BMW Australia has announced that the updated second generation (F20) 1 Series hatch will be coming to dealerships all across our shores in Q4 2016, bringing some new equipment and engines with boosted power and better efficiency.
The new 1 Series rear-wheel drive hatch range will start at $36,900 and $40,300 with the 118i and 118d, as before, but those will be joined by the 120i and 125i sports hatchbacks, both of which come with the an updated engine.
New to the range as well is the M140i, which is essentially a name change and spec refresh over the outgoing M135i at the top of the 1 Series heap. All shifting duties are handled by an 8-speed automatic transmission, with or without paddle shifters, sourced from ZF. However, for the 120i, 125i, and M140i – a manual transmission can be opted for at no cost.
Marc Werner, BMW Group Australia Chief Executive Officer, said: “Since its introduction, the BMW 1 Series hatchback has always stood out within its segment. “While its combination of distinctive styling and rear-wheel drive dynamics is range-wide, the 1 Series caters to a broad spectrum of customers, from those looking for an efficient city car to enthusiasts seeking strong performance in a compact package.”
Starting off with the updated 120i at $41,900, it’s 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine has been “substantially revised”, now designated as B48, to elevate power and torque to 135kW and 270Nm (an improvement of 5kW and 20Nm) while improving fuel economy and carbon emissions; BMW quotes 5.5-litres/100km and 126g/km of CO2.
Aside from the oily bits, the 120i is now available with the Sport line package, while a rear view camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, and cleverer smartphone integration.
The 125i, at $48,900, is a step up from the 120i but builds on that same basic list of ingredients, but turns that sportiness dial a few clockwise notches. Power from the B48 2.0-litre turbo four pot jumps to 165kW and 310Nm (a 5kW increase), allowing for a 6.1 second sprint to 100km/h. Efficiency is also improved, with an average quoted consumption of 5.9-litres/100km.
The M Sport Package is now standard for the 125i and adds the expected exterior and interior flourishes, so are LED fog lamps and the M Sport braking system. This joins the 18-inch M Sport light alloy wheels, variable sport steering and the part-Alcantara interior trim.
Finally, the top of the new 1 Series is now headed by the M140i, replacing the M135i with a more refined, more fuel efficient, and crucially more powerful version at $64,900. It still comes standard with Adaptive M Suspension, adaptive LED headlamps, and BMW’s Professional Navigation system.
Now, though, the new flagship comes with a Harman/Kardon 12-speaker audio system, heated front seats that also gain electric power adjustment and lumbar support.
Under the bonnet, the 3.0-litre B58 twin-scroll turbocharged straight-six petrol engine now generates 10kW more at 250kW while torque is upped to 50Nm for a maximum of 500Nm. All this grunt in such a small package means a 4.6 second sprint time to 100km/h, a 0.3 second gain over the outgoing car.
For more on BMW vehicles, including pricing and specifications, check out our Showroom.
