BMW to Turbocharge its Entire Lineup of 4-Cylinder Gasoline Engines

Citing inside sources from BMW, British magazine Autocar is reporting that all of the Bavarian automaker's future four-cylinder engines will benefit from turbocharging technology. This includes all four-pots with outputs up to 245 horsepower, with the new straight-six engines taking over from there.

All of BMW's turbocharged four-cylinder engines will be built upon the same 2.0-liter aluminium block, with the difference in performance being made by using two different types of turbochargers and different engine mapping (apparently, BMW learned its lesson well from the VW Group...).

The aluminium block gets a new and very thin cylinder lining of only 0.3 millimeters thanks to the use of sprayed iron technology. That's a massive improvement over the classic 1.5 mm thick cast iron lining and it translates into less weight and more durability.

The most powerful engine, which will be soon available to order in the small X1 SUV under the xDrive28i badging, is a complex unit, having a double-sided twin-scroll turbocharger which works at pressures of up to 200 bar, double-VANOS variable valve timing and direct fuel injection.

Following lower-powered units are expected to get a single conventional turbo instead of the twin-scroll technology. The new turbocharged four-cylinder units will make their debut on the next generation of the 3-Series, expected in 2012.

BMW X1 Priced 7 to 11 Percent Lower than X3 and Relatively Close to VW Tiguan in Germany

As well as publishing the official photos and specs of the X1, BMW has also confirmed pricing on its new compact SUV for many European markets. In Germany, the entry-level, rear-wheel drive X1 sDrive18i petrol model will go on sale in Europe from the beginning of 2010 with a starting price of €27,200. The range topping, all-wheel drive xDrive28i with its 258HP straight six gasoline engine is priced from €41,500 or 7.3 percent (€3,400) less than the 272HP X3 xDrive30i.

Since the X3 is not offered with the option of rear wheel drive, we can only compare the xDrive variants of the two vehicles. Both the xDrive18d and 20d are priced around 10 percent lower than the respective X3 models.

But how does the X1 compare price-wise with other compact SUVs in Germany? As we said before, the base X1 RWD sDrive18i, which should logically come with a 143HP 2.0-liter petrol, costs €27,200.

In comparison, the entry-level, front-wheel drive VW Tiguan 1.4 TSI 140HP is priced at €26,050 while the basic Toyota RAV4 that is moved by a 2.0-liter with 158HP, costs €23,200.

The base all-wheel drive diesel version of the X1, the 143HP xDrive18d that should be one of most popular versions in Europe, begins from €31,550. That's compared to the VW Tiguan 140HP TDI 4Motion's starting price of €29,600 and the Toyota RAV4 150HP 2.2-liter D-4D's €27,300.

Price Comparison X1 vs X3 in Germany

BMW X1 sDrive18i €27,200 -

BMW X1 sDrive18d €29,550 -

BMW X1 xDrive18d €31,550 - BMW X3 xDrive18d €35,550 (+ €4,000)

BMW X1 sDrive20d €32,400 -

BMW X1 xDrive20d €34,400 - BMW X3 xDrive20d €38,300 (+ €3,900)

BMW X1 xDrive23d €38,800 -

BMW X1 xDrive28i 258HP €41,500 - BMW X3 xDrive30i 272HP €44,900 (+ €3,400)

BMW Confirms X1 SUV for the USA, Sales Start in 2011 - Europe Gets RWD Versions Also

Confirming previous reports, BMW announced today that the all-new X1 SUV is planned to go on sale in the United States in 2011. The Bavarian automaker said that specific details on the U.S. market version including engine and drivetrain configurations will be revealed closer to the time of launch. The X3's smaller brother will arrive in BMW's European showrooms this fall with a choice of four engines, including a 258HP straight six petrol and three 2.0-liter four banger diesels with 204HP, 177HP and 143HP.

In a first for a BMW SUV model, the X1 will be available in rear-wheel drive and xDrive all-wheel drive configurations. Stay tuned on Carscoop as we're readying a more detailed post on the X1 that will include a mega gallery along with the first official video.

