M Sport Package comes to the BMW X1

The X1 compact crossover is getting a lot of attention lately from BMW. Following the addition of the firm's new 2.0-liter turbo engine to the range, the Bavarian company officially announced the launch of an M Sport package for smallest member of the X family. The M Sport specification comprises suspension, exterior and interior components specially developed for the X1.

In detail, the package adds 17-inch star-spoke M alloy wheels or optionally, 18-inch rims, sports suspension calibration, an M Aerodynamics package with unique bumpers and side skirts, door sills with the “M” logo and BMW Individual High Gloss Shadow Line trim for the side window surrounds and roof rails.

Also available in conjunction with the M Sports package are the metallic exterior paint colours Alpine White, Le Mans Blue, Sapphire Black, Space Grey, Vermillion Red and Mineral White.

Inside, X1 gets sports seats upholstered in cloth/alcantara, an M leather-trimmed steering wheel with multifunction buttons and an M footrest for the driver capped off by an anthracite liner, dark cross-brushed aluminium trim, plus the M gearshift lever for vehicles with six-speed manual gearbox and a leather handbrake lever gaiter.

In the UK, prices start at £26,615 OTR for the X1 18d sDrive M Sport and £27,710 for 18d xDrive M Sport.

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BMW Rolls Out All-New 2.0-liter Turbocharged Four-Cylinder Gasoline Engine with 245HP, Debuts on X1

[Updated] It's finally here; BMW has unveiled its long-rumored four-cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine which makes its world premiere on the X1 xDrive28. The four-banger essentially replaces the firm's classic naturally aspirated 3.0-liter straight-six and will soon find its way in a variety of models. Even though the Bavarian automaker is keeping its cards close to its chest, expect to see the new unit, codenamed N20, on the 1-Series, X3, 3-Series, Z4 roadster and 5-Series models.

The first four-cylinder petrol engine to employ BMW's TwinPower Turbo technology is closely modeled after the Bavarian firm's force-fed in-line six-cylinder units and features an all-aluminium crankcase, twin-scroll turbocharging system, direct injection, plus the latest version of the company's patented VALVETRONIC variable valve control system.

The new generation engine has a displacement of 2.0-liters, producing an output of 245-horsepower at 5,000 rpm and a peak torque of 350Nm or 258 lb-ft, available at just 1,250 rpm. The 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine in the outgoing X1 xDrive28 was rated at 258HP and 310Nm or 228 lb-ft.

A six-speed manual gearbox is offered as standard, but there's the option of an eight-speed automatic transmission. BMW said that the with the manual gearbox, the new X1 xDrive28 completes the 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) sprint in 6.1 seconds (6.5 seconds with automatic transmission). According to the Bavarian automaker, the standard sprint times are an improvement of 0.7 seconds and 0.3 seconds respectively on those for the previous model with the 3.0-liter straight six. The new X1 xDrive28i tops out at 240 km/h (149 mph).

With the new four-pot, the X1 xDrive28i is not only faster than the six-cylinder model it replaces, but also more fuel efficient as it returns 7.9 lt/100 km or 29.8 mpg US, an improvement of 1.5 liters / 4.8 mpg US. It's also cleaner as CO2 emissions are down by 38g to 183 g/km.

The new X1 xDrive28i will get its world premiere at the Geneva Salon in March and go on sale across Europe this Spring. BMW has not yet released any information regarding U.S. availability.

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