All eyes will be on BMW's ad campaign for the X1, writes motoring editor Alastair Sloane
Automotive industry observers are wondering if BMW will use a controversial Z4-like advertising campaign for the new X1 when the crossover model lands in this part of the world early next year.
The ad featured a Z4 spreading different coloured paints by driving around on a warehouse floor. It spearheaded the campaign for the two-seater in a number of countries - but was banned in Australia.
The Advertising Standards Board across the ditch upheld a complaint that the ad would encourage "hoons" to "spin and burn their tyres on a public road".
The ASB said it broke the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries' voluntary code of practice and ordered it taken off the air.
BMW Australia disagreed with the ruling but did not lodge an appeal - it had already finished showing the advertisement.
Company spokesman Toni Andreevski questioned the decision and described the voluntary code of practice as "onerous".
"They have to get a balance, but I think in this case it proves that we don't have the balance right," he said.
"Does this mean we should ban V8 Supercars or Formula One because the cars do more than double the speed limit? How about banning Underbelly because there are illegal car chases?" he said.
Andreevski said the portrayal of vehicles in motorsport and TV shows was more likely to encourage illegal driving than car advertisements.
"Watching a movie hero driving in a dangerous way is going to have more of an effect on younger people, and I'm sure there are a few people probably [trying to] emulate their favourite V8 Supercar drivers on the road."
The X1 is a compact SUV and isn't expected to influence "hoon" driver behaviour here or across the Tasman, even though BMW plans to aim it at "significantly younger urban customers, with an active and varied lifestyle."
It is packaged around the small/medium 1-Series coupe and hatchback range, using the same line-up of four- and six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines and borrowing the xDrive four-wheel-drive system used in the X3, X5 and X6. It will also come with a range of BMW EfficientDynamics features, including brake energy regeneration, start/stop and a gearshift point indicator.
The BMW X1 will be offered in Europe with a choice of one six-cylinder petrol engine and three four-cylinder diesels, expected to start in price from around €34,000, or NZ$75,000. The European range will kick off with the line-up's only rear-drive model, the 2-litre turbo-diesel sDrive18d delivering 105kW at 4000 rpm and 320Nm between 1750 and 3000rpm.
BMW claims this model is the first vehicle of its kind to emit less than 140g of CO2 per kilometre. It also claims town-and-around fuel economy of 5.2 litres/100km (54mpg).
The premium model gets a 3-litre straight-six petrol plant developing 190kW at 6600rpm and 310Nm between 2600 and 3000 rpm. BMW claims fuel usage of 9.4 litres/100km and a CO2 rating of 219g/km.
Acceleration from 0-100 km/h is 6.8 sec.
The two remaining diesel units run with 2-litre twin-turbo engines, one delivering 150kW at 4400rpm and 400Nm and the other 130kW at 3000rpm and 350Nm. BMW claims fuel usage for the two of between 5.8 and 6.3 litres/100km and CO2 emissions of 167g/km and 153g/km.
Standard safety features include three-point inertia-reel seat belts, frontal and side airbags, head airbags at the side, adaptive brake lights and daytime driving lights.
From the front, the X1 retains typical X features. The kidney grille is upright, the short hood is deeply sculpted and the rear gets a raked rear window. Inside, the rear-seat backrest is adjustable and folds down in a 40/20/40 split. Luggage capacity can be increased from 420 litres to 1350 litres.
The X1 measures 4.45m in length, with a long wheelbase of 2.76m.
The BMW X1 will be built in Leipzig, Germany.
