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Matt Brogan14 Jul 2015
NEWS

BMW X1 M on the cards

RS Q3 and GLA 45 AMG on notice as BMW plots M-enhanced X1 SUV

BMW has said time and again that all of its models are eligible for the 'M' treatment. So with the new X1 debuting in Europe this week, and not an M badge to be seen, we thought the question was an obvious one.

“There’s certainly a place for this [in the line-up], but at the moment we cannot confirm such a model,” a source close to the X1’s powertrain development team told motoring.com.au.

“We know our competitors’ offerings, of course, and we know our buyers would love an M model, but at this point it’s too soon to say [if such a model is under development].”

The xDrive25i, go-fast champion of the new X1 range, boasts a healthy 170kW and 350Nm from its MINI JCW-sourced turbocharged four-pot. The torquey xDrive25d makes the same power as its petrol sibling but makes 100Nm more torque – little wonder the petrol car is only one-tenth of a second faster than its diesel sibling at 6.5sec from 0-100km/h.

The figures compare favourably against the X1's nearest competitors. The Audi Q3 TFSI Sport (from $52,300 plus on-road costs) offers 132kW and 320Nm from its turbocharged 2.0-litre engine while the Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 (from 58,600 plus ORCs) develops 155kW and 350Nm from the same displacement.

Were an M-enhanced X1 to join the line-up, it's possible we could see an output nearing that of performance crossovers with BMW already admitting its B48-series 2.0-litre four-cylinder is capable of delivering up to 225kW — 55kW more than the new xDrive25i.

It’s an engine BMW has said previously would be a good fit for its upcoming X2, and would put it within striking range of competitors including the Audi RS Q3 and Mercedes-AMG GLA 45.

Audi's RS Q3 offers 228kW and 420Nm, and retails from $81,900 (plus ORCs), while the Benz makes 265kW and 450Nm, and sells from $79,900 (plus ORCs). Both exceed the price of the current E84-series X1 xDrive28i (from $59,900 plus ORCs) which will be superseded by the xDrive25i locally this October.

At this stage it's unclear just which engine BMW would fit beneath the bonnet of an X1 M, were the model to make the light of day. The new X1's traverse-mount arrangement rules out the 240kW and 450Nm turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder found powering the likes of the M 135i and M 235i et al.

“The six-cylinder in its current format isn’t compatible with the X1; but this doesn’t mean we don’t have some ideas,” our sourced grinned.

But with go-fast Audi and Mercedes-Benz compact crossovers selling like hot cakes, BMW had want to move quickly if it's to cash in on the action.

Audi Australia says it has sold 230 examples of the RS Q3 in the 15 months since sales began locally, while Mercedes-Benz Australia reports sales of more than 350 — or more than 40 per month — since the GLA 45 landed last October (2014).

The second-generation X1 range goes on sale locally from this October.

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Written byMatt Brogan
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