German Car Zone

Hi Eni,

Nice pics for sure, but don't you think this is more likely to be the new X3?
I read somewhere that X1 might be only 3 doors (and not 5 like in the pics you posted).

Any comment on that ?

Thanks a lot for the continuous info you're providing though

^

It's X1. It's too early for the X3 prototypes to be at this stage of development.

Check the size & proportions of the car in the spy pics ... This car is smaller than current X3. Check the door handles, & brake discs ...

So, it's a small car ... unless it features gigantic door handles, and M-like gigantic brake discs. Which I'm sure it doesn't.

And count in all the heavy plastic cladding - adding quite some centimeters on every side.


Also this car is quite low for an SAV ... check the new F25 X3 thread, where you can see X3 F25 mules - using 3er Touring body, with widened track & simulating higher roof. Meaning that new X3 is definitely not going to be any smaller than the current one.


Papers are wrong. It's not X3, but X1.



Time will tell they are wrong.

If you look closely it looks like the rear doors are not functional. Just the stick-on cladding made to look like rear door.

?????

All 5 doors are fully functional. And the car is coming with 5 doors - like all BMW SAVs / crossovers.

Perhaps an X2 will be a 3dr crossover coupe SAC ... But not on BMW's agenda right now.

Why 4 doors on such a small car?

Mind that this car mainly targets the Euro markets where small(ish) cars are VERY popular. And many small hatches are 5dr. Even very small ones.

Eg. the Daewoo Matiz ...



or Hyundai i10






And we already have very small "SAVs", or off-road versions of regular cars:

eg. Suzuki SX4




VW CrossPolo



Fiat Panda 4x4




And Mini SAV & BMW X1 will join them ...

Mini's upcoming SUV will be built by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria, the automaker said. Production is expected to start in 2009.

The Magna Steyr plant current builds the BMW X3. But X3 production will be shifted to BMW's assembly plant in Spartanburg, S.C., in 2009.

Magna Steyr won the project over an aggressive bid by German contract manufacturer Karmann.

Magna picked to build Mini SUV - AutoWeek Magazine

M

Finally they admit that its X1, not X3....after close inspection by Brenda Priddy & Co.
Follow up: Spied BMW X3 is actually X1

I guess they finally checked the info on GCZ, and realized they were completely wrong with their original article.

BMW X1 Spied

With the development of both the X1 and X3 in full flow it is sometimes hard to tell the difference between the two, but we can now confidently say the test car pictured above is the all new BMW X1.

With these new spy shots we can see the rear side doors are smaller than on an X3 and also the car’s wheelbase appears to be shorter. It has been said the X1 will be sized somewhere between the 1 series and 3 series touring.

The X1 will share the same platform as the upcoming Mini SUV and should be launched sometime in 2010, which is around the same time we also expect to see its main rival - the Audi Q3.

BMW X1 Spied

M