The BMW iX1 might just be a few years old, but the company is going to send the current model for an early bath and replace it with a radical new model using the tech and style of the new iX3 Neue Klasse and i3.
The company has been bowled over by the reaction to the new iX3 and has been inundated with orders. As the new model is also cheaper to make, there is a clear incentive to speed up the replacement of the iX1 to bring in the same qualities in a smaller package and take on rivals such as the Volvo EX30 and the new Chinese entrants.
Here’s everything we know so far about the 2027 BMW iX1.
When will the new BMW iX1 be launched?
We can expect to see it for the first time in late 2026 with the first deliveries in early 2027.
Will there still be a X1 with a petrol engine?
Yes – much like BMW has done with the X3 and iX3 ranges, there will still be hybrid versions offered with petrol power. But they will badged as X1 and will use an entirely different architecture.
The X1 will still use a lot of the Neue Klasse technology though, including some of the advanced battery chemistry in its hybrid system.
What will be special about the new BMW iX1?
The looks will be the most noticeable change, with the new car using elements first seen on the iX3 and the new Neue Klasse i3. So expect the bold grille which combines the classic nostrils with a wider frame with incorporates the pixel headlamps. This will be reflected at the rear, while distinctive ‘Hofmeister’ kink of the rearmost side window has also been reintroduced.
But the big changes are underneath. Instead of the current front wheel drive layout, the new iX1 will use the Neue Klasse EV architecture. This will have a rear motor powering the back wheels – which will please BMW purists. It will also give the iX1 a huge range and brilliant efficiency.
The sixth-generation battery tech uses cylindrical cells which hold 20% more energy and charge 30% faster than the current iX1. It’s expected that it will use a 54kWh battery – smaller than the current model’s 64kWh pack – but will have a range which is comfortably above 300 miles – that’s more than the 270 miles offered in the existing iX1. Charging speeds will be given a boost too.
The battery will also be made part of the car's structure rather than being a separate unit, which makes it more compact, cuts weight, and makes the car stronger overall. That’s good for interior space and driving dynamics.
What about inside the new BMW iX1?
Because the iX1 Neue Klasse is designed to be fully electric rather than share its architecture with the petrol versions, it will open up new possibilities for interior design. Most functions will be controlled through the central display, voice activation or multifunction buttons on the steering wheel and it will use high-tech new interface called BMW Panoramic Vision. It, and the car’s other systems will be controlled by a powerful new central computer called the ‘Heart of Joy’.
The smaller battery and rear motor also means it will be more spacious, although luggage space may suffer.
Will there be different versions?
Certainly, just as there are with the current iX1. The cheapest is likely to be the xDrive20 with a single electric motor, with a twin motor four-wheel-drive as the xDrive30.
Will there be a MINI version of the iX1?
Good question – there has been no official news, but it seems inevitable that the next Aceman will use the same tech. MINI has also got the Urbanaut waiting in the wings, and it’s a car which would work very well with the rear motor layout.
How much will the new BMW iX1 cost?
BMW could surprise us all with a drop in cost from the current model’s £43,000 starting price. The car faces stiff competition from the likes of Volvo’s EX30, which is £10,000 cheaper. This might seem like too much, but the new iX3 dropped in price by £7,000 compared to the outgoing model due to falling battery costs.
The iX3 has been a big hit with buyers 
