-rpm launches would get the X1 hurtling up to German highway speeds in the high eight-second realm. Laying into the throttle in fourth gear at around 45 mph was the only time we experienced any form of turbo lag, although it was quickly dispatched with a wave of boosted torque that easily eclipses its six-cylinder predecessor. All this while returning a claimed average of 30 miles per gallon on the U.S. cycle. Steering, throttle response, clutch uptake and braking performance are all up to BMW standards, although the feel from the middle pedal was more wooden and artificially linear than we would've liked.
The BMW X1 might not be the Ultimate High-Riding Driving Machine (the X5 still holds that title), but the genes are there, and for the world's wagon-averse, it offers a compelling blend of sport, fuel economy and cargo capacity. Too bad the Europeans are keeping them all for themselves.
With its powerful, sporty and elegant styling, supreme agility, luxurious functionality and innovative equipment features, the BMW X1 is a trailblazer in the premium compact segment in terms of driving pleasure. Yet again premium carmaker BMW has successfully transplanted the BMW X model concept to a new vehicle segment to create a unique product. Now the BMW X1 is breaking new ground, this time in terms of the BMW EfficientDynamics programme. The new BMW X1 xDrive28i is the brand's first four-cylinder petrol model with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, which comprises High Precision Injection direct petrol injection, a charge system based on the twin-scroll principle, double-VANOS variable camshaft timing and VALVETRONIC variable valve control.
BMW has timed the introduction of this technology package in the new BMW X1 xDrive28i to coincide with the launch of a new generation of BMW 2.0-litre petrol engines. The new 180 kW/245 hp powerplant combines a power and torque upgrade over the previous engine with substantially reduced fuel consumption and emissions. This twofold improvement is reflected in some impressive performance specifications. The 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time is 6.1 seconds (automatic: 6.5 seconds), an improvement of 0.7 seconds (automatic: 0.3 seconds) over the previous model, which was only available as an automatic. At the same time, average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle has been cut by 16 per cent to 7.9 litres/100 km (35.7 mpg imp), with CO2 emissions of 183 grams per kilometre
The new BMW X1 xDrive28i comes with a six-speed manual transmission as standard. The standard-fitted BMW EfficientDynamics technology includes - amongst other features - Brake Energy Regeneration, an Optimum Shift Indicator, the Auto Start-Stop function and on-demand control of auxiliary units. An optional eight-speed automatic version is also available. Thanks to its exceptionally high internal efficiency, models with this transmission offer identical fuel consumption and emissions performance to those with the manual version.
As standard specification, the new BMW X1 xDrive28i is equipped with the BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive system, whose electronically controlled multi-plate clutch continuously varies the drive power split between the front and rear axles. The intelligent all-wheel-drive system is integrated with Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and responds quickly to the first signs of oversteer or understeer. The result is improved traction in slippery conditions or away from surfaced roads, and improved cornering dynamics. xDrive is calibrated for optimised driving dynamics, which results in precise steering response when cornering. Additionally, the optional Performance Control system can be specified, which matches the drive torque at the rear wheels to driving conditions for even more agile performance.
To add to the agile driving qualities, from spring 2011 the BMW X1 will for the first time be available with an M Sports package. This option, which is available ex works for all engine versions, comprises a range of suspension, exterior and interior components which have been developed specifically for this compact BMW X model.
BMW X models offer their own distinctive interpretation of typical BMW driving pleasure. The BMW X1 xDrive28i combines this special driving experience with efficiency that is unrivalled in this power class. As a result, this new BMW X1 model offers sporty power delivery of a kind that was previously confined to six-cylinder engines - but combines it with outstanding fuel consumption and emissions performance.
It's all down to the latest-generation 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which sets new standards with its various innovative technologies.
The BMW X1 xDrive28i's powerplant achieves the twofold goal of BMW EfficientDynamics in impressive style: it continuously raises the bar on driving pleasure, while at the same time reducing fuel consumption and emissions. With a displacement of 1,997 cc and world-exclusive BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, incorporating twin-scroll turbocharging, High Precision Injection, double-VANOS and VALVETRONIC, it delivers maximum power of 180 kW/245 hp at 5,000 rpm - 55 kW more than the previous top-powered BMW 2.0-litre petrol engine.
