BMW X1 coming to America in 2011, diesel a possibility, up to 45.2 mpg (U.S.)
2010 BMW X1 - click above for high-res image gallery
After weeks of teasing and even letting some European media drive prototypes, the crew over at BMW's Munich headquarters finally released all the goods on its newest and smallest crossover, the X1. The U.S. branch of BMW has also confirmed that the X1 will come to the U.S. market as well. European consumers will be able to buy the new X1 starting this fall, but Americans will have to wait until 2011 to get one.
When the X1 hits the autobahn it will have four engines available, including a normally-aspirated 3.0-liter gasoline inline 6-cylinder and three variants of BMW's outstanding 2.0-liter four cylinder diesel. The X1 is available with both rear and all-wheel-drive. The U.S. will almost certainly get the gas engine, but BMW North America is not ruling out diesels at this point. BMW will be watching the changing U.S. market, regulations and fuel prices and make a final decision on U.S. engine choices closer to the launch date. If we see gas prices above $4 a gallon and sales of Volkswagen diesels maintain their rapid pace, we could well see a diesel X1 here. The diesel powerplants in the X1 range from 143 hp and 45.2 mpg (U.S.) to 204 hp and 37.3 mpg on the EU test cycle.
Gallery: 2010 BMW X1
[Source: BMW]
THE BMW X1 CONFIRMED FOR UNITED STATES IN 2011.
* 02.07.2009
* Press Kit
Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey – July 1, 2009 ... It was confirmed today that the BMW X1 is planned to debut in the United States in calendar year 2011. The X1 has been conceived with the flexibility to offer traditional rear-wheel drive and xDrive all-wheel drive configurations, as well as a wide variety of gasoline and diesel powertrain choices. In light of rapidly evolving US market demands, fuel prices, and regulatory standards, elements of the X1's US launch plan, including engine and drivetrain configurations, will be forthcoming closer to the time of launch.
The BMW X1 will debut in Europe this fall with a choice of four engines - one gasoline and three diesels - and will be available in rear-wheel drive and xDrive all-wheel drive configurations. The X1 will set new benchmarks in the premium compact segment for efficiency, comfort, utility, and of course driving dynamics. Achieving up to 5.2 L/100km (45.2 miles per US gallon) on the European test cycle, the BMW Advanced Diesel-powered X1 sDrive18d will provide remarkable fuel efficiency while still achieving a top speed of 200km/h (124mph). Each drivetrain choice for the X1 will showcase the latest results of BMW's EfficientDynamics engineering strategy, which is focused to reduce emissions and consumption while enhancing the performance expected of any BMW.
BMW Group In America
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, a strategic design consultancy in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all X5 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupes. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car centers, 335 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 142 BMW motorcycle retailers, 83 MINI passenger car dealers, and 30 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
paulwesterberg 4:18PM (7/02/2009)
45.2 mpg on the EU test cycle..... is all you need to know.
The EU test does not include high speeds or quick acceleration and is very different from how most bmw owners drive their cars(I know a few of them and they don't drive slow).
For instance the 2010 prius, rated at 50mpg by the EPA is rated at 3.9 L/100 km (60.3 U.S. MPG) on the EU test cycle.
The real world mileage for this car is likely to be closer to 37mpg.
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downtoearth 7:41AM (7/03/2009)
paulwesterberg:
> The real world mileage for this car is likely to be closer to 37mpg.
I agree with this estimate.
The current 140HP BMW 318d diesel manages real life combined 6.13 l/100km = 38.3 mpg US [1] or 38.3/1.12=34.2 mpg US of gasoline equivalent when fuel energy density is accounted for.
The X1 will likely be a tad heavier which, when combined with its taller stance, will shave few mpg, but not much.
[1] http://www.spritmonitor.de/de/uebersicht/6-BMW/37-3er.html?fueltype=1&constyear_s=2005&power_s=100&power_e=108
the4thheat 10:50AM (7/03/2009)
Yeah these numbers sounded a little too fantastical to me when I saw the US next to them. I thought they meant the new US EPA numbers, which would be quite the feat to pull off on a car like this.
Maybe if it was a diesel electric hybrid lol.
ale 3:10PM (7/03/2009)
still tho, ill take 35 mpg... considering most cars can get that.... let alone a crossover....
chris09 5:21PM (7/02/2009)
those rear lights looks like an audi
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why not the LS2LS7? 6:33PM (7/02/2009)
Putting US after an EU test cycle number just because it's in US gallons is kind of misleading.
If that figure is combined EU though, it's still good, as paul above states, that'd be about 37mpg US, and 37mpg combined would be fantastic. 37mpg US highway would be nice, but many Americans would not choose to put up with the level of sluggishness the smallest engine brings to get a "mere" 37mpg highway.
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downtoearth 7:56AM (7/03/2009)
why not the LS2LS7?:
> Putting US after an EU test cycle number just because
> it's in US gallons is kind of misleading.
Sam does this all the time without explaining the differences in fuel economy tests to make diesel look better than they really are.
> If that figure is combined EU though, it's still good,
> as paul above states, that'd be about 37mpg US,
> and 37mpg combined would be fantastic.
It will be a bit lower, but not much. See my post above.
> 37mpg US highway would be nice,
It will get more than real life 37 mpg US highway because gearboxes in BMW diesels are optimized for such driving, putting the engine in its isle of peak efficiency. Where this takes revenge is city and combined driving.
If you look at BMW diesels EU certification, you'll notice they get particularly low fuel consumption on highways and higher than average in city traffic. I won't back it up with links as it's tedious but as far as I remember, the 140-170HP BMW 3 series diesel got same highway mpg rating as the ~100HP diesel Toyota Corolla D-4D. Of course, the city rating was worse, I just wanted to present the BMW specific feature.
In a test, the 140HP BMW 318d returned minimal real life fuel consumption of 5,0 l/100km = 47 mpg US. [1] Test average was naturally much higher, at 7,9 l/100km=29,7 mpg US but this means that on long highway journeys within the speed limit, with little overtaking and very careful throttle action (or maybe pulse-and-glide approach) you may bring the diesel down to such high mpg.
So you'll be able to achieve 42 mpg US in the X1 18d in such conditions, I bet. However, the average combined mpg will be much lower, as in case of the 318d.
[1] http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/vergleichstest/bmw-318i-vs-318d-zahl-der-wahl-754493.html
asus 11:48AM (7/03/2009)
Just import the 320d already... jeez...
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Sam 12:20PM (7/03/2009)
Hmmm if the Tiguan tdi doesn't come soon this might be a great alternative. With a Diesel of course.
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