X1 2011 BMW X1 First Drive

[Bartek S.]

BMW is an expert at filling niches that buyers probably never even thought existed. Witness vehicles such as the 5-series Gran Turismo, the upcoming Mini SUV, and the smallest member of the X family, the X1.
This new BMW baby ute is 175.4 inches long, 70.8 inches wide, and 60.8 inches high. That makes it 2.8 inches shorter than a 3-series wagon and 4.5 inches shorter than an X3. Although this may suggest it’s based on the 1-series, the X1 is actually closely related to the 3-series wagon, down to axles, powertrains, and identical all-wheel-drive systems.
The X1 is not a serious off-roader—there are no differential locks, for instance. It’s more of an on-road driving machine with forest-exploration capability. In everyday driving, the AWD system delivers 60 percent of the engine torque to the rear axle and 40 percent to the front, but the multidisc clutch pack is able to apportion torque to whichever axle needs it for traction.
caranddriver via bmw blog

 

[martinbo]

They drove it? Really? Could've fooled me.

 

[SCOTT27]

No one outside BMW has driven the X1. This is a reprint of the recent Mallorca prototype drives altered to look like they have driven the final production version in their own words. Or simply a review based on the press release.

 

[Tarek]

Dam that is one ugly front,that pic is unflattering at all!

 

[bmwblog]

No one outside BMW has driven the X1. This is a reprint of the recent Mallorca prototype drives altered to look like they have driven the final production version in their own words. Or simply a review based on the press release.

WOW...that's just wrong then...I wonder why many publications do that...beside the "usual getting more traffic thing"

 

[klier]

Dam that is one ugly front,that pic is unflattering at all!

 

[Centurion]

.......and for this reason, I hardly ever read first drives. 95% of them is just reiteration of what's in the press released baked around a few shallow comments on how the car feels to drive.

 

[coolraoul]

I just noticed, the placement of the foglights is rather weird. Very new for a Bimmer in all case.

I can't say I like that car...