BMW TwinPower Turbo technology gives the new four-cylinder engine the sort of power which naturally aspirated engines can only achieve through more cylinders and substantially larger displacement. The four-cylinder engine with its all-aluminium crankcase, including a motor sport-derived bedplate, is lighter and more compact than a six-cylinder engine of equivalent power.
This has direct benefits for the efficiency of the BMW X1 xDrive28i and also, thanks to the reduced front axle load, for agility.
The new engine offers more torque, too, than the previous naturally aspirated engines. Rated torque of 350 Newton metres, which comes on stream at just 1,250 rpm, ensures very good low-end response. The vigorous power delivery, from only slightly above idling, is a very seductive feature of this new engine, and the power climbs steadily all the way to the upper area of the load range. The new BMW X1 xDrive28i has a 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time of 6.1 seconds (6.5 seconds with automatic transmission). These times are an improvement of 0.7 seconds and 0.3 seconds respectively on those for the previous model with six-speed automatic transmission. The new BMW X1 xDrive28i hits a top speed of 240 km/h (149 mph).
The turbocharger is a twin-scroll system. The exhaust streams leaving the two pairs of cylinders are kept completely separate as they flow through the exhaust manifold and the turbocharger, taking a spiral path to the turbine wheel. This configuration results in very low exhaust back pressure at low engine rpm, and allows the energy of the exhaust gas pulses to be optimally managed and translated into powerful rotation of the turbine blades, without a response delay. The result is instant throttle reaction and typical BMW fast-revving performance.
The fully cylinder head-integrated VALVETRONIC variable valve control system, and the double-VANOS variable intake and exhaust camshaft timing, have a further positive impact on power development. The BMW X1 xDrive28i engine features assembled intake and exhaust camshafts and a latest-generation VALVETRONIC system which is even faster-acting thanks to an optimised stepper motor with integrated sensor.
The patented BMW VALVETRONIC system with seamlessly variable intake valve lift control dispenses with the throttle valve system typical of earlier engine generations. Instead, combustion air mass is controlled inside the engine, resulting in much faster response. Pumping losses are kept to a minimum, so making the engine more efficient.
The new engine's unusually high efficiency, for a turbocharged unit, is also down to the High Precision Injection petrol direct-injection system. Centrally positioned between the valves, solenoid injectors with a maximum injection pressure of 200 bar precisely control the supply of fuel. The fuel is injected very close to the spark plug, resulting in clean and homogeneous combustion. The cooling effect of the injected fuel also results in a higher compression ratio than on turbocharged naturally aspirated engines. This results in further efficiency improvements.
The efficiency theme continues with a computer-controlled oil pump and an on-demand electric coolant pump. Also, the new BMW X1 xDrive28i is specified as standard with a six-speed manual transmission with Auto Start-Stop function. This system automatically switches off the engine when the vehicle stops at crossroads or is sitting in stationary traffic in order to prevent unnecessary idling and wasteful use of fuel.
The new engine technology and extensive, standard-fitted BMW EfficientDynamics features achieve an exceptionally good balance between performance and fuel consumption. The new BMW X1 xDrive28i has average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle of 7.9 litres /100 km (35.7 mpg imp), a 16 per cent improvement on the previous model.
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Initially, in 2011 the BMW X1 will be offered as one model called the xDrive28i. BMW Xdrive intelligent all-wheel-drive system will be standard. Engine alone would be a 258-horsepower 3.0-liter inline-6 making at 6600 rpm and 228 pound-feet of torque at 2600 rpm. BMW says 0-60 will arrive in 6.8 seconds. To improve fuel economy, X1 will feature Brake Energy Regeneration, Auto Start-Stop, and the gearshift point indicator. Equipment and full features today, but the X1 will come with standard safety features like six airbags, tire pressure monitor, traction control, electronic stability control and adaptive brake lights. X1 has achieved the highest rating of five stars in Euro NCAP crash tests, which bodes well for the company and a score in the IIHS side crash NHTSA pool.
