BMW is getting ready to finish up the work on the new 2016 BMW X1. Codenamed F48, the new model will purportedly offer more room inside while keeping its exterior shell virtually unchanged. How is that possible?
Well, BMW will be using the new UKL platform to build it. That means that the X1, a car that is appraised for its driving dynamics these days, will become a FWD model. Yes, you read that right.
Fortunately, xDrive will also be on the table, and rumor has it that the US will be getting the crossover only in this guise, to maintain BMW’s image intact. Even so, don’t expect the all-wheel drive system to be the same as on every other model out there though.
While on the X3, X4, X5 and X6 it is rear-wheel biased, on the X1, most of the time, the front wheels will be responsible for moving along. The rear wheels will only be active when there’s not enough grip for the front axle.
That will indeed allow BMW to offer more space inside the cabin. Speaking of which, the design should be different too, looking closer to the 2 Series Active Tourer than the current version.
Under the bonnet, we’ll be listening to the tune of 1.5-liter and 2-liter engines both on petrol and diesel. Power outputs are expected to be as high as 300 HP on the top of the range models and as low as around 100 HP for the entry-level ones.
A plug-in hybrid will also be available, most likely using a 1.5-liter engine on petrol and a synchronous electric motor encased in the gearbox. This would prove to be a good daily driver for the city dwellers as it will offer an electric range of up to 20 miles, enough for daily commutes.
Expect the new X1 to be launched later this year, most likely in September at Frankfurt. Until then, BMW is apparently concerned with how it fares on the Nurburgring, as you can see in the video below.
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