German Car Zone

lol. im sooo confused..... The X3 is already BMW's worst selling car and now theyre making an X1?

^worst selling cars??
i thought the X3 sold like hot cakes..
even though its darn ugly

This is a BS!

In 2006 BMW sold 114,000 units of X3 - representing 9.6% of total BMW brand vehicles sold in 2006. In 2006 X3 was 4th most sold BMW (behind 3er: 42.9%, 5er: 19.6%, 1er: 12.8%).

X1 (if getting a green light) primary market will be Europe where small & mid size SAV crossovers are becoming more popular every year.

Mind that BMW are also developing a MINI AWD crossover - on Clubman platform, so X1 would fit right between MINI xOver & X3 (which will grow one size in Mk2).

that's a weird comment coming from you the X3 is a mega succes.
I'm just wondering, because the only mentionning of a source is " internal " on the site. So this could all just be some guy pulling our leg. Which I think it is.

I guess the thinking behind the X1 is the same as that of the 1 series. It's all about that 'progress up the family' thing. BMW offer a small car to get the young buyers into your brand (1er). Then as their needs change (eg: family) BMW keeps them as customers by promoting the 3er to them. Once the kids move out of the house and the parents want to enjoy more finer things BMW has the 5er waiting for them.

Same progressive-stages thinking behind the this... X1 -> X3 -> X5.

BMW has a certain youth-appeal to it, so it makes sense that they want to get young buyers into the BMW line-up early.

I still wonder how small an X1 would be. Would it have similar dimensions to the 1er (raised ofcourse)...or maybe have similar dimensions to the up-coming 2er (or is it called 1er coupe now?) ?

The styling is pretty darn nice I have to say! I like the thinking behind the front light. The outer shape is rather coventional and matches with the rest of the face, but the inner light comparment has that up-turn on the inner part making it look aggressive. The rear's pretty nice too!!

No, not another SUV again...

Although we all would like the German carmakers to trim their model lineup to maintain their cohesiveness, the bottom line is that they are all out to make money.

They are illustration based off the initial AutoBild Huckfeldt images .

Given the increase in size of the E70 X5 and the current positioning of the X3 now more understood by the introduction of the E70 . The next X3 will take a dynamic design u-turn and become simply the performance SAV with it's coupe like slung back roof - look at Huckfeldts first impressions of the X6 to understand the approach taken to the next X3.

The X3 will spin off an X4 being proposed in both coupe and four door variants , even a cabrio has been proposed whilst a brother to the X6 has been approved the other variants are being discussed to be eligible for production.

The positioning of the next X3 leaves an opening for a smaller based X1 model which will be at the premium end of the compact SAV segment.

WoW! I guess I hit a nerve back there,lol...OKay so maybe Im Mistaken.... But I know that over here in SOuthern Africa, X3 Sales are seriously bad! The bmw dealers also started a SMX3 Campaign (Sell more X3's) and were giving discounts to BMW dealers as an incentive to sell more X3s

Well that's not the case in Europe!

There everywhere in the UK, and I heard it's the best selling SUV in Germany.

I think this X1 is pointless, surely the X3 is small enough, but I'm sure that BMW knows what they are doing and I'll see what happens!

Personally, I prefer larger vehicles, so for my own taste and use, I find the X1 to be unnecessary. My wife however is a different story. She is less than a good driver, can hardly park, and never drives when I'm in the car with her. The X1 size vehicle, particularly when produced by a BMW/MB/Audi manufacturer is perfect for her. It is upscale, very well equipped and more driveable for someone who doesn't like to drive. From the manufacturer's perspective it has to also be a hit as they can charge premium dollars for a RAV size vehicle with probably double the gross profit of an X5 or similarly sized vehicle. It may not be #1 on my list, but I think the small sav/suv market has great potential. and this is only evidenced by the proliferation of new models.