BMW's Neue Klasse styling language is filtering through the lineup since it first launched in the iX3 EV. It was just a few months ago, even though it feels like forever, and part of the reason it feels so long is vehicles like this. The new X1 won't even be in the first five to hit production with the face, but here it is. The CarBuzz spies have caught it in its M form, to boot. X1 Will Get Neue Klasse Face, But Not The Neue Tail CarBuzz/Valnet The X1 appears to be getting more of just a Neue Klasse facelift than the full makeover. The greenhouse and the tail are much more in line with what the current SUV looks like. It probably shouldn't come as a surprise, though, as the current-generation X1 has only been on the market for three years, and that makes this a facelift not a new model.BMW seems to be waffling on its Neue conversion when it comes to refreshes. The 7 Series kept the old nose, and while we originally saw facelifted 5 Series models with the new face, BMW quickly switched back to an update of the old one.Whatever the plan is long-term, the X1 you see in these photos has the Neue face and a gas engine. The quad tailpipes make the latter very obvious, and with no visible flap on the driver's side, it's clear this won't be a PHEV.Combine the quad pipes with blue brake calipers, and this is the M version of the model. Not an X1M, but the successor to the X1 M35i. It could be called the M40i, but we expect that it will have a version of BMW's 2.0-liter turbo-four under the hood, not an I6. Don't Expect Big Engine Changes CarBuzz/Valnet The most powerful version of the B48 engine on sale now is the 312 horsepower version in the current X1 M35i and also offered in a few other BMW and Mini models. BMW could tweak engine output, but as this version is only two years old, BMW is just as likely to keep it the same.An electric iX1 is still on the way, and that one will be Neue Klasse from nose to tail. CarBuzz has spotted it already, and you can see the differences in the shape of the SUV's greenhouse and in the rear end. The only thing that gas and electric have in common this time around is the name, though when it's time for an all-new gas X1, if there is a next gas X1, they will probably share more.We can't see inside the X1 in these images, but the refresh should bring BMW's Panoramic iDrive system with it. The latest system adds a display along the bottom of the windshield instead of a typical dashboard. There is still a center screen, and the window display is highly customizable.Expect the new X1 to arrive sometime next year, and to go on sale for 2028. CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters: The X1 isn't BMW's highest seller, but it is the entry point into the brand for many buyers who then move up as their finances and family grow. Keeping it fresh and competitive is key, and this facelift will help do that.What's puzzling is why this model seems to have the new look, while the 5 Series reverted to the old one. Our suspicion is that the older 5 Series buyer base preferred the old look in focus groups, or at least leaned that way enough for the company to hit pause.BMW X1 M40 (5)
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