BMW is reshaping the way they make cars; the German automaker is planning on selling lots and lots of BMW 1 Series hatchbacks and has just revealed details about the all-new car for 2010. Starting this September the luxury carmaker will add four new models to their compact lineup: Starting off with the BMW 120i Coupé and the BMW 118d Coupé and then the Lifestyle and Sport Editions of the BMW 1 Series three and five-door body styles.
The new BMW 120i Coupe is powered by a 2.0 Liter four cylinder engine with BMW High Precision Injection (direct gasoline injection) with piezoelectric fuel injectors. The engine makes 170 HP and 155 lb-ft of torque, allowing the BMW 120i Coupé to accelerate from 0 to 60 MPH in 7.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 149 MPH. The new diesel powered BMW 118d Coupe has the same engine displacement, except this one is developing 143 HP and 221 lb-ft of torque. It can go from a standstill to 60 mph in 9.0 seconds and reaching a top speed of 130 MPH.
In today’s fragile economy, a compact luxury hatchback may just be what new car buyers in the U.S. are looking for. The European influence on drivers here in the States seems to e looking like more of a certainty.
Press release after the jump.
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The future for the BMW 1-Series sounds pretty challenging: additional body styles, a range of performance variants, new petrol engines and advanced fuel-saving technologies. With this in mind, BMW wants to compete with European models like: Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra, but also to sell around 300,000 units by 2013, and up to 400,000 by 2015.
Internally known as the F20, the second generation 1-Series will add - next to the three and five-door hatchback versions, coupe and cabrio - a smaller roadster, known as the Z2, but also a coupe version of this last one. The company is also considering a new model placed between the 1-Series and the future BMW X1 SUV - a probable GT version of the future 1-Series. There are also people talking about a sedan version of the next 1-Series - that might be seen as the successor to the original 2002.
The next generation BMW 1-Series will be built on the same modular platform and will feature the traditional longitudinal engine layout. It will be offered in both RWD and FWD versions, with a new turbocharged three-cylinder engine for the entry-level models. This new engine will deliver between 110bhp and 160bhp and will have a fuel consumption of 70mpg. > More
The German tuning firm Hartge has just reveled a new aero kit and a set of stainless steel mufflers to go with it for the baby Bimmer 1-Series. The kit includes: an aggressive front lip spoiler that almost looks dangerous the way the sides hang lower than the middle section, there is also a distinguished rear diffuser that frames the 4 stainless pipes perfectly, lower side skirts bring the body closer to the ground and add a pair of stylish scoops to the vehicle. The pair Hartge spoilers on the roof and boot lid that keep the 1 planted at highs speeds. The exterior features tasteful accents like carbon fiber casings for the side mirrors, inserts for the lower air vents, decals and the very appropriate Hartge emblems.
Stick with Top Speed for updates about where you can pick up one of these fine kits, but for now follow the link to Hartge’s web site to see for yourself.
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Our friends at Autocar have managed to snap a few shots of the future baby Bimmer, the 1 Series wearing BMW’s familiar digital camera confusing camouflage. From the photo it looks like BMW will finally be bringing out the long awaited hatchback version of the 1.
BMW is currently going though extensive testing of the next generation 1 Series so that when it goes on sale in 2011, it will be perfect. The littlest BMW will be offered in both five and three-door configurations as well as the coupe and convertible versions that are currently being offered. There is also talk of the German automaker producing a factory tuned M badged version. The only complication there is what the Bavarian automaker will call the little hot rod; as the wedge shaped, mid-engine super car that started the whole BMW Motor sport craze in the late 1970s, already owns the M1 title.
The new BMW 1-Series will feature a redesigned front end; with larger, more upright kidney grilles that were inspired by the new 5-Series GT. Under the hood BMW will use a wide range of turbocharged power plants displacing anywhere from 1.4 to 3.0 Liters.
