Easy does it for new BMW 1 Series
- New four-cylinder diesel engines now offered;
Flagship M135i gains more power; - 116d EfficientDynamics Plus model with 83.1mpg and 89g/km CO2;
- Interior and exterior design enhancements;
- Increased level of standard specification;
- Navigation to be offered as standard on 1 Series;
- On sale 28 March, 2015, prices starts from £20,245 OTR.
YOU’D be hard pressed to spot the differences on the new BMW 1 Series but less is more with most of the changes being under its skin.
For despite a new lower apron with larger air intakes, reshaped kidney grilles and new headlamps that feature LED daytime driving lights as standard on all models, BMW admit the cosmetic changes are as subtle as an expensive nip-and-tuck op.
For the first time, full LED headlamps with low and main beam have been added to the options list, with Adaptive LED headlamps a further option. These follow the path of the road ahead, and also adapt their beam according to the type of road and conditions at any given moment. At the rear, new tail lamps with a familiar BMW ‘L’ shape design adopt LED technology.
Inside the driver-focused cockpit has a new cloth fabric for the seats and sat-nav now comes as standard.
As such the BMW Radio Professional and iDrive operating system continues to be standard across the entire range so all new 1 Series models feature the freestanding, 6.5-inch Control Display, the controller wheel mounted on the centre console, and the direct menu control and favourites buttons. If the optional Professional Navigation system is fitted, the Controller comes with a larger, touch-sensitive surface for inputting numbers and characters, while the on-board monitor takes the form of an 8.8-inch display.
The new BMW 1 Series sees the introduction of power plants from the BMW Group’s new engine family, plus an expansion of the standard-fit BMW EfficientDynamics technology.
The new engines bring a reduction in fuel consumption of up to 12% while providing more power and sharper responses. All engines meet the Euro 6 exhaust emissions standard and offer as much as 326hp in the new M135i, with CO2 emissions as low as 89g/km in the new 116d EfficientDynamics Plus model. The eight-speed Steptronic transmission has been further refined.
The BMW 118i and BMW 120i are both powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine. It develops 136hp and 170hp respectively, offering acceleration as low as 7.2 seconds to 62mph in the 120i and with fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of just 52.3mpg and 125g/km in the 118i. The four-cylinder engine in the 125i features a 2.0-litre displacement, providing 218hp and peak torque of 310Nm, enabling a 0-62mph time of just 6.2 seconds.
