BMW 1-Series Gets A Prettier Face This Year

The German luxury car-maker BMW has revealed a refreshed version of the 1-Series hatchback. The car has been given a few cosmetic changes and a couple of mechanical alterations as well.



This premium small car has gained a major mid-life update. The three and five-door 1-series models get the new look simultaneously, along with an overhauled engine line-up which includes three-cylinder engines (with petrol and diesel options) from the Mini Cooper range for the first time.



To go by the details, the droopy headlights of its predecessor have been replaced by flatter, sharper fixtures reminiscent of the 2 Series coupe and the convertible. They now come with standard LED daytime running lights, and can be specified in full-LED specification.



The new design has flatter kidney grilles which are wider and squarer than before, while reshaped bumpers with larger intakes give the 1-Series a clean face and add more width to the design.



The tail lights embrace BMW's unique L shape, with LEDs now spanning both the quarter panels and the tailgate. The manufacturers have also ensured that the car gets a premium look and feel this time.



The 2015 BMW 1-Series gets a welcome boost in standard equipment, with base variants around the world gaining climate control, rain-sensing wipers, 6.5-inch freestanding display, iDrive operating system, a more sophisticated self-park function, Radio Professional and an embedded SIM card, allowing the use of features such as Intelligent Emergency Call.



Ten engine variants- five petrol and five diesel, would be available globally. The BMW 1-Series range is now up to 12 percent more fuel efficient, while the power now peaks at 240kW in the M135i hot-hatch. The 116i kicks off the petrol range, producing 80kW and 180Nm from its 1.5 litre three-cylinder turbo charged engine, with a fuel use as little as 5.0 litres per 100 kilometres. Then comes a pair of 1.6 litre four-cylinders: the 118i with 100kW and 220Nm and the 120i with 130kW and 250Nm. The 2.0 litre 125i tops the four cylinder petrol variants, producing 160kW and 310Nm, while the M135i now pumps out 240kW and 450Nm from its 3.0 litre inline six turbo and accelerates from 0-100kmph in around 4.9 seconds. However, the 1.5 litre three-cylinder turbo diesel 116d is the efficiency king, claiming combined cycle consumption as low as 3.4L/100km in Efficient Dynamics specification. A trio of 2.0 litre four-cylinder turbo diesels follows: the 110kW/320Nm 118d, the 140kW/400Nm 120d, and the 165kW/450Nm 125d flagship.



As with its predecessors, six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic transmissions are available, the latter being a new version of the ZF unit with revised software and hardware. Rear-wheel drive is the default layout, while all-wheel drive variants are offered everywhere except in Australia.