While Audi is chopping down its V8 and V10 engines, BMW may actually take a hatchet to a four-cylinder. In an effort to reduce emissions, the 2012 1-Series may use a turbocharged three-cylinder engine to replace the 2.0-liter unit in the international lineup. This doesn’t have an effect on North America because the 1-Series only comes in 3.0-liter form.
BMW is working on a new 1-Series that should arrive in the U.S. by 2012. What keeps getting us excited are rumors about SuperSport version of the new little Bimmer.
CAR is furthering some of the same rumors we reported back in January about the hottest 1-Series. This means a return to fast four-cylinder engines in the U.S. with a 2.0 or 2.2-liter turbocharged powerplant. The 300 hp expected in this engine is the same as in the six-cylinder used in the current 135i. The difference will be the weight savings of a smaller engine as well as other lightweight replacements BMW will implement for the SuperSport model.
The most recent reports pegs the new 1-Series with new styling that include narrow LED headlamps (CAR’s rendering above). The SuperSport model will get its own distinctive look, including dual round headlamps that is reminiscent of the 2002 tii. So even if BMW won’t use the proper ‘tii’ name, at least it can still look like it.
The problem with an open differential is that power is not applied evenly across the drive wheels. The German parts manufacturer AC Schnitzer have a cure for one tire fires and peg-legged burnouts. That is why they have produced a limited slip differential for BMW 1 and 3 series cars as well as the Mini.
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Next to the 5-Series GT Concept at the Geneva Motor Show, BMW will also show its new Performance Power Kit, which ups the boost on its 3.0-liter twin-turbo engine. BMW is offering this for the 1-Series and the 3-Series (i.e 135i and 335i cars), sorry 535i.
As a complement to the some of the performance upgrades already available from BMW, the engine’s output is increased by 20 hp, bringing the total to 320 hp. The peak torque is increased to 317 lb-ft on manual gearbox models, and 332 lb-ft on models with automatic transmission.
A BMW 335i sedan with the BMW Performance Power Kit accelerates from a standstill to 100 km/h (62mph) in 5.4 seconds, which is 0.2 seconds faster than its regular production counterpart. And acceleration from 80-120 km/h (50-75 mph) is 0.5 seconds faster than in the regular model.
Press release after the jump.
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As reported at the beginning of the month, BMW is preparing a Motorsport version for the future 1-Series. The folks over at AutoBild took some of the current 1-Series car elements and mixed it with some classic elements of the 2000 and 2002 model cars to come up with this rendering.
Some speculation has this car as just a special edition of the 135i model. But AutoBild thinks the car may be more purpose-built. Possibly this car could come with no rear seats, a carbon roof like the M3 and lightweight doors and dampers. The engine could be a turbocharged 2.0 or 2.2-liter four cylinder making 300 hp. While that is the same power as in the 135i, the weight savings from the lighter materials, removed equipment and smaller engine would still give the car exceptional performance.
The name for this little hot one is still a little disputed. It cannot be called the M1 because that already holds another place in BMW’s history. So other possible names could be Motorsport, Super Sport or (fingers crossed) tii. No matter what it’s called, we would be very happy to have this car on American shores. BMW built its reputation on four-cylinder engines, so it would be nice for the U.S. to have the option of at least one four-banger...especially one this cool.
BMW may be going ahead with plans to sweeten the 1-Series. Reports are indicating that there may be a special edition of the 135i in 2010 that could make up to as much as 330 hp (30 more than standard). This car would also feature upgraded suspension, upgraded brakes, unique body kit and lightweight carbon fiber panels.
Sounds like a job for a “M” car right? Well maybe not. The car is rumored to carry “Motorsport” badging (although Motorsport is exactly what “M” stands for in the hot BMWs, “Motorsport” never gets used on the insignia.) Plus BMW can’t call it the “M1” because that’s already been used in it’s history to mark a very different kind of car (and it may be making a comeback.) If BMW was really wise about the naming the car it would stick with the “tii” from the concept, which goes back to the classic 2002 model.
But the name doesn’t matter as long as the car makes it to the production line. There is still is a long way to go in an uncertain economy before the 2010 model year.
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