BMW has just released details on the new X1 - drawing design cues from the now ten-year old X5. The German prestige manufacturer claims ownership of creating a new vehicle segment with the large luxury SUV and looks like doing the same with its little brother - the brand new X1.

The X6 also spawned a new niche in 2008 but with debatable success. Now BMW is poised to introduce the next derivative of the X model line-up with the X1.

The new BMW X1 takes its main styling cues from the X5 but promises to condense it into a more compact and affordable package. Rear loading space will be 1,350-litres - that's fairly impressive.

Power comes from a choice of three diesel engines and, for the first time on a BMW X product, the option to have rear-wheel drive (sDrive) or four-wheel drive (xDrive).

The dominance of diesel engines in other BMW SUVs, led BMW UK to decide only to offer diesel in the UK. The BMW sDrive18d and the xDrive18d feature four-cylinder powerplants with an aluminium crankcase and a single turbocharger with variable intake geometry. BMW says "third generation common-rail diesel technology ensures optimum combustion".

The 1,995cc engine produces 143hp while peak torque is 320Nm from 1,750rpm through to 2,500rpm. This equates to a zero to 62mph time of 9.6 seconds and a top speed of 124mph for the rear-wheel drive X1 sDrive18d SE. The X1 xDrive18d SE posts figures of 10.1 seconds and a 121mph top speed. Both models are capable of 54.3mpg and 49.6mpg on the combined cycle respectively. The engine is EU5 rated and records 136g/km and 150g/km CO2 emissions.

The BMW sDrive20d SE and xDrive20d SE are also offered. Powered by the same 1,995cc engine but in a higher state of tune, these two models up the ante offering 177hp and 350Nm from 1,750rpm to 3,000rpm. This results in improved performance figures with zero to 62mph attained in 8.1 seconds (8.4 for the xDrive20d) and a top speed of 127mph.

As the flagship model the BMW xDrive23d SE is offered only as a four-wheel drive variant. Still using a 2.0-litre engine, albeit with twin-turbocharger technology, this International Engine of the Year category winner provides rapid performance that defies the model’s Sports Activity Vehicle position. The 204hp engine accelerates the X1 to 62mph in just 7.3 seconds. The near flat torque curve with a peak output of 400Nm from 2,000rpm to 2,250rpm should allow for effortless overtaking. The xDrive23d SE is an EU5 rated vehicle that records 44.8mpg on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions of 167g/km.

The BMW X1 goes on sale in the UK on 24 October, 2009 with the sDrive18d and xDrive18d variants following in December.