Photo: Stephan Baldauf/SB-Medien
BMW is preparing a longer, seven-seat version of the X1 for the Chinese market.
Just weeks ago, the first images of the future seven-seat BMW X1 were leaked through a patent filing in China, and recently, our collaborating photographers shot a few images of an X1 seven-seat prototype during testing. The prototype being tested features a lot of different design elements compared to the standard X1.
Put alongside the European BMW X1, the seven-seat variant destined for the Chinese market features a modified roofline, an entirely different front fascia and a modified rear end. Furthermore, the BMW X1’s headlights have a new design, while the taillights benefit from a different graphic.
The prototype in this article’s photo gallery probably features a modified version of the UKL platform of the BMW Group. This technical platform is used both by the MINI and the BMW brands and gave life to cars like the BMW 2-Series Active Tourer, 2-Series Gran Tourer, X1, MINI Cooper hatchback, and others.
Using the UKL platform would help BMW reduce development costs for the Chinese-only seven-seat X1 version. The design changes that the car has undergone don’t exclude the possibility of using the UKL technical platform.
The BMW X1 seems to be a popular choice for variations bound for the Chinese market, as other spy shots have shown. For example, an electric variant of the first generation BMW X1 was uncovered in Munich with a different design and wearing badges of the Zinoro brand, only sold in China.
BMW isn’t at its first Chinese-only model, the German company developing several cars for the world’s largest new car market. And its rival carmakers Audi and Mercedes-Benz do the same. Such strategies are applied to cater to the specific needs of Chinese consumers. For now, BMW officials have yet to reveal any information regarding this particular variant of the X1. This is usually the case with such prototypes.
Put alongside the European BMW X1, the seven-seat variant destined for the Chinese market features a modified roofline, an entirely different front fascia and a modified rear end. Furthermore, the BMW X1’s headlights have a new design, while the taillights benefit from a different graphic.
The prototype in this article’s photo gallery probably features a modified version of the UKL platform of the BMW Group. This technical platform is used both by the MINI and the BMW brands and gave life to cars like the BMW 2-Series Active Tourer, 2-Series Gran Tourer, X1, MINI Cooper hatchback, and others.
Using the UKL platform would help BMW reduce development costs for the Chinese-only seven-seat X1 version. The design changes that the car has undergone don’t exclude the possibility of using the UKL technical platform.
The BMW X1 seems to be a popular choice for variations bound for the Chinese market, as other spy shots have shown. For example, an electric variant of the first generation BMW X1 was uncovered in Munich with a different design and wearing badges of the Zinoro brand, only sold in China.
BMW isn’t at its first Chinese-only model, the German company developing several cars for the world’s largest new car market. And its rival carmakers Audi and Mercedes-Benz do the same. Such strategies are applied to cater to the specific needs of Chinese consumers. For now, BMW officials have yet to reveal any information regarding this particular variant of the X1. This is usually the case with such prototypes.
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