New BMW X1 leaked
BMW’s third-gen Volvo XC40 rival to bag bolder styling, lots of new in-car tech plus EV versionThe all-new 2022 BMW X1 has surfaced on Instagram, months before you’re supposed to see it.
Leaked online by Instagram user CocheSpias and Wilcoblok, the completely undisguised pictures of the third-generation BMW X1 show how designers have once again upsized the brand’s trademark kidney grille but, to the relief of its detractors, haven’t quite given the premium small SUV a pair of nostrils to match the 4 Series or flagship 7 Series limo.
Meanwhile, an aggressively styled front bumper highlights the X1’s new-found athleticism, while a pair of L-shaped blades below the slimmer headlights and a larger lower air dam all hint at better air bending for improved efficiency.
At the rear there’s a new pair of Nike tick-shaped tail-lights and a sporty rear bumper that looks like it features two large air extractors for the rear wheel-arches.
Along its flanks there’s a simpler, less fussy approach to surfacing, while a pair of sporty side skirts and large multi-spoke alloy wheels suggest the car pictured is an M Sport model grade.
The taller, boxier profile suggests the new BMW X1 will also maximise cabin space, with the annotated interior image revealing that boot space will indeed grow from 450 litres to a far more generous 540 litres.
Within the new cabin the leaked pics reveal the X1 bags BMW’s Curved Display screens that combine a 10.25-inch instrument cluster with a large 10.7-inch touch-screen.
Both will run BMW’s Operating System 8 and feature the car-maker’s latest iDrive controller.
New tech includes an onboard virtual assistant and augmented view for the sat-nav, a wireless phone charging tray, a fresh M Sport leather-clad multifunction steering wheel and sports seats with a massage function.
Beneath the skin and high-tech cabin the X1 and the all-electric BMW iX1 are both based on the car-maker’s latest FAAR architecture that replaces the outgoing SUV’s UKL2 platform and underpins the latest 2 Series Active Tourer.
Like the 2 Series AT, the X1 is expected to be initially offered with two petrol (X1 sDrive20i and X1 sDrive23i) and one diesel (X1 sDrive18d) engine option, all paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and boosted by 48-volt mild-hybrid tech.
In X1 sDrive20i form, power comes from a 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine delivering 126kW/280Nm, while the X1 sDrive23i uses a larger 2.0-litre four-cylinder to produce 162kW/360Nm.
From launch, two plug-in hybrid versions are also expected that will be based around the three-pot turbo, with the most powerful X1 xDrive30e set to produce 243kW.
At the top of the tree will be the sportiest X1 M35i that should come with all-wheel drive and a powerful 2.0-litre turbo pushing out around 220kW, enabling a 0-100km/h time of around 5.0 seconds.
In Europe, the iX1 will be an indirect replacement to the tiny BMW i3 hatch and will offer a decent 438km range.
Set for an official reveal in the coming months, European deliveries of the all-new BMW X1 are expected to kick off before the end of 2022, with an Aussie release anticipated in the first half of 2023.
Related: New BMW iX1 previewed
Related: BMW X1 and X2 Sport pricing and specs
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