The new BMW X1 - previewed by the Concept X1 at the Paris Motor Show – will be offered in both four-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive configurations when it goes on sale in 2010, according to BMW insiders.
BMW has previously resisted producing two-wheel drive versions of its SUVs, but the company believes that weight savings and efficiency gains will persuade buyers to accept a rear-drive only version of the X1. The company is expected to offer the rear-drive X1 with four-cylinder 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines.To differentiate it from the four-wheel drive X1, BMW is planning to introduce a new ‘sDrive’ badge. This will lead to a complicated naming structure, with model names like the BMW X1 18isDrive.Larger-engined versions of the X1 will have four-wheel drive as standard, and will wear the same xDrive badge as the X5 and X6. Turbocharged four and six cylinder engines will be offered with the 4x4 drivetrain, including an uprated version of BMW’s 2.0-litre twin-turbo common rail diesel which will produce ‘well over 220bhp’ according to our insider. The production X1’s looks will be very similar to those of the X1 Concept, and are inspired by those of the bigger X3 and X1. Premium manufacturers are expecting that the compact SUV segment will grow as demand for larger off-roaders weakens. Land Rover will introduce its sub-Freelander LRX in 2010, Audi is working on a Tiguan-based Q3 and Mercedes is set to spin a compact ‘GLC’ off the next-generation B-Class.The X1 is based on the same platform as the 3-series, and will be built alongside it at BMW’s Leipzig plant in Germany.
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Re: Inside story: BMW X1 goes RWD
I guess there is a reasonable group of people who like me, quite fancy the appeal of the driving and seating position of an SUV, but don't fancy the running costs and parking hassles associated with the big ones.
I find the idea of a RWD version properly interesting - I have zero interest in 4WD and think claims that it is safer are more founded in marketing than reality. I don't find traction a hassle with my RWD 530d, and having taken it around Rockingham's wet handling facility, I'm very impressed with the stability nannies. With them switched on, you have to be a proper thug with the car to get it out of shape - beyond what you'd do in any reasonable on road driving situation.
There's plenty of precedent of other manufacturers making 2WD SUVs - Toyota did it with the first RAV4 - but they've all been nasty FWD implementations to date.
Re: Inside story: BMW X1 goes RWD
I think the main issue here is which buyers they're trying to tempt.
They don't need a proper 4x4 (Defender-style) or another big SUV (X5 covers that) so it must be a new set of buyers/users they're interested in.Or are BMW just showing off because they can afford to make cars nobody really needs?
Re: Inside story: BMW X1 goes RWD
Why should that "peeve" you?
First, who is to say what niches need filling or don't? Second, if it does turns out that this was a niche didn't need filling then it's BMW that will stand to lose out. It doesn't do you or I any harm, does it?
Don't get me wrong; I'm not having a pop at you personally. I just don't get this pervasive negativity that, nearly all the time these days, greets newly launched vehicles that might not be aimed at, say, your regular market sectors. You can guarantee the howls of derision, ("pointless" being a particular favourite) are rung out loud all over motoring forums or in response to press articles, just because a vehicle happens not to meet with the exact personal taste of the posters.
I don't know, I would've thought having a greater range of vehicles and more choice in the market would be viewed as a positive thing. I guess it shows that I'm obviously cluessless about these things.