Volume 13 Issue 1 » 63
2016 BMW X1
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Six years after the launch of the original BMW X1, the Bavarian
company has launched a redesign to keep up with the mushrooming
crossover market, and this latest X1 has received a lot of deserved
attention.
original car, the latest version looks much more like a conventional
crossover. As with all BMWs, the X1’s new platform is not only
significantly stiffer, but also has a near-perfect 50/50 front/rear
weight distribution.
There is a new lighter-weight platform, a new engine, the latest
safety features, and all sorts of new on-board technology at play
here. All X1 xDrive28i models are f itted with the new much-more
efficient 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 228
hp fitted to an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
The X1’s interior is beautifully finished with French-stitched leather,
a mix of satin metal surfaces, piano-black accents, and optional
wood trim. The new more compact powertrain layout yields up to
2.6 inches more rear legroom, and 27 cu.ft. of cargo hold space.
Photo by BMW Canada
The 2016 X1’s most apparent change has to be with its new
proportions. Rather than the lifted station wagon look of the