BMW has been cranking out its X1 compact crossover since 2009, when it debuted for the 2010 model year. The X1 has proven exceedingly popular as global sales of the model have topped 800,000 units. Over 200,000 of those sales came by way of the Chinese market, and it’s there where BMW will launch an updated version of the X1.
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The German automaker is creating a special version just for China and it’s going to come packing a longer wheelbase. The idea here is to give rear seat passengers more room. Long wheelbase vehicles do that well, and that allows them to find eager buyers in China. The long-wheelbase X1 will be built in China at the BMW Brilliance plant in Shenyang.
Chinese BMW customers can choose one of three powertrain options for the long-wheelbase X1. It will be offered with a 136-horsepower 3-cylinder, a 192-horsepower 4-cylinder, or a 231-horsepower 4-cylinder engine. BMW will also offer the stretched X1 in xLine or Sport Line variants. The sDrive versions roll down the road courtesy of the front-wheels while xDrive examples utilize an all-wheel-drive setup.
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How much longer is the longer X1? BMW has stretched the crossover by 3.1 inches in length. There’s an additional 0.8 inch of width and another 1.6 inches added to the height.
Considering how well the X1 has already sold in China, the longer wheelbase version should prove to be quite a hit. Add in a bit of nationalistic love when you consider the vehicle is built in China, and that should help seal the purchase decision even more.
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