Autocar - First for car news and reviews

These pictures show BMW’s new X1 testing on the streets of Munich ahead of its launch in around 18 months.
Our pictures clearly show that despite the raised ride height, the car will be low –¬ it’s barely taller than the Mercedes E-class next to it. Without the cladding the apparent bulk will be reduced further, making the X1 more like a 1-series estate than a downsized X3.
That means a hatchback rear, potentially with an opening glass section like the 3-series Touring, and a wide lower t...Read the full article

Looks like BMW have been looking at Mercedes 'a car for every niche, and then a few more we've made up' product strategy of late! 

The X3 has been around for 5 years now so is probably up for replacement next year... Are you sure this isnt just the new X3? Or some new 'X6 style' coupe/4x4 variant of it - X4 Perhaps?

NiallOswald:

Looks like BMW have been looking at Mercedes 'a car for every niche, and then a few more we've made up' product strategy of late! 

to be fair, i'm sure Autocar predicted the X1 last year.  there was a BMW vs Mercedes "line up of the future" article.

 

Hats off to both BMW and Mercedes, it seems almost weekly one of them come up with another new car.

They really do seem to have a product strategy that smacks of "lets come up with a car nobody thought of, for a niche that does not exist to solve a problem no one new they had".

The daft thing is people suddenly think "Christ, I must have it. It's the answer to all the prayers I have not said yet".

Bloody amazing really!

I wonder, if it was Hyundai/Ssangyong/SAIC or some other non fashionable manufacturer shoving all this in our faces, would they still be in business?

Have to agree with comments about inventing niches. It seems to be a condition that the big German manufacturers all suffer from...

Personally can't see the point of an X1...