BMW X1 compact SUV is coming to America

The BMW X1, the compact SUV that debuted in concept form at the 2008 Paris Auto Show and going on sale in Europe this fall, has been confirmed as coming to the United States in calendar year 2011. The X1 is similar in size to the Volkswagen Tiguan and Mercedes-Benz GLK and will be offered in Europe with several engine and drivetrain configurations.
Calendar year 2011, depending on whether early or late, is from “quite a while from now” to “even further away,” so BMW says engines and drivetrains haven’t been decided for the American market. BMW cites “rapidly evolving US market demands, fuel prices and regulatory standards” as the reason for delaying the decision about power for the BMW X1.
However, when the BMW X1 arrives in Europe, it will be offered with four engines, one gasoline and three diesels, and a choice of rear-wheel or xDrive all-wheel drive. BMW made a point, however, of citing the 45.2 mpg achieved by the rear-wheel drive BMW S1 sDrive 18d, powered by a BMW Advanced Diesel engine. BMW also notes that the 18d has a top speed of 124 mph. We’re convinced that BMW North America wouldn’t brag about those numbers if there weren’t actually expectations of them meaning something to American buyers. It would be, we think, very poor product p.r.
Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz have stolen the march on BMW in the German-make compact SUV field. But those models on the market are available only with gasoline engines at this time. With energy prices set to rise if the energy bill backed by President Obama passes the Senate, which even its supporters concede, by coming in with diesel power for the X1, BMW can make up for lost time.
Illustrations: BMW X1 in European configuration. Photos courtesy BMW NA LLC.
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