Michael Taylor•19 Feb 2014
NEWS
SPY PICS: BMW to shrink X1
In an age of ever-growing cars, BMW will break the mould by introducing a smaller X1The baby of the BMW soft-roader franchise is about to get even smaller.
Sources at BMW have confirmed next year’s replacement for the X1 will be smaller in every external dimension than the one it replaces.
Built off the same front-wheel drive architecture as next month’s 2-Series Active Tourer, the next X1 will slash away the excess metal courtesy of sitting its engine across the engine bay, instead of along it.
The current X1 is based around the architecture of the superseded 3 Series, but the next generation will join BMW’s push to swing as many of its smaller, less handling-critical models onto its front-drive architecture as possible.
The list of BMWs headed for the UKL (Unter Klasse or Under Class) architecture includes the 2 Series Active Tourer, the next 1 Series hatch and a new 1 Series sedan, while the new MINI three-door is already on an even smaller version of the UKL platform.
The modular front-drive architecture is closely related to the underpinnings of the all-new MINI and is adaptable enough to swallow all-wheel drive systems, hybrid powertrains and even full electric power.
“There are big hopes for the next X1 internally, but it has to have more space between it and the X3,” a BMW source told motoring.com.au.
“The X1 will get smaller and lighter. It should be quite a bit lighter than the current one, but it will be just as large inside.”
That’s because the packaging of the next X1 will receive the same stretched-to-the-edges treatment BMW has given the 2 Series Active Tourer, while slashing around 100mm from its overall length.
“We’ve focused our attention towards addressing the comfort of the cabin in the X1,” said the BMW insider.
“Fuel consumption is also an issue we’ve worked hard on, so it will help if the car is shorter than the current one.”
Sources suggest the new X1 will also run the same powertrain options as the 2 Series Active Tourer, meaning top-spec versions will come with 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and 2.0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engines.
Mainstream versions of the new X1 family will take advantage of the lighter weight and better economy of the three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine from the MINI Cooper and the upcoming three-cylinder turbo-diesel as well.
While the next X1 will nominally be an all-wheel drive car, thanks to a Haldex-style electronically controlled clutch sitting at the rear of the car, BMW sources admit the bulk of sales will come from the lighter, more economical front-drive version.
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Written byMichael Taylor
Our team of independent expert car reviewers and journalists
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