BMW X1 news - X1 is out - 2009

See more BMW X1 pics

After all the blurred teaser shots and industry gossip, BMW has released pictures and info on the new X1.

Ignore the girl in the bikini for a moment (still with us?) and take a look at the car. It’s visually similar to the X3 and about the same size. In fact, when the X1 arrives, the X3 will gain a few pounds and shift up a segment. Which means the X1 – loosely based on a 3-Series – will become BMW’s new baby SUV.

The jacked-up suspension means you get an elevated driving position to look down on poor people. Further back, there are three proper seats with adjustable backrests. And overhead there’s an optional panoramic sunroof. So the interior doesn’t do anything innovative, but will inevitably be the usual high-class BMW affair.

As ever, though, the most impressive stuff lies underneath. You’ll be able to choose from rear- or four-wheel drive and take your pick from the usual roster of brilliant BMW engines. For the eco-minded, we recommend the sDrive18d that manages 136g/km of C02 and 54.3mpg – figures that should be stamped all over the car to appease anyone who thinks SUV is a byword for Screw the Planet.

Prices range from £22,660 to £29,055, and the X1 will hit showrooms in October.

Talking of the X3, here's a clip of Clarkson taking the soft-roader into the rough: