Next Generation BMW 1-Series Details Spilled

BMW 1 Series Concept Artists Rendering / Copyright by Giom Mouton

By Thami Masemola
January 22, 2009 7:20 PM
Filed Under: BMW, German, Rumours

Details of the next generation BMW 1-Series range have now cropped up courtesy of the UK edition of CAR magazine. A new series of engines will adorn the 1 Series beginning with a smaller, more efficient 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol. This new mill will power the 116i and 118i both of which are currently powered by 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre engines respectively.

CAR says power figures will be as follows: the 116i gets 136bhp (101kW), the 118i gets 184bhp (137kW), 218bhp (163kW) for the 120i and the next 130i pumps out 272bhp (203kW). An M1 version is still out of the question, although a high-performance 300bhp (225kW) twin turbo 1 Series is on the cards. It would be powered by a 3.0-litre twin turbo petrol unit.

For diesel fans the selection is a 118d with 150bhp (112kW), a 120d producing 184bhp (137kW) and a 123d good for 211bhp (157kW). Later in the car's life, plug-in hybrid and electric versions are expected to hit the market.

Six-speed manual transmission systems will be the standard mate for these powerplants and a 7-speed double-clutch will be optional.

BMW engineers apparently tinkered with a front-wheel-drive layout in order to pair it with the MINI as a cost-reduction exercise. But it was decided the cars will stick to the brand's tried and tested RWD suspension. Body styles seen in the contemporary 1 Series range like the hatch, coupe and three-door hatch will stay. Additional shapes may be added such as a three-door shooting brake.

Source: Car

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Tags: BMW 1 Series, 2011 BMW 1-Series

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Comments

ivanadrive

January 22, 2009 7:56 PM

They will also need some 136hp diesel versions for the important European (fleet) market, where the badge is far more important than performance.

joshg_5

January 22, 2009 8:09 PM

Looks Great! What an improvement over the previous gen. I hated that one, far to bug eyed, and no offense to the ladies, but that's who it looked targeted for. I wouldn't be seen in one.

BMW's new aggressive design direction is terrific. I love where they're going. Lots to look forward to. Unfortunately all their models are being inflated to much...

Kepe

January 25, 2009 3:24 PM

Please note that the car in the pictures is an artist's rendering. In other words, it's just someone's thought of what the next 1-series COULD look like. It has nothing to do with the car that will be produced.

mechamynd

January 22, 2009 11:06 PM

Quite impressive. Has much BMW features on it contrary to current model. That one will be serious A3 competitor in styling.

trekkerbin

January 23, 2009 4:15 AM

Well, the current 1-series is great, and I think that maybe the next generation would be more aggressive than the rendering CGI photo. Does anyone know any possible date or year of when the next generation would be tapped out? :P

lucifa

January 23, 2009 7:04 AM

that's just an old artist's rendering btw, was on this site a while ago. and if i were CEO @ bmw i'd say to hell with the whole heritage thing and slap the M1 badge on it. you'd get some angry customers but you'd double the sales for the twin-turbo - an M badge at that price, people would be falling over themselves to have it...

BavarianMS

January 23, 2009 8:06 AM

m badge? ahhhh noee......No way will they make a M1 that looks like a 1 siries if they ever do make one it will be a whole seperate supercar.

motorjedi

January 23, 2009 8:43 AM

They should call it the M coupe, like that strange looking Z3-spawn that surfaced about a decade ago. That'd keep the fanboys at bay. Of course, then they'd HAVE to build the mid-engined M1 sportscar, or several thousand more fanboys would be very upset. I like the idea of an RWD hatchback, it's a slap in the face to every other cost-cutting manufacturer who thinks a hatchback is an excuse to skimp on equipment and tech. Keep it going BMW! Also, "a high-performance 300bhp (225kW) twin turbo 1 Series is on the cards" - yes, we've seen it, and it's known as the 135i.

lucifa

January 23, 2009 10:28 AM

when i've seen the Z4M coupe in dealerships it's usually referred to as "M coupe"...

sub39h

January 23, 2009 1:52 PM

i'm not sure it's exactly cost-cutting. front drive cars have more interior space and safer handling characteristics for the average motorist. have you ever been in a 1 Series? there's absolutely no rear legroom and no boot space. even a 4WD Audi A3 is considerably better, despite packing more hardware and i'd put money on the AWD system costing more than the RWD tech in the BMW.

there's no argument from me that RWD cars make the best handling ones, but handling alone clearly doesn't sell cars otherwise Audi wouldn't be doing so well as of late! and that's despite the fact that i've driven a 1 Series and I own an A3 and realistically there's no real handling difference between them. in this case, RWD may not have been the way to go!