Optional equipment will include panoramic glass roof, Xenon headlights, Adaptive Headlights with High-Beam Assistant, USB interface, and Performance Control, which applies the brake at the wheel in corners to help turn the vehicle and gives a sporty character. It is unclear whether BMW's iDrive control interface will be standard, but it will come up with models equipped with the optional navigation system. Now easier to use in the fourth generation, iDrive provides a central interface for controlling entertainment, navigation, communication and climate functions
Find BMW X1 xDrive28i 2011 early 2011. Other engine options can follow, including diesel, and BMW can make the rear-drive models are available as well. Expecting Pricing $35,000.
t's been a decade since BMW entered the SUV/crossover market with its X5, creating its own niche with what it describes as the 'Sports Activity Vehicle'. In that time, the X Series family has become a major part of BMW's line - these vehicles now account for a fifth of all BMW sales, so it's no surprise the firm is looking to expand on the theme.
The range grew to include the compact X3 in 2004, followed by the seven-seat capable X5 in 2006, and the segment-bending X6 crossover coupe last year. The newest member of the family is the X1, which has just gone on sale in Europe. It's the company's smallest crossover to date and will be going on sale in Canada come 2011. But is it worth the wait?
Before that question can be answered, let's put the X1 into context. For starters this isn't an all-wheel-drive 1 Series hatchback. Despite the "1" in its name, the X1 shares basic underpinnings with the 3 Series Touring, which for the first time in the X range opens up the opportunity to build a rear-wheel-drive model, dubbed sDrive. All-wheel-drive models are also available, and are distinguished by the xDrive name. Due to the popularity of all-wheel drive in Canada, it's unlikely that the X1 will be offered without all-wheel drive.
Another European exclusive is the X1's diesel-biased engine line: out of the four different engines currently offered, only one of them is gasoline-powered, the xDrive28i. While BMW hasn't confirmed which engines will be sold here, it's a pretty safe bet to assume that this one's on the list
For those not yet familiar with BMW's rather convoluted new model naming format the 'x' denotes all-wheel drive and the '28i' a 258-hp straight-six engine. Confusingly, the engine's displacement is 3.0 litres, rather than the 2.8 you might expect. And to add further confusion, this is the same engine that's featured in the X3 xDrive30i and BMW X5 xDrive30i, rather than the 230-hp six found in the 128i and 328i models or newly-introduced 215-hp 3.0L six found in the X3 xDrive28i. Go figure.
Ah yes, the X3. You're probably wondering where the X1 fits in comparison. In terms of its pricing in Europe, the X1 is cheaper than both the X3 and 3 Series Touring, and that's likely to remain the same for Canada. Size-wise the X1 is 115 mm shorter than the X3 and rides on a 35-mm shorter wheelbase. It's also a significant 165-kg lighter, to the benefit of fuel consumption, handling and performance. The X1 hits 0-100 km/h in 6.8 seconds compared to the X3 xDrive30i's 7.6.
Reflecting the X1's junior X5 looks is its performance and the way it drives. With a meaty weight to its controls - not just the steering - this baby crossover feels just as solid as it looks. Unlike the X3 and X5, you sit relatively close to the floor, which adds to the sporty feel, although the overall seating position is 80 mm higher than in the 3 Series.
BMW is an expert at filling niches that buyers probably never even thought existed. Witness vehicles such as the 5-series Gran Turismo, the upcoming Mini SUV, and the smallest member of the X family, the X1.
This new BMW baby ute is 175.4 inches long, 70.8 inches wide, and 60.8 inches high. That makes it 2.8 inches shorter than a 3-series wagon and 4.5 inches shorter than an X3. Although this may suggest it’s based on the 1-series, the X1 is actually closely related to the 3-series wagon, down to axles, powertrains, and identical all-wheel-drive systems.
The X1 is not a serious off-roader—there are no differential locks, for instance. It’s more of an on-road driving machine with forest-exploration capability. In everyday driving, the AWD system delivers 60 percent of the engine torque to the rear axle and 40 percent to the front, but the multidisc clutch pack is able to apportion torque to whichever axle needs it for traction.
