BMW India has confirmed the national launch of the X1 facelift (BMW X1 LCI) on the 14th of February in North India.
Authorized dealers and the automotive media were asked to block their dates, but who is going to tell all the die-hard BMW aficionados?
The BMW India Facebook fanpage helps the cause this morning with this status update - "THE NEW BMW X1. COMING SOON. The countdown has begun. Packed with features which will thrill, excite and totally amaze you, the new BMW X1 will soon be launched in India."
The new X1 was launched at the New York Auto Show in April last year and since then we've been constantly tracking the updated version of BMW India's best selling product. There's more company for the X1 in India that started with the launch of the Audi Q3 in mid-2012. Volvo India, in the next two months, will also launch the V40 Cross Country.
Minor changes define the exterior of the new BMW X1. These are a new front bumper, subtly reprofiled headlights, new door mirrors, redesigned taillights and a slightly updated rear bumper.
The local production of the X1 facelift began late last year at the Chennai plant. We hear there are mechanical and cosmetic changes in the mix. Internationally, the two-liter petrol engine is paired to an 8-speed steptronic transmission, which replaces the 6-speeder.
The powertrain update of the facelift is possible in India due to the launch of the new 3 Series, which comes in the same configuration. We should see similar modifications to the diesel mill, though we're yet to learn what's specifically different. There are no still plans to launch 4WD technology on this entry-level crossover.
We'll get to know more in the coming days, so stick around to IndianAutosBlog.com.
