BMW reveals the X1

After numerous teasers and spy shots BMW has officially released full details and pictures of its baby SUV, the X1.

Expected to compete with compact SUVs from Japanese manufacturers like the Honda CR-V, Mitsubishi Outlander and so on, the X1 will come in rear-wheel drive and xDrive all-wheel drive variants. BMW will offer three diesel engines and only one petrol engine option on the X1 when it debuts in Europe this fall, just after the international debut at September’s Frankfurt Motor Show. 

A 3.0-litre 258 bhp motor will propel the petrol X1 28i, which will also be equipped with xDrive AWD system. This is the model which is likely to debut in the Middle East sometime towards the end of 2009. BMW is also planning to introduce two new petrol engines in the X1 before the SUV debuts in the US in 2011. 

With such power the 1-Series based SUV can accelerate from 0-100 kph in a scant 6.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 200kph while returning a company claimed 9.4l/100km. Every X1 will come with BMW’s EfficientDynamics technology, which improves fuel economy and reduces emissions through brake energy regeneration, engine stop-start technology and a optimum gearshift point indicator.  

The X1 will be built at BMW’s Leipzig plant and the company is expected production volumes to touch 100,000 even though the X1 will be priced higher than the 1-series, starting close to $30,000.