BMW X1 to get rear-wheel-drive version with ‘sDrive’ badging

Love it or hate it, BMW is making the X1 and it will be going into production next year at the Leipzig plant in Germany. According to BMW insiders, the production X1 will be offered in both four-wheel-drive and rear-wheel drive.

BMW has always stayed away from doing two-wheel-drive versions of its ‘X’ SUVs, but feels that the savings on weight and fuel-economy gains will persuade buyers to purchase a rear-wheel-drive version of the X1.

BMW will also introduce a new badge called ‘sDrive’ instead of ‘xDrive’ to differentiate between the two models. All the range topper version of the X1 will feature four-wheel-drive as standard and will be badged with xDrive variants.

Sales will begin in 2010. A hybrid model is also expected by 2011.

BMW Concept X1:

Live from Paris 2008: BMW Concept X1:

Source: AutoCar