2008 BMW Concept X1 Review

Sometimes a vehicle is so obviously missing from an automaker's lineup that it's difficult to understand why it hasn't

been there all along. Such is the case for BMW's upcoming X1, the subcompact crossover that's as ideal for the global entry-level premium 4x4 market as the 1-Series Coupe, Cabriolet, and in other markets, liftback version has been for the sport-luxury car segment.

It would be hard to make a crossover as attractive as the new 1-Series, but the X1 shown in these pictures certainly looks like it could capture the hearts of upwardly mobile young families in the same way that the littlest Bimmer has caused a whirlwind of excitement within the ranks of junior execs and tycoons in training everywhere. Still, the Concept X1 might be destined to divide loyalties in the same way that the X3 creates polarities amongst BMW buyers. Some will consider it cute and cuddly, with most comments on blog posts being positive, while others have expressed their outright distaste.

BMW,

mind you, won't care about any negatives. If there is an automotive design team with collectively thick skin it would be the Bavarian manufacturer, and they've had the last laugh with their most controversial designs, such as the previous 7- and current 5-Series, which have long pulled much stronger sales numbers than previous generations.

So no matter how many pundits knock the Concept X1's proboscis for looking awkward from the side view, or find its front wheel arch design cumbersome, and believe me, they already have, buyer's will be lining up to lay cash down on its sculpted hood in order to get to the front of the queue. And that's because the X1 will feature BMW's sine qua non twin-kidney grille up front, which is a license to print money based on the brand's adherence to the key principles of superior road manners and high overall quality. 

We

can expect the same North American engine lineup as available in the 1-Series, namely BMW's efficient 230-horsepower, 24-valve, DOHC 3.0-liter inline-six with 200 lb-ft of torque, at the lower level, and at the top end the wonderful 300-horsepower, 24-valve, DOHC, twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter I-6 with 300 lb-ft of torque, mated to six-speed manual and six-speed automatic transmissions, the latter with a Steptronic gear lever and paddle-shifters. A clean diesel would make sense for North America if prices could be kept reasonable, but Rudolf's internal combustion alternative may not make the grade due to pricing concerns. Instead, the X1 may get a rumored four-cylinder model, also expected to become available in the 1-Series lineup. Oh yes, and it is coming. BMW has promised it within the year.

Considering

its size of just 175.5 inches in length, some almost 4.3 inches shorter than the BMW X3, four-cylinder power should motivate it along the highways and byways without issue, and its 104.4 inch long wheelbase should iron out the road wrinkles enough so that it doesn't punish those attempting to live the life of budget luxury. The ride will bias toward firmness, however, as all BMWs are, so expect stellar handling and top-tier safety as high-level priorities, not to mention extremely strong braking capability no matter the road or weather conditions thanks to ABS, EBV, CBC, DTC, DBC, DSC, ASC+T, RPS, ARS and SWR, HDC, and all of the other acronyms that are normally part of the BMW fare. And yes, we shouldn't be too surprised that a company named “B”, “M” “W” loves three letter acronyms.

One of

these abbreviations must assist in off-roading, right? Well, now that you mentioned it, yes. After all, BMW's engineers have included under-floor protection so that you won't get hung up on protruding stumps or rocks, although let's not get confused about the X1's future mission. It won't be for tackling the wild unknown like Jeep's Wrangler or Toyota's FJ Cruiser. No, the concept's unique twin-color ten-spoke 19-inch light-alloy rims make its urban, suburban and paved rural intentions quite clear, BMW just wants you to know that you can get to the cottage on the weekends or out of the airport parking lot during a major snowfall.

Assisting in safety, at least on this concept, the taillights incorporate “consistently

fluorescent, red-glowing rows of lights fed by LED light units serving as the light source,” offered the Concept X1 press release. “The result is a genuinely homogeneous flow of light with a powerful signaling effect...” and “....energy consumption significantly lower than with conventional lights.”

The Concept X1 debuted at the Paris auto show in October, and as mentioned should appear in BMW dealerships across the nation late next year. The timing? While a bad time to be bringing any new car to market, the show must go on as they say. Then again, the reality of introducing a compact crossover, tapping into two of the automotive sector's strongest and fastest growing segments, compact models and crossover SUVs is a double positive that the company will just have to live with. Yes, the X1 should boost overall sales significantly just as the 1-Series has, the compact Mini brand's 35-percent rise in sales during the month of November being proof positive that

small luxury-performance cars are ultra-hot right now, and allow the BMW brand to be back in the black, posting strong and potentially record setting sales in coming years no matter the economic climate, not to mention allow more buyers to experience BMW ownership, strengthening the brand's long-term growth.

And to those who question how yet another compact model will affect BMW's overall prestige in the North American market, I point to the still revered 2002, a car that while very small by today's standards, continues to be a sports sedan icon that really set the stage for sporting BMWs to follow. The new 1-Series is the spiritual successor to this car and the X1 just a variation on a winning theme. It's a smart move by BMW, and just like how the X3 beat many of its competitors to the compact premium segment, the X1 will enjoy a solid lead in a size class below, where no luxury brand is currently playing ball.

Expect

the competition to follow, but before you start planning on a stiff rivalry in the premium subcompact class realize that Mercedes-Benz is only just getting into the premium compact segment with its 2010 GLK and Audi isn't even there yet, with its long anticipated Q5. The Japanese luxury brands, Lexus, Infiniti and Acura, which really should have figured this one out years ago with so many small cars to use as donor chassis, won't have anything to offer either. Again, Lexus hasn't even shown a premium compact concept, Infiniti only filled this larger class with its EX35 last year, and Acura hasn't been around much longer with its RDX. All are larger than the future X1. Truly, the X1's only competition may be from its own Mini brand, which will hit the market with the Crossman soon. Won't that be interesting? BMW creating its own competition in a market segment currently not serviced in North America. And why not? After all, many companies produce their own competitive products to sell against themselves in order to squeeze out potential competitors and dominate a given market segment, so there's no reason why BMW can't succeed using a similar business model and the rare opportunity of a completely virgin market. Daimler's smart division had the chance to enter this market years ago with its stillborn formore crossover, and chose to kill the project, after all, so BMW and its Mini brand have it to themselves.

With the X1 and Crossman on their way, as surely as anything can be predicted in our tumultuous financial times I gaze into my rather murky crystal ball and believe I see another resounding success for the German automaker, and a return to consecutive record breaking sales months for the BMW brand when the X1 arrives.