Spy shots BMW X1

The baby soft-roader that will bring the German prestige brand yet another step closer to the masses when it hits Australian showrooms early next year.

These latest pictures show a pre-production model of the X1 during testing in Europe this month.

The X1 is a further stretching of the premium SUV envelope bringing a luxury twist to a market presently dominated by more mainstream offerings such as the Toyota RAV4 or Nissan Dualis.

The X1's only direct competitor, Audi's new Q3, is not expected to reach Australia until the end of next year at the earliest.

“The X1 is going to slip in under the X3 as a perfect fit to give people looking at the smaller end of that market an option they don't currently have,” BMW Australia's Toni Andreevski says.

“It will have all of the key characteristics of the X3 and X5 but in a package that hasn't previously been available.”

Andreevski says the expected customers for X1 will differ from those looking at the larger SUVs primarily in that they will be urban-based with little intention of heading off-road.

“They are people who like the styling and practicality of the SUV's higher driving position and extra space but don't need the size of a serious off-roader,” Andreevski says. “It is the go-anywhere feel to the car that is most important.”

While the X1 will launch sitting on an all-wheel drive platform there is a possibility BMW Australia may also offer _ for the first time in its X range of models _ a two-wheel drive version. “That is a bit further down the track,” Andreevski conceded. “We will monitor market requirements and if there is a clear demand for that then it is certainly possible.”

BMW is expected to officially introduce the X1 to the world at the Frankfurt motor show in September having given a good indication of the car with a near-production concept at the Paris expo late last year.

“We expect to have the X1 on sale in Australia by February next year and while it is far too early to give any firm price indications it will be at a competitive level below the X3,” Andreevski says.

It is likely that the X1 will start in the low $50,000 range for what will be the entry-level engine, the tried and tested 2-litre diesel already available in the X3 _ in which it accounts for 70 per cent of all sales _ and 1, 3 and 5 Series passenger cars.

However, the hero engine of the range will be the spanking variable vane technology twin turbo four-cylinder diesel which has been taking Europe by storm in the 123d. With 150kW (204HP) of power and 400Nm of torque the engine is the first all-aluminium diesel to rate above the 100HP per litre output.

While BMW Australia will launch the X1 as an all-diesel range there is a possibility that a 3-litre six-cylinder petrol engine will be added to the line-up towards the end of next year, although the company was offering no comment on that.

Based off the company's 3-Series platform, the X1's interior is likely to run down similar lines to the small sedan from switchgear to the revised and refined iDrive controls.