According to the spec sheet, this X1 reads as the ‘anti-BMW’. The X1 is the sole model that is based on a FWD platform, a Mini Countryman platform nonetheless. For a brand that prides itself on the beauty of RWD and 50:50 weight distribution, you would be forgiven into thinking the X1 is just a badge engineered monstrosity. You would be wrong.
What this X1 M35i really shows, is BMW’s engineering at it’s finest. Yes I know, this isn’t a full fledged ‘M’ car, I know it’s nose heavy and I know it’s based a retro inspired quirky British crossover…but I don’t care. What BMW did was take the Mini Countryman and throw everything away. BMW reworked, tweaked and changed most every facet of the Countryman’s platform to make the X1 M35i. So what, for all intents and purposes, should feel like just a rebadged Mini…feels like a proper BMW. From it’s looks, interior to the way it drives.
Oh and it nearly drives like one as well. There is no hiding the FWDness of the chassis and the trademark numb BMW steering, but through this little sucker into a corner and it will grip the pavement like glue! Aiding the grip is a mechanical front differential and AWD. Is it dynamically perfect? No, more on that below but it’s damn fun.