Updated BMW X1 receives Neue Klasse design
BMW’s stylish new design language is too good to keep only for electric vehicles. After we have already seen the next-generation gasoline 3 Series in the Neue Klasse style, the compact X1 SUV now receives similar visual updates as part of a planned facelift.
Key changes include:
Visual transformations of the exterior
At the front, the familiar kidney grille and separate headlights have disappeared. They were replaced by a new visor-like front end, which debuted on the electric iX3 of the Neue Klasse concept. It combines the headlights and the “kidneys” of the grille into one smooth, wide panel, giving the brand’s smallest gasoline SUV a more rigid, digital look.
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At the rear, the changes are more moderate. The overall shape of the taillights looks virtually unchanged, but the lower bumper now features vertical reflectors at each corner, also borrowed from the iX3. This is a small addition, but it visually aligns the X1 with newer BMW models and gives the rear a slightly more stable, technical character.
Interior updates and technical features
Inside, the changes are more dramatic. From previous spy photos, it is known that the updated X1 borrows the latest cabin technologies from the iX3. This means a wide panoramic iDrive display stretching across the entire dashboard and a cleaner layout with fewer physical buttons. A new steering wheel design is also expected.
However, technically, it’s the same X1. The car is built on the BMW FAAR platform, which also underpins the electric iX1. The facelift does not involve major mechanical changes, apart from possibly a slight power increase. For the US market, the xDrive28i model is equipped with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 241 hp and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The all-wheel-drive M35i gets a more powerful 312-hp version with sportier equipment.
Electric version and market prospects
In other markets, including Europe, diesel and various hybrid versions will remain available. The electric iX1 will receive the same style and interior updates, becoming almost a mirror image of its gasoline sibling, but with a charging port instead of a fuel filler flap and fewer air intakes at the front.
The current iX1 lineup, which is not sold in the USA, starts with the 201-hp eDrive20 model, whose range was recently increased to 514 kilometers.
The current generation X1 debuted in the spring of 2022, so we probably won’t have to wait long for the official presentation of the updated model. If it does appear this year, 2026 will be a busy year for BMW, as the company also plans to launch the new X5 and will show the world the new 3 Series and i3.
This facelift demonstrates BMW’s strategy of gradually unifying design between electric vehicles and ICE models, blurring the clear boundaries between different types of powertrains. Borrowing key elements from the Neue Klasse concept for the gasoline X1 not only modernizes its appearance but also prepares the ground for a future where design becomes the main unifying factor for the entire lineup, regardless of the technology under the hood. This could facilitate a smoother transition for customers to electric power, offering a familiar and modern image.