BMW X1 SUV: The Full Monty with Official Details, Video and 183 High-Res Photos

The all-new BMW X1 has finally been officially revealed after a plethora of photographs were leaked into the web last night. Cutting to the chase, the X1 is BMW's new entry-level SUV model slotting right under the X6, X5 and X3. It will arrive at European showrooms this fall rivaling high-end versions of the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Volkswagen Tiguan compact SUVs while BMW has also confirmed that the X1 will be offered in the States from 2011.

If BMW's latest SUV/SAV looks familiar to you, it's no surprise as the X1 was shown in pre-production form at last year's Paris auto show under the ConceptX1 moniker. Compared to the X3's fussy styling, a more streamlined look has been adopted for the X1 that incorporates flatter surfaces and tauter forms. We're still trying to get used to that large snout, but we'll wait to see the car up close for our final judgment (don't expect us to fall in love...).

Moving on to the interior, let's just say that if you have sat in an X3, you will feel right at home in the X1 as the only styling feature that is new here is the driver orientated center stack that will be making its return on all future BMWs.

Built on the 3-series platform architecture, the X1 is close in size to the current X3 measuring 4,454mm or 175.3-inches in length, 1,798mm or 70.8-inches in width and 1,545mm or 60.8-inches in height. That means its roughly 110mm or 4.3-in. shorter, 60 mm or 5.5-in. narrower and 140 mm or 2.4-in. lower that today's X3, which is expected to grow in size when BMW introduces the second generation model.

Back to the X1, the luggage compartment capacity may be increased from 420 lt or14.7 cu ft to a maximum of 1,350 liters or 47.3 cu ft with the rear seats folded.

The X1 will debut in Europe with an initial choice of four engines while for the first time ever in an X-Series model, BMW's crossover will available in rear-wheel drive (bearing the sDrive moniker) and xDrive all-wheel drive configurations.

The range includes a 3.0-liter straight six gasoline engine that produces 258HP launching the X1 from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in 6.8 seconds, and three 2.0-liter four-pot diesel units with outputs of 204HP, 177HP and 143HP that achieve up to 5.2 liter/100km or 45.2mpg US on the European test cycle. Initially, only the 177HP and 143HP diesel models will be offered with the option of rear-wheel drive.

BMW is also expected to enhance the X1's range with a 2.0-liter four-banger gasoline engine offered with various outputs as well as with more sDrive variants.

BMW X1 Official Gallery Leaked: 43 Photos of Small SUV

Click Here For Official Details, 183 Photos and a Video of the BMW X1

A couple of BMW enthusiast sites have gotten their hands on a full set of photos of the all-new X1 small SUV that slots beneath the X3 in the Bavarian automaker's crossover range. Not surprisingly, the X1's exterior design is virtually unchanged from last year's so-called "X1 concept study". The only visible change between the two models concerns the subtly revised tail light design, but that's about it. For the first time, we also get a complete look at the X1's interior.

The X1's dashboard pretty much follows in the lines of the X3. However, as with the latest generation 7-Series, the X1's center console is slightly tilted towards the driver which is a welcome change.

Since BMW has not made the release official, we do not have the technical specs. But we do know that the X1 is based on a modified version of the 3-Series platform, and that the soft-roader is be equipped with the Bavarian firm's 'xDrive' all-wheel-drive system.

According to previous reports, the initial petrol range will include an entry-level 2.0-liter four cylinder with outputs of 143HP and 170HP and a 3.0-liter straight-six producing 265HP while the diesel lineup will consist of a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder unit available with 143HP, 177HP and 204HP.

Roughly 110mm shorter, 60 mm narrower and 140mm lower (4.3, 5.5 and 2.4-inches. respectively) than the X3, the new X1 will be marketed as an upscale alternative to compact SUV offerings like the VW Tiguan, Ford Kuga, Toyota RAV-4 and the Honda CR-V.

The X1 will go on sale in Europe shortly after its world debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September. North American sales are slated to begin sometime in early 2011.

Via: Xbimmers & Bmwblog