Our Scandinavian lensman just snagged some new photos of the BMW X1 in the midst of some cold-weather tests. Our latest look at BMW’s sub-X3 SUV comes along with some new information on the X1’s promising technical specs. Reports from Britain’s Car Magazine tell us that a ZF-supplied eight-speed automatic transmission will accompany the latest line of direct-injection, turbocharged engines. The new eight-speed transmission will result in quicker acceleration and improved gas mileage, resulting in an X1 that should represent quite a formidable performance package.
This X1 will also spawn a four-wheel-driven brother from MINI, and the two will be built side-by-side at the Magna-Steyr plant in Austria.
The X1 is expected to take its first official bow at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, with sales reportedly starting a few months later, just as the calendar clicks to 2010.-KGP Photography
Source: TheCarConnection.com