BMW is working hard on two new members of the new compact family range: the future X1 and the Active Tourer with longer wheelbase and seven seats, internally known as FAST (Family Active Sports Tourer).
The UKL platform used for the new Mini generation and for the 2 Series Active Tourer opens new perspectives for BMW. A whole compact family will feature the modular UKL platform.
The second BMW member of this family will be the second generation of the X1 crossover. Instead of the rear wheel drive platform derivated from the 3 Series, the X1 will use the new UKL platform and will have front wheel drive as standard, while the all wheel drive will be optional.
Still dressed in heavy camouflage, the model snapped in the cold North today, appears to have an evolutionary design with a prominent grille, a sloping roofline and plastic body cladding. Additional details are hard to make out, but we can also see a tailgate-mounted spoiler and a dual exhaust system. The crossover also appears larger than its predecessor, so expect a more accommodating interior with additional rear seat legroom.
The third member of the BMW’s front-wheel-drive-family is yet to be named. The internally called “FAST” (Family Active Sports Tourer) will be a mixture between its smaller brother, the X1, and cars like the Audi A3 Sportback and the Range Rover Evoque, combined with some characteristics of a minivan. In essence will be a kind of an Active Tourer with longer wheelbase and seven seats.
Seen here spied during its first winter test, this new mixture is meant to combine practicality, lifestyle and sportiness. Prices will probably be slightly higher than those of the next X1, which is due in September 2015.
The BMW FAST will follow at the beginning of 2016.
For the moment, FAST will be alone on the market without any competitor. But this fortunate situation for FAST won’t last forever. Mercedes is working on a boxy GLB (a SUV with G-Class design elements, but based on the MFA platform used for the GLA), which will have a seven seats version.
The UKL platform used for the X1 and for the FAST means that we can already anticipate the engines: a petrol 1.5 liter 3 cylinder with 136 HP and a 2.0 liter 4 cylinder with 184 and 231 HP, plus a 2.0 liter turbodiesel with 150 and 190 HP. The surprise will be a Plug-In Hybrid, which can be adapted also for the UKL platform.
It is the 7 seater X1 and not the FAST.
Dear sir,
Thank you for your comment. Automedia spoke about a mixture between van and crossover with this code FAST. I know from an internal source from BMW that will be a X1 with seven seater but I do not have the information that FAST is X1 with seven seater. Do you think your source is reliable ? If yes, I will modify the article.
Dear sir,
Yes, I have the confirmation. FAST is in essence a X1 with longer wheelbase and seven seats. But from design point of view FAST will not be a simply streched X1. It will combine some elements characteristic for a minivan with X1 line.