BMW 1 Series Breaks Cover

Forget the speculation, cast aside memories of all those spy photos, because the BMW 1-Series has finally been disclosed.

Preceding its first public appearance at the Paris Motor Show in September this year, BMW has released information and the first official photography of the new 1-Series, which will rival vehicles like the Alfa Romeo 147, Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3.

The new 1-Series range is scheduled to arrive in Australia by the 4th quarter of 2004, with BMW Group Australia planning to release two models initially, the 116i and the 120i.

BMW's entry in the premium compact market will also make its first Australian debut just weeks after the Paris Motor Show at the Sydney International Motor Show.

Perhaps the major aspect that separates the new 1-Series from other small premium cars is it's rear wheel drive setup, which should offer a much more involving drive than most FWD, and this unique feature is likely to be a big talking point.

From a design perspective, a long wheelbase with a short front overhang, a low, sporty roofline and the traditional C-pillar kink are joined by the characteristic BMW face comprising ‘kidney’ grille and 3 Series-inspired double headlamps.

The sleekly styled body boasts a commendably low 0.29 drag coefficient and at the rear a practical hatch opens to reveal a variable luggage compartment that offers the driver and passengers between 330 and 1150 litres of storage space.

"The BMW 1-Series delivers a new level of excitement to premium car buyers," said Franz Sauter, Managing Director of BMW Group Australia.

"It promises all the driver excitement and performance BMW customers demand, remaining true to our rear-wheel drive ‘sheer driving pleasure’ philosophy. We eagerly await the 1 Series’ arrival later this year."

When the 1-Series does eventually arrive locally, the 116i and 120i will ship with four-cylinder engines that meet stringent EU4 requirements.

The 1.6-litre engine from the 116i sounds very similar to the engine found in the Mini Cooper. It produces 85kW @ 6000rpm and 150Nm of torque @ 4300rpm.

The engine helps the 116i achieve a 0-100 km/h time of 10.8 seconds and endows it with a top speed of 200 km/h, using just 7.5-ltr/100km on the EU cycle.

The 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine in the 120i produces 110kW @ 6200rpm and 200Nm of torque @ 3600 rpm.

It will accelerate from 0-100km/h in 8.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 217km/h, using 7.4-ltr/100km on the EU cycle.

BMW claims that the 1-Series has no direct rivals, and while this is only partly true, it is the only car in its class to offer rear-wheel drive, 6-speeds for both manual and automatic transmissions (5–speed manual in the 116i), while 16-inch wheels use run-flat tyres.

European drivers will also be able to choose from a couple of diesel models, including the 118d.

Packing a 2.0-litre engine, the 118d packs 90kW of power and 280Nm of torque, while the 120d has 120kW and 340Nm of torque, and will accelerate to 100km/h from standstill in 7.9 seconds.

Also, the 118i version with BMW's 1.8-litre Valvetronic engine will follow later, and may arrive in Australia in 2005.

According to BMW, the new 1-Series has an ideal weight distribution, allowing the aluminium front axle and five-link rear suspension to keep the car glued to the road under even the most arduous and spirited driving conditions.

The rear wheel drive setup should also induce mild oversteer, which many small car drivers will be keen to test, and the complete absence of torque steer (usually felt while cornering) as the rear wheels power the car is another feature most other small cars lack.

The 1-Series may be compact externally, at 4230mm long (which is a full 240mm shorter than a 3-Series sedan), but it is fairly spacious inside, with the additional benefit of being able to accommodate up to 1150-litres of luggage space after some seat folding.

The German automaker also promises that the new 1-Series will deliver traditional BMW refinement and technology, putting it "head and shoulders" above any perceived rivals.

Some of the features that 1-Series customers can enjoy include an optional Bluetooth mobile interface, sports seats with backrest width adjustment, acoustic PDC Park Distance Control front and rear, Bi-Xenon headlights and a choice of high-performance audio and navigation systems that can also be operated centrally or by voice control utilising BMW's controversial iDrive system.

The 1-Series also features push-button starting and a full complement of active and passive safety features including front and rear head airbags, DSC Dynamic Stability Control, DBC Dynamic Brake Control, Electronic Differential Lock and large disc brakes all round.

As such, BMW expects the optimised steel shell to secure a five-star EuroNCAP crash test rating for occupant protection.

The BMW 1-Series is manufactured at the ultra-modern Regensburg plant, making use of production facilities which provide some of the highest possible levels of flexibility and model diversity in the automotive industry, but which at the same time offer the best possible standard of present-day workplace ergonomics.

With the 1-Series, the BMW Group is laying an important cornerstone for further profitable growth, and in the next three years could really take off, selling in large numbers across the globe, with market research suggesting the premium segment of the compact class has the largest growth potential worldwide.

BMW is exceedingly positive about the new 1-Series, and claims that it will gain a "disproportionately" large share of the market and contribute to a further sharpening of the BMW brand profile.