More aggressive looking than its slightly bigger brother, the X3, BMW’s latest compact crossover has already been on sale in Europe and Canada, but 2013 marks the first time buyers will be able to snap one up in the US. For the 2013 model year, the X1 has been given a mild facelift with revised headlight housings and upgraded interior materials, including helpings of electroplated trim on the console and shifter.
Built in Leipzig, Germany, the US spec X1 comes initially in three different flavors, two-wheel driven sDrive 28i, four-wheel xDrive 28i and the four-wheel xDrive35i, the latter which BMW is billing as a US market exclusive. The first two sport BMW’s 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder motor, rated at 240 hp and 260 lb ft of torque, stop start technology and regenerative braking are standard in order to help boost fuel efficiency.
The xDrive 35i sports the venerable 3.0-liter in-line six cylinder engine, rated at 300 hp and an equal amount of torque. When it goes on sale this fall, it’ll be interesting to see if X1 sales eat into the larger X3′s pie, given that BMW, in pursuit of just about every market niche possible has often had mixed results with some segments in recent years. Nonetheless, with seemingly competitive pricing for the US ($31,545 base) and the X1′s popularity already established North of the Border, there’s every indication it will do well here too.
