BMW is readying a midlife update for the X1 small SUV, and new spy shots capture a facelifted plug-in hybrid prototype testing on German roads.
The current X1 was offered as a hybrid variant, badged xDrive 25Le iPerformance, but that was only available to buy in Chinese markets. BMW prioritised that region because of the fierce growth in sales of EVs and hybrids, but it's highly likely that the updated Audi Q3 rival will go on sale in European markets with a PHEV option.
That's due to stringent EU legislation dictating the average CO2 emissions of all cars a brand sells. The 2021 target is 95g/km and, in order to meet that, BMW will need to ensure low-CO2 electrified variants are offered across most of its mainstream line-up before then.
The current China-only plug-in X1 emits just 39g/km of CO2, so a largely unchanged powertrain would meet the needs of our markets. That powertrain is already homologated for use here in the form of the Mini Countryman S E All4.
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