BMW’s all-new 1 Series is now available to order with first customer deliveries from September, writes Trish Whelan. Pricing is expected to be from €33,205 OTR.
Now in its third generation, the 1 Series features a sportier design, along with improved handling and agility. More powerful and more efficient engines are combined with new technology highlights such as BMW Head-up display, Digital Key, BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant and Live Cockpit Plus together with an array of new driver assistant systems.
It features a shorter bonnet and significantly more space within almost the same footprint as its predecessor. At 4,319 mm in length it is slightly shorter, but wider and higher than previously. At 2,670mm, the wheelbase is 20 mm shorter.
Design changes include a new headlight arrangement, a more wedged shaped silhouette and a pronounced ‘shark nose’. At the front the BMW kidney grille is larger and, for the first time in this model range, the kidneys merge in the middle. The range-topping M135i xDrive features a distinctive grille with a mesh design instead of the classical bars.
From the side, the car features a distinctive window graphic enhanced by two character lines.
The interior has more space and features high-quality materials throughout. Access is easier to the rear seats and those seated there have more knee- and headroom. Luggage capacity is up by 20 litres to 380 litres (1,200 with the rear seat bench folded down). Options include a power tailgate, a panoramic roof and aHead Up Display.
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The central Control Display is angled towards the driver and in their field of view. With the Start/Stop button and gear selector level now also located in the control panel in the lower centre console, all driving function controls are clustered together in one area including the iDrive Touch Controller used to control the infotainment system.
Trims are SE, Sport and M Sport as well as the M135i x Drive.
The 1 Series is powered by three-cylinder and four-cylinder engines with a choice of three diesel and two petrol engines at launch. These are the 118i (1.5 140hp from €33,205; 47.1 L/100kms and a 0-100km/h time of 8.5 secs); M135i x Drive with 306hp (price TBC); the 116d, 1.5 116hp (€31,675); the 118d 150hp (TBC) and the 120d xDrive Sport 190hp unit are powered by 2.0 four-cylinder diesel engines. The 120d xDrive gets AWD and the eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission as standard.
The M135i xDrive with a newly developed 2.0 306hp unit is BMW Group’s most powerful four-cylinder engine (450Nm and 0-100km/h in 4.8 secs; 35.3 L/100kms).
