Along with the dual e-motor transmission for hybrid action, the X3 also gets active steering, active roll stabilization, the electro-hydraulic brake system, and cruise control with brake-to-stop function; we'd assume that means some sort of Jag-ish radar-controlled braking feedback loop. All well and good, but since nobody actually buys an X3 for the driving dynamics, it's a good thing BMW will also be adding better materials to the cabin, an on-board hard drive, and a night-vision system (we'll believe that when we see it — at night).

But what about that X1? Das Bild speculates that the new sub-X3 will be seeing the light of day by the third quarter of 2009, and will be just what it seems: a smaller, lower crossover. At some point, they're just going to have to call them wagons. The X1 will sport a bevy of engines, ranging from a 1.4-liter four sourced from Peugeot up to a 3.5-liter V6 fire-breather from BMW, along with the now-inescapable automatic or hybrid transmission setup.

Guess this finally answers the age-old question: "If a soccer mom cries out for a tall station wagon, does BMW hear it?" [Autobild (translated) via Carscoop]

Who cares? If you want a lifted 3-Series wagon, why not buy a 3-Series wagon and have it lifted? Really, how many niches must there be? Does the world actually need something that's part wagon, part SUV, part minivan, part sedan? The bad part is that once the F3/V3/X1 finally does arrive, it won't actually be a bad vehicle. We'll test drive it, and declare that it's well-built, drives well, and is quite practical. And then people will buy it. Profit will be made. Other automakers will take notice and build similar vehicles. The niche will be filled. Then, two new niches, one to either side of the old niche, will be created. Those niches will be filled, and sooner or later we'll all be driving (or merely riding along) in nondescript blobs. Our children will have no knowledge of hoonage, at which point the world will likely end.
[BimmerPost.com]