BMW X1 facelift likely to get 1.5-litre petrol engine

BMW’s smallest SUV offering, the X1, was given a mid-cycle facelift early this year and is on sale internationally. The refreshed model is slated to launch in India by mid-2020, with the manufacturer expected to introduce a new, entry-level 1.5-litre petrol engine to the line-up with it.  

As we reported in Autocar India magazine’s December 2019 edition, BMW India is likely to launch a new 1.5-litre, three-cylinder, direct-injection turbocharged petrol engine, which will put out around 135hp in the facelifted X1. Internationally, the 1,499cc unit puts out 140hp and 220Nm of torque in the sDrive 18i variant but it is expected to be slightly detuned to suit our lower grade of fuel.

Published in the December 2019 issue of Autocar India.

The same engine is also likely to be used in the India-bound 2 Series Gran Coupe. In fact, the 1.5 turbo-petrol could power a number of models in India like the X1, the 2 Series Gran Coupe and potentially even the new 3 Series. And if the demand for this new engine is sufficient in the ASEAN and Middle East regions, BMW India will even consider locally assembly of the turbo-petrol unit.

For the time being though, the pre-facelift X1 in India is available with a 190hp, 2.0-litre turbo-diesel and a 192hp, 2.0-litre turbo-petrol unit. The petrol delivers power to the front wheels only via a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic while the diesel can be had with either all-wheel drive or just front-wheel drive, both of which use an 8-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. 

In India, the BMW X1 rivals the Mercedes-Benz GLA, the Audi Q3, the Volvo XC40 and the Mini Countryman.

Also see:

India-bound BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe makes LA debut

BMW’s BS6 range to be priced 6 percent higher

from Autocar India - News https://ift.tt/34dD4m2