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The BMW X1 is a small SUV designed to slot in under the X3. Although why BMW need another SUV model under the already small X3 is a difficult question to answer. Especially as both models look nearly identical. BMW's hit-or-miss design philosophy, which is called "flame surfacing" in proffesional circles, has struck again. This time it's a miss.

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The BMW X1 concept was first shown to the public at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. While the X1 concept will undergo some minor styling changes before production, the overall design will remain pretty intact. The rear 3/4 view is the BMW X1's best side. Here the design is characterised by crisp styling lines which create areas of sharply defined highlights and shadows. At the front the styling is overpowered by the ugly flaring nostrils and partially recessed headlights. In a way it looks like a poor replica of a generic BMW SUV.

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Automotive designer, studied at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA (BS, 2004) and California College of Art (BA, 2003) in San Francisco, he started his designer's career with Volkswagen in the Europe (2002), Volkswagen and Audi in America (2003) and later with Nissan (2003-2004 - 1 year); since January 2005 with Designworks in California as a Senior Automotive Designer; Kim also teaches Art Center College of Design (from 2006)

Kim designed the BMW Hydrogen Powered Salt Flat Racer - a concept of the racing car built reusing ordinary materials like used oil barrels and old barbecue lids as the main building material of the car chassis and wheels Kim designed the body of the new BMW X-1

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Measuring 4,457 millimetres in length, the BMW Concept X1 is 108 millimetres shorter than the BMW X3. BMW X1 Concept Design Sketch 05 BMW X1 Concept Design Sketch 02 BMW X1 Concept 01Thanks to the 2,760 mm wheelbase, the general proportions, the four doors and a large tailgate, the X1 Concept offers its passengers a high amount of space.

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The Meridian Gold Metallic paintwork colour accentuates the youthful and dynamic look of the Concept Car, and creates an effective play of light. The 19-inch light-alloy rims feature a new ten-spoke design – another typical styling element of of BMW’s X models.

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In North America, the X1 is BMW's smallest SUV offering, and has a low starting MSRP of $30,800. The X1 is also BMW's first SUV to offer rear-wheel drive (RWD) as an option (only on the sDrive28i model). The sDrive28i and xDrive28i models will offer a 2.0L, 241 horsepower turbocharged inline four-cylinder (I4) engine, and the xDrive35i model will offer a 3.0L, 300 horsepower single turbocharged inline six-cylinder (I6) engine. Four different lines will be available: the ES/SE Line, the Sport Line, the Luxury Line, and the xLine.

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The lines offer unique trim differences to differentiate each one from another. An eight-speed sport automatic transmission will be available on North American models. The interior will be similar to that of the current BMW 1 Series Coupe, also offered in North America. Development began in 2004, with design work commencing in 2005. Final design work was done by Richard Kim during 2006 and frozen for production in mid-2007.







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