Spyshots: New BMW X1

As we already told you over the past two weeks, BMW is working on the development of its next generation 1 Series and is close to releasing the X1 in June this year (sales are said to begin in 2010), bmwblog.com reported. The German manufacturer is testing its X badged 1 Series at the Nurburgring track in Germany.

Sized as the Ford Kuga and the Toyota RAV4, the X1 will be a full time four wheel drive, using the xDrive AWD, and will have the same ride height with the future Mini off-roader. Being part of the 1 Series, the new small SUV will have the same cabin as its smaller cousins.

The X1 will make use, as all current BMW models, of the company's EfficientDynamics (start-stop system and intelligent alternator control). The BMW X1 will come with a choice of both four and six cylinder engines, powered by both petrol and diesel fuel.

The smaller engine to be used on the X1 is a 2.0l four cylinder one, boasting 170 horsepower for the petrol version and 177 for the diesel one. The 3.0l six cylinder power[plant will develop either 265 horsepower (gasoline) or 245 horsepower (diesel). A hybrid version for the X1 is unlikely to see production, due to the costs it involves. The new X1 could though make use of a four cylinder turbocharged petrol engine.

As we mentioned, BMW will produce four different models, namely the xDrive20i, xDrive20d, xDrive30i and xDrive30d, at a rumored starting price at around 32,000 euros. Still, the German manufacturer has big plans for the new X1 and the price might not be a deterrent for the young (we would add mostly female) segment of the market it targets.