Future BMW Models

BMW V5 Although Mercedes-Benz has had middling success with its R-Class crossover, the 2010 BMW V5 intends to give the crossover segment a try. A cross between a traditional wagon and a sport utility, the BMW V5 will offer three rows of seats in a boxy body that will try its best not to look like a minivan. Expect to see BMW's usual range of straight sixes and V8s under the hood along with a standard six-speed automatic transmission. All wheel drive is a likely option, but standard models will continue BMW's tradition of rear wheel drive motivation.

BMW X1

After toying with the idea of an even larger X7 sport-utility vehicle to complement the midsize X5 SUV, BMW has decided to go smaller instead. The 2011 BMW X1 is an all-new compact-utility vehicle built on the same platform as the recently introduced 1 Series coupe. Caught testing on the streets of Munich, the X1 has a tall-roof design similar to the 2010 BMW V5 utility vehicle. The idea for both vehicles is to cram as much interior space as possible into a relatively small footprint. Like the 1 Series coupe, the 2011 BMW X1 will likely offer two variations of BMW's 3.0-liter inline-6 engine. Expect base X1s to have roughly 230 horsepower, while the top-of-the-line models will get the same 300-hp 3.0-liter inline-6 found in the 135i and 335i coupes and sedans. Since it's supposed to have more utility than your average sedan, the X1 will most likely come standard with all-wheel drive. The system will also feature BMW's new Dynamic Performance Control system, which should help make the X1 handle better than your average sport-utility. It will be awhile before we know for sure, as the 2011 BMW X1 is still several years away from production. Expect to see its official debut sometime in 2010, with sales beginning in the U.S. a year later.