Meet the new BMW iX1 and its ICE-powered siblings

By jaytee, 01 June 2022

Meet the new BMW iX1 and its ICE-powered siblings

After a 7 year tenure, the F48-generation X1 has been put to rest. Meet its replacement, the all-new third-generation BMW X1 and its fully-electric sibling, the iX1.

Like the F48-generation model, the new X1 shares the same UKL-based platform that underpins several cars within the BMW Group umbrella. The BMW 1 Series, the MINI Countryman, and the 2 Series Active Tourer. In fact, this new car shares a large number of components with the latter. But before we delve into the specifics, let’s take a look at the new X1’s appearance.

And it’s good news indeed. The new car is longer, taller and wider than its predecessor, which bodes well for interior occupancy. The overall profile of the car is also boxier than before, with a more in-your-face grille that gives the X1 a more distinct front fascia that looks remarkably similar to the brand’s larger crossover offerings like the X3.

Despite the car’s larger size, several exterior features like the car’s aerodynamically optimised front end and flushed door handles enable it to net a drag coefficient of Cd 0.26, an improvement over the older model’s Cd 0.29.

Base models of the X1 will come fitted with 17-inch alloys as standard, while xLine and M Sport cars will receive 18-inch rims, though buyers can also opt for 19s. For that extra dash of posh, the X1 can now be optioned with 20-inch rims as well as a frozen paint option from BMW Individual, the brand's bespoke customisation program. 

The cabin of the new X1 is almost an exact carbon copy of the interior we’ve seen in the new 2 Series Active Tourer. Which means it gets the same floating centre console with a rocker switch gear selector, minimal HVAC controls on the dash and a BMW Operating System 8 powered Curved Display that houses a 10.7-inch gauge cluster and 10.25-inch infotainment screen within a single panel.

The new BMW X1 will be offered with a choice of several powertrain options; two petrol engines, two diesel engines (which we’re unlikely to see in Singapore), and for the first time in the X1’s lineage, an all-electric version, coming in the form of the iX1 xDrive30.

The front-wheel-drive X1 sDrive18i is powered by BMW’s 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine, codenamed the B38, that produces 136hp/230Nm. The more powerful mild hybrid X1 xDrive23i uses BMW’s B48 2.0-litre turbod’ four-cylinder that makes 204hp/320Nm. It’s worth noting that the 48V mild-hybrid electric motor adds an additional 19hp/55Nm to the proceedings, raising the xDrive23i’s total system output to 218 horsepower and 360Nm of torque.

On the other hand, the PHEV xDrive30e, which uses the same 1.5-litre B38 engine in the sDrive18i coupled with one of BMW’s eDrive motors in the rear produces a total output of 329 horsepower and 477Nm of torque. Details about the xDrive30e’s range figures are scarce at the moment, and we’ve had no word about the car’s availability in Singapore. Given that the BMW 2 Series 230e Active Tourer (a PHEV as well, with identical power figures) isn’t coming to Singapore, it’s not likely that we’ll see the xDrive30e variant going on sale here.

However, the car that IS coming to Singapore (sometime in 2023) is the all-electric iX1 xDrive30, the brand’s first AWD electric car in the premium compact segment. Powering the iX3 are two of BMW’s 5th generation eDrive motors delivering a combined 313 horsepower and 494Nm of torque. For reference, that’s more power than the current iX3 crossover, which is a vehicle class larger than the iX1.

We’re quite certain that the iX1 xDrive30’s on paper 0-100km/h sprint time of 5.7 seconds would feel a lot more potent in practice. But we’d have to wait till next year to test it out for ourselves. Excited?

PHOTOS BMW

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