New BMW iX1 and X1 break cover

UPDATED 01/06/2022 10:15am: BMW Australia has confirmed it will introduce the all-new, third-generation BMW X1 in the fourth quarter of this year, followed by the first ever fully electric variant called the iX1 in the first quarter of 2023.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE PUBLISHED 01/06/2022 8:00am: The third-generation 2022 BMW X1 has been officially revealed, with an all-electric version of BMW’s smallest SUV to crown the range.

Roomier than before and featuring contemporary curved 10.25-inch digital infotainment and 10.7-inch instrument screens, the all-new BMW X1 goes on sale in Europe this October ahead of an anticipated Australian launch in the first half of 2023.

After images and key details of the new X1 were leaked yesterday, the battery-electric BMW iX1 has now been confirmed as joining the launch range of conventional petrol and diesel models within a month.

The dual-motor, all-wheel drive EV will pack a 230kW punch, while BMW claims the iX1 xDrive30 will be an efficiency leader by using less energy per kilometre than either the iX3 mid-size SUV or the larger iX family SUV, hitting 17.3kWh per 100km – a best-in-class figure.

A pair of plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models will also join the range, fleshing it out to seven, all of which will come from the Regensburg plant in Germany.

All of the combustion X1s use turbochargers and the biggest sellers are expected to be the BMW X1 sDrive18i and sDrive18d, which are the entry-level three-cylinder petrol and diesel versions, with just two-wheel drive.

The strongest combustion powertrains will be the xDrive23i and xDrive23d, with four-cylinder engines driving all four wheels.

Combustion-powered X1s will use a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, while the strut front-end will be matched to a relatively simple three-link rear suspension system.

At 1500kg, the sDrive18i will be the lightest of the new generation of X1, which replaces a second generation that began sales in 2015.

It will also be the most feeble, with 100kW of power and only 230Nm of torque, taking 9.2 seconds to reach 100km/h from standstill, and running out of puff at 208km/h.

The entry-level diesel X1 sDrive18d is stronger, with 110kW/320Nm, though the diesel powertrain adds another 75kg to its overall mass.

Its performance is stronger, but not by a lot, with the sprint to 100km/h taking 8.9sec, while it keeps adding speed until 210km/h.

The four-cylinder models are obviously stronger, but all-wheel drive fattens out the petrol-powered xDrive23i to 1655kg.

It has a nominal maximum engine performance level of 150kW/320Nm, but can temporarily overboost itself to 160kW/360Nm, pulling to 100km/h in 7.1sec and offering a 233km/h top end.

The xDrive23d gets the heaviest powertrain and the heaviest drive system, tipping the scales at a bulky 1690kg (dry), with 145kW/400Nm. Again, this can be overboosted to 155kW in short bursts.

Riding on 206/65R17 tyres, the xDrive23d accelerates to 100km/h in 7.4sec and has a 225km/h top speed, but its strengths lie in mid-range flexibility and fuel economy. Despite its heft, the 23d will consume 4.8-5.3L/100km on the WLTP combined cycle, with as few as 125 grams of CO2 emitted every kilometre.

That is even better than the three-cylinder diesel, which is a tenth worse off in consumption and four grams higher in emissions, in part thanks to double Vanos variable camshaft timing and Valvetronic variable valve timing.

The entry-level petrol engine similarly doesn’t have economy on its side, consuming 6.3-7.0L/100km on the combined scale, for as little as 143g/km.

Both petrol-powered cars are comfortable on 91 RON fuel, and the four-cylinder 23i (like the bigger diesel) uses a 14kW/55Nm jolt of 48V mild-hybrid urge to help it maintain par with its smaller sibling. It also uses an impressive 6.5L/100km and emits 146-152g/km.

The wheelbase of the new-generation 2022 BMW X1 has grown 22mm to 2692mm, and the overall length has increased 53mm to 4500mm.

It’s also 24mm wider at 1845mm, 44mm higher at 1642mm, and the middle point of its tyres is 31mm further apart – 1592mm front and 1593mm rear.

All seven models will be available with 17-inch wheels, but can be optioned with everything up to 20-inch versions.

There will be three full-size rear seats for the first time in an X1, and it also includes a 40/20/40-split folding seat arrangement to access the 540-litre luggage area.

The standard luggage space has grown by 35 litres, while the 1600L maximum figure is 50L higher.

Two-zone climate-control air-conditioning is standard, and the rain sensor now automatically activates the headlights as well.

Even standard versions will have four USB-C ports, a pair of 12V sockets and a huge range of driver assistance systems.

The first BMW iX1 will also be the strongest X1 model, with 230kW of power (on overboost) and 494Nm of torque from its pair of electric motors.

Each axle plays host to one of the motors, giving it electrical all-wheel drive and a sprint to 100km/h in just 5.7 seconds.

It will eke out between 413km and 438km of (WLTP) range from of each charge of its lithium-ion battery pack, which sits between the axles.

The battery capacity is yet to be announced, but the range multiplied by the efficiency takes it out to somewhere between 75kWh and 80kWh.

The first of the plug-in hybrid X1s will be the BMW X1 xDrive25e, with a three-cylinder turbo-petrol motor attached to a transmission stuffed with a disc-shaped electric motor.

The electrical boost takes it up to 180kW of power and 477Nm of system torque, which pulls it to 100km/h in 6.8 seconds.

It takes the sDrive18i’s three-cylinder engine and adds 80kW/247Nm, and it can even drive as an EV for up to 140km/h, with 78-89km of range.

BMW claims economy of 0.8-1.1L/100km, and even its EV consumption of as little as 16.2kWh/100km is highly respectable.

But that’s not where the X1 PHEV family stops (unlike the last generation), because an X1 xDrive30e sits above it with 240kW of power but the same 477Nm of torque, presumably to protect the transmission durability.

While the e-motor has the same torque as its little brother, the xDrive30e has 130kW of power instead, and has the same range, consumption and emissions figures.

Full Australian specs and model range details will be confirmed closer to the new X1’s local launch.

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