At a glance, the X1 looks very similar to the bigger X3. The main differentiation is its giant BMW kidney grille and more steeply raked windshield and liftgate. Inside, the X1’s décor and layout mimic those of the 3-series. Surprisingly, in view of the vehicle’s compact dimensions, there’s plenty of room out back for a couple of adults. The fifth passenger’s space is compromised by the way the center console runs back into that rider’s seating area. The cargo area varies between 15 cubic feet with the rear seats slid all the way back—there’s another 3 cubic feet available if they’re slid forward—to 48 cubic feet with the seats folded flat.
When the car goes on sale in the U.S. in early 2011, the initial model offering will be the X1 xDrive30i, powered by a 260-hp version of BMW’s familiar 3.0-liter inline-six also found in the X3 and the X5. A 2.0-liter, four-cylinder twin-turbo diesel may or may not make it to these shores. In Europe, the inline-six is mated only to a six-speed automatic transmission.
The X1 definitely wants to be the sports car in the compact-SUV segment. The Servotronic steering system is tuned comparably to the 3-series’ helm and feels much more responsive than the X3’s. The optional Sport package lowers the ride height by 0.8 inch and comes with 18-inch wheels and tires in place of the standard 17-inchers. Despite this, it’s more comfortable than the X3 and exhibits better body control in taking corners. Harsh impacts cause fewer tremors than in the X3.
Exactly what the X1’s niche is, though, we’re not quite sure: the sporty member of the really small and expensive cute-ute category, perhaps? When it goes on sale, it will be in a class of three, joined by the Land Rover LRX and the Audi Q3, and it will likely start at about $36,000.
My wife hates wagons. Loathes them with the kind of passion and fervor normally reserved for sexual predators and real estate agents. But despite this, she drives the prototypical wagon-on-stilts, a Honda CR-V.
That unbridled disgust for any low-riding hatchback is something I've been trying to figure out for the last seven years, but it's a problem nearly every European automaker peddling its wares in the States has been dealing with for decades. The solution, it seems, is to downsize the standard CUV into a more compact package, while still providing the elevated ride-height and commanding view that consumers in a post-SUV world crave.
For BMW, the answer is the X1, the Euro-only-for-now crossover that slots in where the X3 used to reside before it blew up to near-X5 proportions. And fitted with BMW's new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, which U.S. customers will sample for the first time in the Z4 sDrive28i roadster, it makes a compelling case for itself. So much so that BMW's Leipzig, Germany plant is tapped out, meaning importation into the U.S. isn't going to happen anytime soon.
Based on bits of the beloved 3 Series and packing a range of fuel-efficient powerplants in Europe, the X1 embodies everything a would-be wagon-buyer could want: ample storage, acceptable ground clearance, upright seating and... it's not a wagon. Stylistically, it's more of the same from the Germans – a one-design-fits-all approach that seems to be making a comeback after BMW's aesthetic fall from grace in the early Aughts.
The front fascia and kidney grille stand at attention, a subtle swage line runs the length of the profile, with the crease terminating in a pair of attractive, post-Bangle taillamps that integrate cleanly into the sizable hatch. The silver trim on our tester gives the X1 a slightly less ponderous stance and matches the 17-inch brushed aluminum wheels fitted with 225/50 R17 M+S Michelins at all four corners.
Those faux-metal accents find their way inside, framing everything from the push-button start to the iDrive controller, all of which is mounted inside a tasteful blend of high-gloss wood trim coating the dash and center tunnel. The plastics and textures are exactly what you'd expect inside an entry-level Bimmer – mostly good, with a few less-than-appealing pieces mounted near your knees and feet. The leather-clad seats up front provide more than adequate bolstering for a high-riding hatch, and while there's room for two in the rear, if you're carting anyone over six-feet-tall up front, leg room is on the uncomfortable side of minimal. For the occasional big-box shopping spree, those rear thrones can be folded (40:20:40), expanding cargo capacity from 14.8 to 47.6 cu-ft.
Our tester was fitted with BMW's standard six-speed manual transmission, a gearbox we'll likely never see available in the States if the X1 ever makes the trek. Instead, an eight-speed automatic pulled from the 5 Series GT should suit American tastes, as will BMW's sports-oriented xDrive all-wheel drive and a host of safety-related acronyms ranging from Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) to Dynamic Brake Control (DBC), Cornering Brake Control (CBC) and Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), the latter of which allows for a minute amount of wheelspin and slip, primarily for rain and snow... or deserted off-ramps entering the Autobahn.
