Is the plug-in hybrid BMW X1 on its way to PH?
BMW gets approval to bring a passenger vehicle with a 1499cc gas engine
SMC Asia Car Distributors Inc. has had a pretty busy 2025 when it comes to launching BMW plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). From the X5 xDrive50e, X3 xDrive30e M Sport, the all-new mighty M5, and the recently revealed 750e xDrive 7 Series, BMW Philippines continues to expand its electrified offerings that go beyond just EVs.
In the near future, the automaker may soon introduce another plug-in hybrid, and it could be BMW's smallest PHEV yet. Recently, we found out that BMW Philippines received regulatory approval to bring a new passenger vehicle that's powered by a 1499cc gasoline engine. Based on the engine's size, it looks like this could be the three-cylinder turbocharged B38 that sees plenty of use in various FWD models from both BMW and Mini.
But what caught us by surprise was the vehicle's reference weight, which has been listed at 1,980 kg. This makes the mystery passenger vehicle quite a heavy vehicle despite only having a three-cylinder under the hood. So, what exactly does BMW have in store for us in the near future?
Well, one of the possible vehicles that the automaker could bring to the country is the BMW X1 xDrive 30e (or xDrive 25e). Both PHEV variants of the X1 come with a 1.5L turbocharged three-cylinder that displaces 1499cc, but the xDrive 30e makes 150 PS with 230 Nm of torque, while the xDrive 25e puts out 136 PS and makes the same amount of torque.
It is then assisted by an electric motor that generates 177 PS with 247 Nm of torque in the xDrive 30e. On the other hand, the xDrive 25e's motor puts out slightly less with 109 PS but produces the same amount of torque with 247 Nm. Both variants also come with a 16.3 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which gives the electrified X1 a range of up to 83 km without using a single drop of fuel.
Other details about the mystery vehicle remain scarce as of now. But with more buyers preferring electrified vehicles and the fact that BMW Philippines continues to offer more plug-in hybrids, we're curious if our hunch is right. Hopefully, we get to know more in the coming months.
Do you think a plug-in hybrid version of the BMW X1 would make sense in the Philippines?
