After five years of rigorous development and refinement, the new BMW 1 Series has now completed the final testing phase in Mirimas, located in the South of France. The renowned BMW testing ground has various tracks to examine the vehicle’s handling. This allows the team to extensively fine tune dynamics and agility, while sharpening the independent character of the third-generation BMW 1 Series.  

Still in its camouflaged kit, this pre-series vehicle is anticipated to set new standards in the premium compact class. Boasting a new front-wheel drive architecture with BMW xDrive intelligent four wheel drive, it is expected to offer superior agility and driver dynamics, while also affording greater internal space for new levels of comfort. This includes an increase in legroom for rear-seat passengers by 33mm and headroom by 19mm, while the luggage compartment capacity has grown by 20 litres to 380 litres.

“Our customers will directly feel the fast and precise responsiveness that provides for an optimised driving experience. The BMW 1 Series will be a genuine BMW with an individual character,” says Peter Langen, head of Driving Dynamics at the BMW Group.

TRANSFERRING TECH.

As part of the redevelopment of the new BMW 1 Series, many of the innovations and technologies developed with other models, particularly the BMW i3s, are being transferred over.

Highlights include the inclusion of ARB technology (actuator contiguous wheel slip limitation), which improves traction decisively and facilitates significantly more sensitive and faster control, and BMW Performance Control, which also comes as standard.  

PACKING POWER.

The new BMW M135i xDrive will deliver a powerful 306hp thanks to the newly developed 4-cylinder engine, which is the most powerful available from the BMW Group, with a 2-litre capacity and BMW TwinPower Turbo technology. This is in combination with individual technical solutions such as a reinforced crank drive, new pistons and cod rods, a larger exhaust turbocharger as well as optimised fuel injection valves.

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