- Unlike the previous generation, the new car will be front-wheel drive.
- BMW let some auto journalists drive the pre-production version recently.
- 2.0-litre in-line 4-cylinder engine pushes out 306PS and 450Nm of torque.
- BMW is set to unveil the new-gen (F40) hatchback later this year.
The BMW 1 Series was introduced back in 2004 as the German carmaker's entry-level model. It stood out from the competition for the fact that it was a rear wheel driven hatchback. Now, after a short hiatus, BMW is back with the F40 generation of the which will replace the F20 generation that was sold in India.
BMW let some auto journalists drive the pre-production version recently and some spy shots of both the interiors and exteriors have also surfaced online. The car was spied in Munich wearing heavy camouflage and reports suggest that it was in its final production spec as it had all the production bits and pieces, albeit covered up heavily. The spied car was seen wearing 18-inch wheels, bigger callipers, bigger air dams and dual exhausts, hinting at a more sportier version of the hatchback.
On the inside, an M Motorsport badge is clearly visible along with an all-black instrument cluster. The overall styling of the dashboard stays in tune with BMW's traditional layout and is similar to what we've seen in the 3 Series sedan. On the downside though, the car is now based on BMW's FWD FAAR architecture that also underpins the Mini Countryman, BMW X1, and X2. On the flip side though, the new hatchback will be 20kg lighter than before, but there won't be any 6-cylinder motor available like before.
Instead, BMW's range topping 4-cylinder petrol engine will make its way under the bonnet this time around. It produces a whopping 306PS and an equally impressive 450Nm of torque. The base engine will be a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine that produces 139PS coupled to a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. As for the diesel variant, expect the 1 Series to feature a 2.0-litre diesel engine that churns out 192PS. There are rumours that it could borrow the hybrid powertrain from the SE Countryman as well. Powered by a 3-cylinder petrol engine mated to an electric motor, this setup produces a combined output of 224PS.
This is all the information that is available on the interwebs so far. The next-gen 1 Series hatchback is set to be launched in various international markets later this year. Whether it makes it to India is yet to be seen, but with the competition from the and the Volvo V40, it's likely to reach our shores sooner or later.
Spy Image Source:
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