Photo: Car-Kid.com
A recent report claims that BMW is apparently working on bringing out yet another crossover, this time even smaller than the X1, to be positioned between the 1 Series and the X model. While it may sound enticing at first, we reckon there’s more than meets the eye here.
According to Automobile Magazine, quoting an unnamed source within BMW, the Germans are currently working on a so-called XCite model that is also known internally as ‘NEC’ or New Entry Crossover. The new model will be sitting between the 1 Series and X1, a very narrow niche that has yet to be exploited or, better yet, created.
Think of it as an 1 Series on stilts with a little more tech, even though the report doesn’t want to admit it. Furthermore, it will also keep in touch with the layout of the 1er range, and the XCite could come out in two body styles: a 3-door and a 5-door version.
At the moment, the design of the new car is the most important and highly discussed issue in Munich as there are a couple of extremely different views being brought in to the table.
Nobody thought they would bring out a front-wheel drive car, say 5 years ago, let alone an MPV and yet... here we are with not one but two of these roaming the streets wild and free. And that’s not all.
The Sport Activity Coupe niche will seemingly be exploited to the max, with the X2 joining the line-up later on, following in the footsteps of the X6 and X4 models before it. So, could this XCite model come to life?
The guys from Automobile Magazine claim that it will be named 1 Series Sport Cross and they do make a valid point towards its utility. it will be a car that is supposed to rival the likes of the Nissan Juke and the Citroen C4 Cactus, models that themselves have a problem fitting in.
The issue here is that BMW doesn’t usually create cars to compete with models that are not considered ‘premium’. They also like to make sure that there’s a reasonable amount of profitability in it for them and this car doesn’t look like it can provide that.
Being supposed to fit in between the 1 Series and X1, the price tag will have to be below $30,000 and offering more tech than the 1er will leave a really small margin to play around with. Sure, the overpriced optionals will help out but not a lot.
Furthermore, there’s the issue of cannibalization. The 1 Series Sport Cross could cut in the sales of both the X1 and the regular 1 Series and then there’s the engine choice and the powertrain layout.
The front-wheel drive UKL platform would definitely be used here and that means that even with xDrive this thing won’t be too fun to drive and it will get small engines under the bonnet, possibly tapping out with a 2-liter 4-cylinder unit.
The biggest problem, however, would be that China won’t be tapping into the sales factor. As you might very well know, the Chinese are very adamant about having a lot of room in their cars, especially in the back. That’s a cultural issue over there and that’s why most manufacturers are making special models for the Asian country, that have elongated chassis.
With the size being in between the 1 Series and X1, even with a FWD setup, there simply won’t be enough room in the back of this car to be offered for the Chinese and BMW might cut its losses and keep it off of the world’s biggest auto market. But then, again, they do risk a lot by putting this in production, it’s all too blurry to take it seriously at the moment but everything’s possible.
Think of it as an 1 Series on stilts with a little more tech, even though the report doesn’t want to admit it. Furthermore, it will also keep in touch with the layout of the 1er range, and the XCite could come out in two body styles: a 3-door and a 5-door version.
At the moment, the design of the new car is the most important and highly discussed issue in Munich as there are a couple of extremely different views being brought in to the table.
It all sounds really confusing, right?
We know but the truth of the matter is, BMW has been doing this kind of unthinkable stuff in the most recent years.Nobody thought they would bring out a front-wheel drive car, say 5 years ago, let alone an MPV and yet... here we are with not one but two of these roaming the streets wild and free. And that’s not all.
The Sport Activity Coupe niche will seemingly be exploited to the max, with the X2 joining the line-up later on, following in the footsteps of the X6 and X4 models before it. So, could this XCite model come to life?
The guys from Automobile Magazine claim that it will be named 1 Series Sport Cross and they do make a valid point towards its utility. it will be a car that is supposed to rival the likes of the Nissan Juke and the Citroen C4 Cactus, models that themselves have a problem fitting in.
The issue here is that BMW doesn’t usually create cars to compete with models that are not considered ‘premium’. They also like to make sure that there’s a reasonable amount of profitability in it for them and this car doesn’t look like it can provide that.
Being supposed to fit in between the 1 Series and X1, the price tag will have to be below $30,000 and offering more tech than the 1er will leave a really small margin to play around with. Sure, the overpriced optionals will help out but not a lot.
Furthermore, there’s the issue of cannibalization. The 1 Series Sport Cross could cut in the sales of both the X1 and the regular 1 Series and then there’s the engine choice and the powertrain layout.
The front-wheel drive UKL platform would definitely be used here and that means that even with xDrive this thing won’t be too fun to drive and it will get small engines under the bonnet, possibly tapping out with a 2-liter 4-cylinder unit.
The biggest problem, however, would be that China won’t be tapping into the sales factor. As you might very well know, the Chinese are very adamant about having a lot of room in their cars, especially in the back. That’s a cultural issue over there and that’s why most manufacturers are making special models for the Asian country, that have elongated chassis.
With the size being in between the 1 Series and X1, even with a FWD setup, there simply won’t be enough room in the back of this car to be offered for the Chinese and BMW might cut its losses and keep it off of the world’s biggest auto market. But then, again, they do risk a lot by putting this in production, it’s all too blurry to take it seriously at the moment but everything’s possible.
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