Live a Happy Life
New BMW X1 Test Drive in Jiangxi Province

(Jiangxi) From 7-11 November, the new BMW X1 national media test drive under the theme of “Live a Happy Life” took place in Jiangxi. As part of the event, a group of journalists had the chance to embark on a journey of discovery, and to experience the gorgeous design, cutting edge technology, and high performance of the new BMW X1. Participants were given a glimpse into the BMW X1 lifestyle with two separate routes designed to demonstrate the versatility of the new vehicle, whether cruising through on-road scenery, or conquering cross-country trails.

Bold, considered exterior

The new BMW X1 test drive journey started in Jingdezhen, the porcelain capital of China, and made its first stop in Yaoli, known as the origin of ceramics, and renowned for its serene and peaceful lifestyle. Amidst the early autumn charm of the ancient town, the Piemont Red and Estoril Blue BMW X1 were right at home on its roads. The new BMW X1 has a widened integrated kidney grille decorated with silver chrome trims, giving its front end a bold new look. The redesigned LED headlights demand attention, charting the road for the driver. The horizontal waistline contrasts with the rear to evoke a sense of strength in the crisp autumn air. When accelerated, the new BMW X1, roars through the countryside scenery with its two 90mm exhaust tailpipes, 19-inch wheels (standard 18-inch) and L-shaped LED taillights, emitting an ethereal presence illuminated by the warm fall sunlight.

Driving made simple with intelligent connectivity

As the new BMW X1 fleet reached its next stop in Huangling, an ancient village tracing back to Ming Dynasty with a history of more than 500 years, participants started to explore the various features of the new BMW X1. With the wireless Apple CarPlay activated, a familiar interface appears on the 10.25-inch center touchscreen, presenting at a glance useful apps such as QQ Music and Ximalaya Radio, which can be operated with ease just like a smartphone. You can ask the exclusive interactive radio to play a song which then will be played via the 12-speaker Harman Kardon hi-fi system, providing a feast for the ears.

For the first time, the Baidu CarLife system is integrated into the all-new BMW X1, allowing Android users as well as iOS users to use Baidu Navigation, QQ Music and other third-party apps in addition to the Xiaodu Voice Assistant, and access a wide variety of functions such as parking and gas station information, traffic violation information, and recommendations based on points of interest. In order to help the driver to focus on driving, the new BMW X1 has a full-color head-up display system which shows key information such as driving, navigation and incoming call straight forwardly without distracting the driver, so that driving safety is ensured and you don’t miss a moment of the scenery ahead.

Versatile interior matches all personal preferences

Situated on a cliff, Huangling marks the final point on the first route of the new BMW X1 journey of discovery. At nightfall, a courtesy light casts “X1” onto the ground as the car unlocks, creating a sense of ceremony. Inside the car, the six-color ambient lighting may be adjusted according to your mood. The exquisitely stitched Sensatec dashboard brims with ingenuity. With the car parked, you may take a moment to take in a panoramic view of the starlit sky through the largest-in-segment panoramic sunroof, ending the day’s journey on a delightful note. The new BMW X1 has a wheelbase of 2780mm, the longest in the segment, which provides rear-seat passengers with an ample legroom. This arrangement, together with rear seats specially designed for Chinese consumers which can be moved 13cm back and forth, providing a comfortable journey in rear seats. The new BMW X1 also features a handy function of comfort access which allows you to open the tailgate with the kick of your foot, liberating your hands to attend to your luggage. The rear seats at the back can be folded in 40:20:40 to create a maximum trunk storage of 1,650 liters, in addition to an extra storage of 100 liters hidden underneath the luggage compartment, in case required. The first route ended in Huangling with a special event prepared for the participants, who loaded the trunk with books, beverages and souvenirs before leaving with a cherished memory of their memorable time there.

Flexible handling and outstanding safety

The second route of the new BMW X1 test drive journey also starts from Jingdezhen, but goes the other direction to explore Mount Lu, involving a tougher journey that took the participants to uncover more possibilities and experience a different dimension of the new BMW X1 and the Jiangxi autumn.

Along the rugged mountain road, the new BMW X1 performed excellently in all tough road conditions, thanks to its outstanding maneuverability. With sports seats as a standard configuration for front passengers designed to alleviate fatigue, the new BMW X1 conquered the challenging mountain road effortlessly. The driving experience is further enhanced by the standard configuration M sports steering wheel as well as the first time electric gear shifter. As it wound its way up Mount Lu, the new BMW X1, powered by an upgraded BMW B series turbo-charged engines, demonstrated significant improvements in fuel consumption, emissions, noise reduction and lightweight construction, with the engine’s injection pressure raised from 200Bar to 350Bar for a much higher injection and combustion efficiency. The 2.0T all-wheel drive version is equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission with mighty power output, making driving on the rugged mountain road a sheer pleasure. The 1.5T/2.0T two-wheel drive versions are equipped with an all-new 7-speed dual-clutch transmission with an even higher efficiency and lower fuel consumption, as well as accurate gearshift, which allows the driver to enjoy the quintessential pleasure of driving a BMW, as the vehicle effortlessly coasts along the mountain road amidst stunning scenery.

The second route ended at the famed desert in the middle of Poyang Lake, where, with its powerful all-terrain capabilities, the new BMW X1 allowed each participant to give free rein to their driving skills. The BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive system is able to adjust power split according to road conditions in a matter of milliseconds, giving the driver full confidence in unpredictable desert off-roading. Other capabilities include Dynamic Stability Control, Precision Control (PC) and Driving Experience Control (DEC). These capabilities combine to allow the driver to cruise confidently and pleasurably in all road conditions, with an assurance of safety.

Having journeyed Jiangxi in the splendorous, crisp autumn season, with its trendy exterior, intelligent connectivity technology, versatile roomy interior, and exceptional handling, the new BMW X1 gave each driver an experience to savor.