Production BMW X1 going on sale in Oct. 2009

The BMW X1 prototypes are currently undergoing some extreme cold weather testing and according to Auto Motor und Sport, the smaller and more agile SAV will make its production debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor show with sales to begin in Oct. 2009. Insiders say that the production version of the X1 will be very close to the concept X1 we saw at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. Measuring about 4.50 meters, the X1 will be significantly shorter than its bigger X3 sibling and about 10 centimeters longer than the new BMW 1-Series. BMW will offer an all-wheel and rear-wheel-drive version of the X1 in Oct. 2009. The 2010 BMW X1 will come with the same engine options from the 1-Series and 3-Series lineup. A 4-cylinder diesel and gasoline engine will also be available. Output will range from 145-hp to 306-hp. Production will be held at BMW's Leipzig plant with an estimated 47,000 units to be built in 2010. BMW will increase production to 60,000 units annually in 2013.