BMW to Manufacture X1 in Russia

The success German manufacturer BMW is seeing for its recently introduced X1 model has determined them to consider beginning production and sales of the premium small SUV in Russia as well. According to Inside Line, the local production of the X1 will be done with the help of Avtotor, a company which already works with several carmakers from Europe and Asia.

The X1 will be built at the Kaliningrad facility starting October 1, with the first models to reach the dealerships later the same month. According to the source, the X1s to be produced here are, at least in the beginning, the X1 sDrive18i and xDrive20d in Urban and Lifestyle versions.

The X1 is, as said, the best selling premium SUV available on the European market. According to a report released by JATO Dynamics , the vehicle sold 55,550 units since the beginning of the year until July 2010 (64,049 since October 2009). For comparison, the Audi Q5, the next best thing compared to the X1 in terms of sales, comes in at 43,660 units.

Introduced last year as the newest addition to the X family, the X1 is offered in six engine choices: xDrive28i, xDrive23d, xDrive20d, sDrive20d, xDrive18d and sDrive18d. The most powerful unit, fitted on the xDrive28i, is a six-cylinder which develops 258 hp. It can reach sixty in 6.8 seconds and tops at a speed of 205 km/h (127 mph) - 230 km/h (143 mph) with optional high-speed set-up.

The entry level X1, the rear-wheel drive sDrive18d, retails starting at EUR27,200, while the top of the range xDrive28i is sold for EUR41,500.