The arrival of the all new BMW 1 Series heralds the dawn of a new era for this successful model that has consistently combined handling excellence, practicality, technology and quality.
It features a shorter bonnet and significantly more space within a footprint almost identical to that of its predecessor.
At 4,319mm, the new BMW 1 Series is 5mm shorter, 34mm wider and 13mm higher. At 2,670mm, its wheelbase is 20mm shorter.
There have been a number of design changes including 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 BMW M135i xDrive features a distinctive grille with a mesh design instead of the classical bars.
One runs below the door handles from the front wheels to the rear wings, while the other starts in the lower part of the front door before lifting towards the rear quarter.
Situated immediately in front of the driver is the instrument cluster along with the accompanying central Control Display.
Designed for touch operation, it is oriented towards the driver and positioned optimally in their field of view. The controls for the heating, air conditioning and new hexagonal air vents are grouped together in the centre console below the Control Display.
The interior has more space and features high quality materials throughout, driver-focused controls and innovative details, such as backlit trim strips.
The front-wheel drive architecture with transverse engines and a lower centre tunnel offers the occupants more space than in the predecessor.
This applies especially to those in the rear seats. Access is easier and there is an extra 33mm of kneeroom available. Rear headroom is up by 19mm when the outward opening panoramic sunroof is fitted.
In the 1.5-litre three-cylinder engine powering the entry level BMW 118i, maximum power output is now 136bhp. The power unit, which is five kilograms lighter than the one it replaces, generates peak torque of 220Nm.
The newly developed 2.0-litre unit under the bonnet of the range-topping M135i xDrive model is BMW Group's most powerful four-cylinder petrol engine. It delivers 297bhp with the help of BMW TwinPower Turbo technology and peak torque is 450Nm. It accelerates from zero to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds, while top speed is limited to 250km/h.
This all combines with the standard M Sport suspension and the M Sport steering with its more direct ratio and even sharper response. Meanwhile, the M Sport brakes offer excellent stopping power at all times. The M Sport steering and M Sport brakes are also available for M Sport models in the M Sport Plus package.
New to the BMW 1 Series lineup is the highly sophisticated seven-speed Steptronic dual-clutch transmission, which allows faster gear changes with no interruption in power delivery and the long seventh gear keeps revs low, helping to lower fuel consumption when out of town or on the motorway.
Intelligent connectivity enables the automatic transmission to adapt their shift strategy according to the planned route and driving situation.
The coasting and Auto Start Stop functions also take their cue from the data supplied by the navigation system, the front-mounted camera and the sensors for the optional driving assistance systems.
The coasting function is available with the Driving Experience Control switch set to Comfort mode as well as in Eco Pro mode, and will only decouple the powertrain in situations where performance and comfort are not compromised.
The new BMW 1 Series features Actuator Contiguous Wheel Slip Limitation (ARB) technology used in the BMW i3s. This is the first time ARB is used in a combustion-engine car and it has the effect of significantly improving traction when pulling away, cornering or when driving in the wet.
