Rumors have been circulating about a the next-gen BMW X1 for quite some time now, but this is the first time we've caught one in the wild. Internally called F48, the next X1 was spied while being transported between two different test facilities in Germany on the back of a flatbed tow truck, so we still have yet to catch one in action.

The 2015 X1 ->ke2474 will be built on BMW's new front-wheel-drive platform, which is known as the UKL (German for "Unter Klasse" or "entry level"), and that same platform will see use on the new Mini and the upcoming 1 Series GT.

The new front-wheel-drive platform gives BMW->ke178 the ability to offer more space in the upcoming X1,and reduce production cost. Though the X1 will come standard with front-wheel drive, BMW will offer all-wheel drive with the X1's upper-level engines.

Expect the new BMW X1 to arrive late in 2015.

Click past the jump to get a better look at there BMW X1 spy shots.

Spy shots

Even though the 2015 BMW X1 is still in the early development stage and the prototype caught testing is heavily camouflaged, we know what to expect from it. As with all the other models, the next X1 will be an evolution, not a revolution, so the exterior will be nearly identical to the current generation.

The new-generation X1 will take some styling cues from the other new models in Bimmer's lineup, particularly the revised grille and the to-the-grille headlights. Unfortunately, all of these features are so heavily covered on the model we caught on the flatbed that we cannot see them...