Although the X1 has been on sale in Europe since 2009, the big news for 2011 is the replacement of the 3.0-liter inline-six with BMW's new 2.0-liter turbocharged four. Developing 245 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 258 pound-feet of torque beginning at 1,250 rpm, this all-new TwinPower mill (BMW parlance for a single, twin-scroll turbo partnered with Valvetronic, double Vanos and direct injection) is more about blending efficiency and fuel economy with six-cylinder smoothness. But it's no slouch in the motivation department.
BMW claims the 3,300-pound CUV can run to 60 miles per hour in 6.1 seconds (6.5 with the automatic), yet we found 3,000-rpm launches would get the X1 hurtling up to German highway speeds in the high eight-second realm. Laying into the throttle in fourth gear at around 45 mph was the only time we experienced any form of turbo lag, although it was quickly dispatched with a wave of boosted torque that easily eclipses its six-cylinder predecessor. All this while returning a claimed average of 30 miles per gallon on the U.S. cycle. Steering, throttle response, clutch uptake and braking performance are all up to BMW standards, although the feel from the middle pedal was more wooden and artificially linear than we would've liked.
The BMW X1 might not be the Ultimate High-Riding Driving Machine (the X5 still holds that title), but the genes are there, and for the world's wagon-averse, it offers a compelling blend of sport, fuel economy and cargo capacity. Too bad the Europeans are keeping them all for themselves.
With its powerful, sporty and elegant styling, supreme agility, luxurious functionality and innovative equipment features, the BMW X1 is a trailblazer in the premium compact segment in terms of driving pleasure. Yet again premium carmaker BMW has successfully transplanted the BMW X model concept to a new vehicle segment to create a unique product. Now the BMW X1 is breaking new ground, this time in terms of the BMW EfficientDynamics programme. The new BMW X1 xDrive28i is the brand's first four-cylinder petrol model with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, which comprises High Precision Injection direct petrol injection, a charge system based on the twin-scroll principle, double-VANOS variable camshaft timing and VALVETRONIC variable valve control.
BMW has timed the introduction of this technology package in the new BMW X1 xDrive28i to coincide with the launch of a new generation of BMW 2.0-litre petrol engines. The new 180 kW/245 hp powerplant combines a power and torque upgrade over the previous engine with substantially reduced fuel consumption and emissions. This twofold improvement is reflected in some impressive performance specifications. The 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time is 6.1 seconds (automatic: 6.5 seconds), an improvement of 0.7 seconds (automatic: 0.3 seconds) over the previous model, which was only available as an automatic. At the same time, average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle has been cut by 16 per cent to 7.9 litres/100 km (35.7 mpg imp), with CO2 emissions of 183 grams per kilometre
The new BMW X1 xDrive28i comes with a six-speed manual transmission as standard. The standard-fitted BMW EfficientDynamics technology includes - amongst other features - Brake Energy Regeneration, an Optimum Shift Indicator, the Auto Start-Stop function and on-demand control of auxiliary units. An optional eight-speed automatic version is also available. Thanks to its exceptionally high internal efficiency, models with this transmission offer identical fuel consumption and emissions performance to those with the manual version.
As standard specification, the new BMW X1 xDrive28i is equipped with the BMW xDrive all-wheel-drive system, whose electronically controlled multi-plate clutch continuously varies the drive power split between the front and rear axles. The intelligent all-wheel-drive system is integrated with Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and responds quickly to the first signs of oversteer or understeer. The result is improved traction in slippery conditions or away from surfaced roads, and improved cornering dynamics. xDrive is calibrated for optimised driving dynamics, which results in precise steering response when cornering. Additionally, the optional Performance Control system can be specified, which matches the drive torque at the rear wheels to driving conditions for even more agile performance.
To add to the agile driving qualities, from spring 2011 the BMW X1 will for the first time be available with an M Sports package. This option, which is available ex works for all engine versions, comprises a range of suspension, exterior and interior components which have been developed specifically for this compact BMW X model.
BMW X models offer their own distinctive interpretation of typical BMW driving pleasure. The BMW X1 xDrive28i combines this special driving experience with efficiency that is unrivalled in this power class. As a result, this new BMW X1 model offers sporty power delivery of a kind that was previously confined to six-cylinder engines - but combines it with outstanding fuel consumption and emissions performance.
It's all down to the latest-generation 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which sets new standards with its various innovative technologies.
The BMW X1 xDrive28i's powerplant achieves the twofold goal of BMW EfficientDynamics in impressive style: it continuously raises the bar on driving pleasure, while at the same time reducing fuel consumption and emissions. With a displacement of 1,997 cc and world-exclusive BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, incorporating twin-scroll turbocharging, High Precision Injection, double-VANOS and VALVETRONIC, it delivers maximum power of 180 kW/245 hp at 5,000 rpm - 55 kW more than the previous top-powered BMW 2.0-litre petrol engine.
BMW TwinPower Turbo technology gives the new four-cylinder engine the sort of power which naturally aspirated engines can only achieve through more cylinders and substantially larger displacement. The four-cylinder engine with its all-aluminium crankcase, including a motor sport-derived bedplate, is lighter and more compact than a six-cylinder engine of equivalent power.
This has direct benefits for the efficiency of the BMW X1 xDrive28i and also, thanks to the reduced front axle load, for agility.
The new engine offers more torque, too, than the previous naturally aspirated engines. Rated torque of 350 Newton metres, which comes on stream at just 1,250 rpm, ensures very good low-end response. The vigorous power delivery, from only slightly above idling, is a very seductive feature of this new engine, and the power climbs steadily all the way to the upper area of the load range. The new BMW X1 xDrive28i has a 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time of 6.1 seconds (6.5 seconds with automatic transmission). These times are an improvement of 0.7 seconds and 0.3 seconds respectively on those for the previous model with six-speed automatic transmission. The new BMW X1 xDrive28i hits a top speed of 240 km/h (149 mph).
The turbocharger is a twin-scroll system. The exhaust streams leaving the two pairs of cylinders are kept completely separate as they flow through the exhaust manifold and the turbocharger, taking a spiral path to the turbine wheel. This configuration results in very low exhaust back pressure at low engine rpm, and allows the energy of the exhaust gas pulses to be optimally managed and translated into powerful rotation of the turbine blades, without a response delay. The result is instant throttle reaction and typical BMW fast-revving performance.
The fully cylinder head-integrated VALVETRONIC variable valve control system, and the double-VANOS variable intake and exhaust camshaft timing, have a further positive impact on power development. The BMW X1 xDrive28i engine features assembled intake and exhaust camshafts and a latest-generation VALVETRONIC system which is even faster-acting thanks to an optimised stepper motor with integrated sensor.
The patented BMW VALVETRONIC system with seamlessly variable intake valve lift control dispenses with the throttle valve system typical of earlier engine generations. Instead, combustion air mass is controlled inside the engine, resulting in much faster response. Pumping losses are kept to a minimum, so making the engine more efficient.
The new engine's unusually high efficiency, for a turbocharged unit, is also down to the High Precision Injection petrol direct-injection system. Centrally positioned between the valves, solenoid injectors with a maximum injection pressure of 200 bar precisely control the supply of fuel. The fuel is injected very close to the spark plug, resulting in clean and homogeneous combustion. The cooling effect of the injected fuel also results in a higher compression ratio than on turbocharged naturally aspirated engines. This results in further efficiency improvements.
The efficiency theme continues with a computer-controlled oil pump and an on-demand electric coolant pump. Also, the new BMW X1 xDrive28i is specified as standard with a six-speed manual transmission with Auto Start-Stop function. This system automatically switches off the engine when the vehicle stops at crossroads or is sitting in stationary traffic in order to prevent unnecessary idling and wasteful use of fuel.
The new engine technology and extensive, standard-fitted BMW EfficientDynamics features achieve an exceptionally good balance between performance and fuel consumption. The new BMW X1 xDrive28i has average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle of 7.9 litres /100 km (35.7 mpg imp), a 16 per cent improvement on the previous model.
2011 BMW X1
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