02 July 2009 - 10:00
X1 is out
After all the blurred teaser shots and industry gossip, BMW has released pictures and info on the new X1.
Ignore the girl in the bikini for a moment (still with us?) and take a look at the car. It’s visually similar to the X3 and about the same size. In fact, when the X1 arrives, the X3 will gain a few pounds and shift up a segment. Which means the X1 – loosely based on a 3-Series – will become BMW’s new baby SUV.
The jacked-up suspension means you get an elevated driving position to look down on poor people. Further back, there are three proper seats with adjustable backrests. And overhead there’s an optional panoramic sunroof. So the interior doesn’t do anything innovative, but will inevitably be the usual high-class BMW affair.
As ever, though, the most impressive stuff lies underneath. You’ll be able to choose from rear- or four-wheel drive and take your pick from the usual roster of brilliant BMW engines. For the eco-minded, we recommend the sDrive18d that manages 136g/km of C02 and 54.3mpg – figures that should be stamped all over the car to appease anyone who thinks SUV is a byword for Screw the Planet.
Prices range from £22,660 to £29,055, and the X1 will hit showrooms in October.
Talking of the X3, here's a clip of Clarkson taking the soft-roader into the rough:
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The X3 was a freaking ugly, pointless disgrace. Hopefully this X1 will be different enough to the X3/X5 to have a point to it. BMW should can the X3 and sell its parts to build a throne for that fitty in the bikini
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Boring. I keep staring at the bikini model. Bad marketing move, putting a girl in the shot who's far far far more attractive than the car. But seriously, what surfer can actually afford a BMW?
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Well I dont think this is ugly, I think its far more better looking than the earlier conceptcars and the Audi Q1.
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No, I'm sorry, that's a shit car. The X3 was pointless, why would making it smaller help? Plus it doesn't even look like a BMW, it looks like a godawful Chinese rip-off, in fact, it looks WORSE than THE Chinese rip-off of a Beemer SUV. This hideous niche-box with its Volvo-esque pushed-forward grille and stupid shallow-angled rear window and godawful tail lights makes me physically upset and queezy. And, really really, what's the bloody point of this car? "Well, Mercedes made that GLK and Audi's planning a Q3". No. Not good enough. If I wanted a bottom-of-the-tree BMW, I'd get a 1-Series, not some stupid pretend-off-roader that's following the crowd.
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BMWs keep getting uglier by the years!!
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How long has it been since BMW last made a good-looking car?
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looks quite cool
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Ignore the girl in the bikini? Since when?
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It looks like that Renault.... K.... someone help me out here please
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Well, it's not an amazingly pretty car is it really? In fact, the front of it looks like a surprised face from some angles. But look at it this way: It's a lot better looking than the X3... To be perfectly honest I don't see why anyone would pick this when there's plenty of other options out there.
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Well, it's not an amazingly pretty car is it really? In fact, the front of it looks like a surprised face from some angles. But look at it this way: It's a lot better looking than the X3... To be perfectly honest I don't see why anyone would pick this when there's plenty of other options out there.
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(@ Ben27) Koleos
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It reminds me of the BMW 5GT which has been in your maggers recently. Its a BMW which hardly anyone will want! people are going to be spoilt for choice, and then think ahh, ill just get a freelander cus its been around for a while. (BTW Ben27 its a Koleos.)
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It reminds me of the BMW 5GT which has been in your maggers recently. Its a BMW which hardly anyone will want! people are going to be spoilt for choice, and then think ahh, ill just get a freelander cus its been around for a while. (BTW Ben27 its a Koleos.)
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This car looks rather nice if I may say so. Kind of 7-Series styling at the front and 5 Series GT at the back. Not a bad combination really.
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I'll take the Girl in the bikini
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If the X3's offroading prowess is anything to go by that car will find it hard to get off the sand!
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Photo at the top of this page is it's best angle. The front's a mess with the upright kidney grille sitting between sagging headlight clusters and the downward slope of the radiator intake; like the 5GT (I like that number/letter combination better with a Renault badge!). The sides are slabby and flat shown up especially in white with small wheels and the back has those strange light "extensions" in the boot lid that don't work on the current 3 series or 1 series cabrio either. Interior is rather lovely though AND you won't be able to see the dogs' dinner styling from in there either! Will be driven by the terminally undiscerning in any case - to be cutting you up with no indicators or mirror use in the very near future...
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well, better than the x3, but I'd rather have a 4x4 Skoda Octavia, thx.
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Hard to believe Beemer could come out with an uglier 'car' than the X-3. But my word, have they ever succeeded. I've no doubt some gullible fools will buy them though.
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I'd like to comment on the comments, please. Everyone agrees that X-3 looks really bad; so there is no point in me adding to that. Some say they's rather take the girl in the bikini; well, I'd rather take the girl without the bikini. Or is that rude? Also, I feel bad for the guy with the surf board - the only thing that stands between him and a girl is that ugly X-3. He is one unlucky chap.
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Oh, did I say X-3? I meant X1. Who cares what I say; it's just ugly. But I'd like to see people actually buying it, so that I can walk up to strangers and ask them "Oh dear, what happened here?" and express that I am sorry about their handicap. Being visually impaired cannot be easy.
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Every BMW that came-out after new 7 series release greatly improved - Z4 and this new X1 included, also the look and quality of the cabin is better. I do think they should axe X3 ( which they say will go up in size ) 'cause they have X5 and X6 in that segment already.
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Well, at least it doesn't look as ugly as the X3. Yet to see what the front looks like but knowing BMW, the front is the least of my concerns. I hope its not going to be as hopeless as the X3 was off-road. The X1 might be a little too low to climb mountains, but a simple trip to the beach and going through a mostly flat field shouldn't be a problem. If this can't do even that without struggling like the X3, then BMW should give up selling these pointless "off-road" vehicles.
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VieVentar commented on this article
02 July 2009
Ugly, pointless and if rumours are true - Made in China. I'll take the Bleach cocktail please, its far more appealing.
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