Report: BMW X1 M35i xDrive (w/ LCI Facelift) to be First M Performance Vehicle for US

[Voice of reason]

[QUOTE=SCOTT26;11362165]The Entry Performer

BMW X1 M 35i xDrive : M Performance.

In preparing the Life Cycle Impulse for the BMW X1 a car that is still Europe's best selling All wheel drive vehicle as well as a huge seller for BMW, so much so that the North American market has been denied the opportunity twice due to strong demand across europe.

Sensing the opportunity to not only bring the X1 with the latest improvements, it will also be the opportunity to launch the BMW M Performance brand in the US. As the M Performance X5 and X6M50d will not come to the US market as well as the M550dxDrive and M550dxDrive Touring.

Another vehicle the US will miss out on will be the imminent BMW M135i which arrives first as a 3dr and 5dr Sporthatch and then with additional xDrive. Since the more US friendly Coupe and Cabrio models of the next generation are still someway off.

Scott- slighly off topic- I was in Augulas on Saterday-(for those who are not familiar with this part of South Africa- the southern most tip of Africa) we came accross a whole convoy of BMW's- new 3 series, 1 series and others in diffirent stages of camouflage. I could not take pictures- unfortunatly- as we were travelling in the opposite direction.

Can you confirm if the M135 was one of the vehicles being tested? maybe some of the performance diesels?

Thank you

[aus135i]

omg this looks just like my X3 (F25 with Mpack) but its an X1..... hmmmmm

[clar]

Scott, are u guys producing a Z4M? I want one so bad!!

[Vector Pilot]

Originally Posted by esqu1re

Cool. It might be a seller, although high performance compact crossovers are a brand new niche. Looks like a good looking car. Hopefully, not too much over 40K, ok?

+1
I'm in total agreement!

Highest Regards

[ROM3]

Does anybody know when north America will get the x1?!

[bbg2d]

I think you mean the states, Canada already has them and they get upset when we don't remember...

[DUH CAR]

Originally Posted by bbg2d

I think you mean the states, Canada already has them and they get upset when we don't remember...

LOL. Hope the U.S. doesn't get the same squeaking problem that we have up here (see the thread on "squeaking brakes!" ). It's very common on our X1s and that turbo four is what you'll be getting too.

[bbg2d]

Actually, from this thread it looks like we will be getting a turbo 6, which will be pretty cool... As to the squeaking brakes, maybe its the brake pads?

[Ehikmat]

Is it going to be the M1 of SAVs ?

[ROM3]

Originally Posted by bbg2d

I think you mean the states, Canada already has them and they get upset when we don't remember...

Oh!! Canada has the X1 already? Ooopss my apologies canadiens!! Anyway, does anybody know when the States will get the X1?

[bbg2d]

Originally Posted by Ehikmat

Is it going to be the M1 of SAVs ?

God, I hope so!

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by DC5Romeo209

Anyway, does anybody know when the States will get the X1?

http://e84.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=524912

(You can also use the search function in the future to find answers like this on your own)

[cpippolo]

Scott - X1 in US was announced at the NYIAS today (leaked yesterday), but no mention of the X1 M35i. Does that mean that it will not be available when the X1 first makes it here this fall? I'll need to get a new car in the spring and the X1 M35 would likely be at the top of my list.

[SCOTT26]

Originally Posted by cpippolo

Scott - X1 in US was announced at the NYIAS today (leaked yesterday), but no mention of the X1 M35i. Does that mean that it will not be available when the X1 first makes it here this fall? I'll need to get a new car in the spring and the X1 M35 would likely be at the top of my list.

The First BMW M Performance Compact automobile will be the (europe only) BMW M135i Sporthatch which will be announced next month.
The X1 will be announced later and go on sale early next year.

[cpippolo]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

The First BMW M Performance Compact automobile will be the (europe only) BMW M135i Sporthatch which will be announced next month.
The X1 will be announced later and go on sale early next year.

Thanks Scott!

[stefan]

Wonder what happened to this.. it never materialized, or at least has gone dark.

[advantage20]

Still no news of the X1 M35i??

[paradoxical3]

I really wish they would make a full blown M version. I would pay $65k for it. It would suit all of my needs in a single car.

I have a feeling that what happened is they realized the performance of the X1 35i is already way beyond other competitors in the space. What's the business case for additional development costs in an M performance when there is already no direct challengers?

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by paradoxical3

I really wish they would make a full blown M version. I would pay $65k for it. It would suit all of my needs in a single car.

I have a feeling that what happened is they realized the performance of the X1 35i is already way beyond other competitors in the space. What's the business case for additional development costs in an M performance when there is already no direct challengers?

The larger Q5 with the 3.0L is not far off the pace, and the more expensive SQ5 is certainly capable of similar performance. However the Q3 and the GLA will likely get performance models to match up pretty well with the X1, just about the time the X1 becomes a fancy Countryman.

[Grovsnus]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

The larger Q5 with the 3.0L is not far off the pace, and the more expensive SQ5 is certainly capable of similar performance. However the Q3 and the GLA will likely get performance models to match up pretty well with the X1, just about the time the X1 becomes a fancy Countryman.

And I think that's the problem - the roadmap for the X1 precludes a future performance version. They seem intent on making it into a grocery getter.

Yes, I might be tempted to buy an X1 M if it came out, but I doubt it will.
I would be even more tempted to buy an X1 Rally version, because I think that's where this car excels the most, but that's even less likely. BMW just hasn't been too interested in rally since the days of overbite M3s, and that's a shame.

[paradoxical3]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

The larger Q5 with the 3.0L is not far off the pace, and the more expensive SQ5 is certainly capable of similar performance. However the Q3 and the GLA will likely get performance models to match up pretty well with the X1, just about the time the X1 becomes a fancy Countryman.

The Q5 is really a significantly larger car; my mother actually drives a Q5 prestige. It's more of a X3 competitor.

If the Q3 gets a hot version, that would be a direct competitor.

But anyway, I'm glad I got a X1 while it's still based on a RWD/AWD platform.

[Chris Pringle]

We tried the Audi Q3 in its 170 and 211 HP (both AWD) versions available in Mexico. For various reasons, the X1 (sDrive20i w/ 184 HP engine) felt way more responsive, nimble and just more fun to drive. I'm sure Audi will be coming out with something more suitable to compete head to head with the X1's 240 HP engine in the U.S. and Canada. But as we experienced first hand, a powerful engine is just a fraction of the equation.