The X1 is BMW’s smallest luxury SUV offering, and at the same time, it can now claim the title of having the most powerful four-cylinder the German automaker has produced. Say hello to the 2024 BMW X1 M35i, which is the most powerful iteration of the X1 you could get to date.
As this is not a full-fledged BMW M car, the X1 M35i doesn’t look too different from the M Sport version of the X1. Instead, being one of their M Performance cars that includes the M340i, among others, this SUV is a sort of warm version of what an X1 M would be like. But then again, 312 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque from a 2.0-liter turbo gasoline engine aren’t what you’d call tame by any measure. Neither is its 0-100 kph time of 5.2 seconds.
The said engine comes with M-specific upgrades, such as a stronger crankshaft, optimized piston oil supply system with cooling channels, and main bearing shells and caps that are inherited from BMW’s straight-six engines. Power is then sent through all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic with a mechanical limited-slip differential (LSD). Unsurprisingly, the X1 M35i comes with paddle shifters, but holding down the left paddle activates “M Sport Boost” mode, which turns all of the adjustable settings of the vehicle to their sportiest settings.
The 2024 BMW X1 M35i also didn’t just gain a potent engine and sportier looks in the process of becoming an M Performance car. In order to easily handle all that power, the X1 M35i comes with new dampers with more valves, a sportier steering calibration, and optional (sadly) M Compound brakes. The M Compound brakes add four-piston fixed calipers with 15.2-inch discs at the front and single-piston floating calipers with 13-inch discs at the rear.
Externally, the 2024 BMW X1 M35i doesn’t go overboard with the aggression. In fact, you could say that the X1 has remained traditional in terms of BMW’s classic aesthetics, thus making this X1 M35i a sportier thing to look at. Some of its design highlights include sportier bumpers, bigger air intakes, and vertical double bars inside the M kidney grille. Gloss black fills up the rear apron while those wheel arches are fitted with either 19-inch wheels as standard or 20s as shown in these photos.
Inside, the new X1 M35i is the first BMW to run the brand’s latest iDrive 9 operating system. Other than that, the cabin design remains largely unchanged. Only the addition of more upholstery choices and optional M Sport seats with an illuminated M logo set the interior of this car apart from the standard X1.
The 2024 BMW X1 M35i will first go on sale in Europe and North America in the fourth quarter of 2023. A Philippine launch could happen if there’s enough demand for this potent luxury crossover SUV.
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