The BMW X1 is a compact crossover manufactured and marketed worldwide by BMW since 2009 in rear-wheel-drive (sDrive) and all-wheel-drive (xDrive) configurations — now in its second generation.
X1 production followed the concept debut at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. with series manufacture beginning at the BMW Leipzig plant in October 2009 — followed by production in Chennai, India, Shenyang, China, (by BMW-Brilliance Automotive Ltd) and Kaliningrad, Russia (CDK,with local partner Avtotor).
The crossover shares a similar platform with the BMW X3, based on the platform of the BMW 3 Series (E91) Touring (wagon). The EPA classifies the vehicle under the Midsize Cars category.
The X1 has sold, as of September 2013, approximately 500,000 models sold worldwide since its launch in late 2009.
The X1 introduced BMW's N20 engine in its xDrive28i model. The X1 is slightly smaller and more affordable than the X3.
In North America, the X1 is BMW's smallest SUV offering, and has a low starting MSRP of $30,900. The X1 is also BMW's first SUV to offer rear-wheel drive (RWD) as an option (only on the sDrive28i model). The sDrive28i and xDrive28i models will offer a 2.0L, 241 horsepower turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, and the xDrive35i model will offer a 3.0L, 300 horsepower single turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine. Four different lines will be available: the ES/SE Line, the Sport Line, the Luxury Line, and the xLine. The lines offer unique trim differences to differentiate each one from another. An eight-speed sport automatic transmission will be available on North American models. The interior will be similar to that of the current BMW 1 Series Coupe, also offered in North America. Development began in 2004, with design work commencing in 2005. Final design work was done by Richard Kim during 2006 and frozen for production in mid-2007.