It was during the summer that we got our first glimpse of the third generation BMW X1, the smallest SUV of the Bavarians, which is due to hit the market at the end of next year.
New encounter with the X1 future, now in Munich, where photographers managed to “catch” the unprecedented M Performance variant, the X1 M35i.
There has never been an “M” version in the history of the X1, although in the first generation (E84), which obeyed the classic BMW architecture (engine in longitudinal position and rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive), there was an X1 xDrive35i, equipped with a 3.0 inline six-cylinder, turbo and 306 hp.
The second generation (F48) that we now have, adopted an "all-ahead" architecture (engine in transverse position and front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive), could no longer accommodate six-cylinder engines. Thus, today's most powerful X1 is divided into two variants, petrol and diesel, with both claiming 231 hp obtained from a 2.0 l in-line four-cylinder block.
More than 300 hp
There is, however, potential for more, as we've seen in the latest M135i and M235i, and in the even more relevant and upcoming 'brother' of the X1, the X2 M35i — which was also the first four-cylinder M Performance model — that do manage extract from the four-cylinder block (B48) 306 horsepower.
It is precisely this variant of the 306 hp B48 that is the most likely candidate to equip the future X1 M35i, curiously equaling the power of the 3.0 l six-cylinder that equipped the first generation.
BMW is thus able to have in its catalog a rival to other «racing SUVs», such as the Mercedes-AMG GLA 35 or the Volkswagen T-Roc R, which also offer at least 300 hp of power from blocks 2.0 l of capacity. Whether the final power will be around 306 hp or not is currently not possible to confirm.
Still using the X2 M35i, M135i and M235i as a reference, the future X1 M35i should also continue to feature an eight-speed automatic transmission that will naturally transmit engine power to all four wheels.
For the rest, the X1 M35i will adopt all the news planned for its "brothers" in the range, highlighting the interior that should not stray too far from what we saw in the new 2 Series Active Tourer.