The difference being BMW is leaving hybrid models open as an option.

In 2009 BMW is busting out the big guns, despite the cloudy auto market forecast. BMW will be introducing the 7-Series along with a hybrid variant, as well as the BMW X6 Hybrid and a production version of its BMW Concept X1.

The X1 is a Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) and will debut on the market with a range of 4-cylinder and 6 cylinder turbo charged engines, and of course, the Europeans will get diesel versions.

The X1 will go into production at BMW’s Leipzig plant in Germany with 100,000 units planned annually. A hybrid version of the X1 is being worked on by BMW’s EfficientDynamics and is expected to hit the market before the end of 2011.

BMW doesn’t seem to have much competition in the SAV department. If the X1 is a hit, despite expected slumped auto sales, BMW might be looking at a nice head start in a market niche.