Thankfully, from what we can tell from these first photos of the new BMW 1-Series hatchback that were leaked onto the internet and have fallen into the hands of German magazine Motor Traffic, BMW did its job right! The new 1er makes no apologies for its sporty but luxurious looks.
The front fascia draws heavy inspiration from the 7-Series, and a bit from the more muscular X1. The headlights are much bigger and you can clearly see this is a Munich product from the first glance. It’s almost like the 1-Series has become more confident in its looks and is opening its eyes wider. The picture also reveal “Sport” and "Urban" trim levels.
The car is much wider and from the shot of the boot we can see that BMW has leaned from its past mistakes, providing a much more practical boot. The cabin is also roomier due to the longer 2.69 meter (105.9 inch) wheelbase. The shots of the dash reveal a 6.5-inch iDrive display that will come as standard, with a larger 8.8-inch unit available as an option.
Under the hood, a range of six and four-cylinder turbocharged engines are expected to arrive, with BMW expected to introduce start/stop and regenerative braking.
The base model will come in the form of the 116i that will be powered by a newly developed 1.6-liter 100 kW/136 hp. From the same displacement engine, the 118i will receive 125 kW/170 hp. On the diesel front it’s 2.0-liter units all round, providing three different power levels: 85 kW/116 hp, 105 kW/143 hp and 135 kW/184 hp. Gearbox options will come in the form of either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic. We also know there’s a new 135i coming that will bring in excess of 300 hp.
Due to advancements in aerodynamics and other fuel-saving systems, the 1-Series will burn through between 4.3 and 5.8 liters per 100 kilometers (40.6 and 54.7 mpg US). BMW will also introduce a selectable driving mode system with two settings, "Eco" and "Sport".
This is a big leak of information for BMW, but if they have anything else to tell us, it will probably happen at this year’s Frankfurt Auto Show, where the 1-Series will be officially unveiled.
Motor Traffic says that BMW has not fixed the official pricing yet, but it’s expected to be at about the same levels as the current generation. The starting price for base 116i will be €22,200.
While we can’t say we’re totally in love with the looks, it’s a relief to see the car is all-BMW at heat and there isn’t to much “eat your vegetables” eco-mentalism. Some BMW fans might not like the looks, but it’s shaping up to be a quite a decent car.
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