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This 1966 BMW 1600 Neue Klasse lives on the backroads

Among early BMWs, the 2002 gets a lot of love for being a relatively accessible, great-handling little sports coupe. Jim Huff explains in the latest episode of Petrolicious why the slightly earlier BMW 1600 Neue Klasse sedan also offers a fantastic drive – especially with some choice modifications. Huff was a fan of 2002s until his wife gave him a vintage BMW sedan model car as a gift. That toy sparked his interest in the Bavarian automaker's earlier four-door models, and he had to have one to drive. He eventually tracked down his 1966 1600 and started on a project to convert it into a great vehicle for blasting over California's backroads. Huff's 1600 still features the original classic lines, but his now includes a larger 2.0-liter engine with Weber carbs, an upgraded suspension, and improved brakes. As a result of the tuning, the vintage BMW can hang with Huff's buddies in Alfa Romeos and Porsches on curvy roads. It sounds fantastic, too. Petrolicous interviews Huff, and he discusses a little about the history of these sedans. The real highlight is seeing and hearing his BMW in motion, though. Enjoy the ride with him in this video.

Mini Vision Next 100 concept invokes an alternate universe

Sir Alec Issigonis, designer of the 1959 Mini, would probably find Mini's new Vision Next 100 concept amusing. The original Mini was largely an exercise in efficient packaging and clever engineering. That it was handsome, and became iconic, was more a product of its wild success than an intentional product of its exterior styling. While the Mini concept is undoubtedly cleverly packaged, it's almost purely a styling exercise, no matter what sort of futuristic connected/autonomous functionality Mini says it'll have. Mini doesn't seem able to move past the Mini as a caricature of itself. The heavy, floating roof, the vestigial round and friendly "headlamps", the oversized gauge pod. This seems very German, the inability to communicate essential brand attributes without using cliches. Mini is in a styling rut, trying to evolve the same basic styling language with each new generation, stretching it over larger hard points. The Vision Next 100 program would have been a great time to communicate to the public that Mini is more than just styling tropes: it's an attitude, a way of thinking, a connectedness to the driver. More than a badge or bug-eyed headlights. To its credit, the interior is massively decluttered. That's in part to the rear-engine layout, but more on that in a follow-up piece. The comparatively vast footwell and ultra-minimalist dash pair well with the giant windscreen. It feels light, airy, and authentic to the ideals of the originally Mini in terms of space efficiency, without being overly sentimental. Futurism is a thankless profession, and we can't take this concept literally as a vision of what the brand will be in 100 years. We can say this: it doesn't seem that Mini will be able to transcend the styling tropes that currently define Mini. Let's hope they find a way out of their rut. Related Video: Featured Gallery Mini Vision Next 100 Concept View 38 Photos Design/Style BMW MINI Coupe Hatchback Concept Cars Future Vehicles vision next 100

2016 BMW X1 takes a more mainstream approach [w/video]

I really like the outgoing X1, simply because it's still an 'old' BMW. I say 'old' because all of the 'new' BMWs don't really feel that great to me – they just aren't the driver's cars they used to be. But the X1 still uses the rear-wheel-drive 1 Series architecture, and I love the way it drives. As for this new X1, it looks to be a vastly improved product in many key areas, but I worry that it, too, will suffer from the same sort of dulling that every other BMW has received. So it goes. Nevertheless, the new X1 should appeal to a broader range of luxury crossover shoppers. It ditches the cool, tall wagon shape of the old model in favor of a more traditional CUV shape. Think small X5. There's far more technology inside and out, passengers will enjoy an increase in spaciousness, and the X1 is more efficient than before, as well. Only one engine will be available in the US – BMW's 2.0-liter, turbocharged, inline-four-cylinder with 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. All-wheel drive is standard, as is an eight-speed automatic transmission. While I'm not sure if this X1 will be as entertaining to drive as the outgoing model, the new car's improvements will surely help sales. That's especially important as small, luxury CUVs are hotter than ever. See the new car for yourself, live from Frankfurt, in the gallery above. The All-New BMW X1: - Greatest interior roominess and versatility in its class - Highest power with reduced emissions - Commanding presence, robust proportions, dynamic lines - Innovative connectivity and groundbreaking BMW EfficientDynamics technology unparalleled in the segment Woodcliff Lake, N.J. – EMBARGO: June 2, 2015 – 6:00pm EDT/3:00pm PDT... Today, BMW announced the all-new BMW X1 Sports Activity Vehicle. In its second generation, the new MY 2016 BMW X1 builds on the success of its predecessor (61,974 sold in the US to date) by incorporating a roomier interior, greater efficiency and technology on the forefront of innovation. The second generation takes to the stage with a body design typical of a BMW Sports Activity Vehicle. The BMW X1 xDrive28i will be the exclusive model in the US at launch featuring a 2.0-liter TwinTurbo 4-cylinder engine from BMW's new family of modular engines with maximum output of 228 horsepower, making the all new BMW X1 the most powerful entry model in the segment. It will be mounted to an 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission.