BMW M140i Finale Edition announced

BMW Australia has opened its order book for a value-added special-edition version of what will be the last ever rear-wheel drive 1 Series.

Unless you’ve been under a metre of Bavarian snow over the European winter, you’ll know the next-generation BMW 1 Series – due to appear by mid-year and be available in Australia by late 2019 – will shift to the same front/all-wheel drive UKL platform employed by MINI and the BMW X1, X2 and 2 Series Active Tourer.

To send off the final rear-drive 1 Series hatch, production of which ceases in June before final Australian deliveries later this year, BMW has announced the BMW M140i Finale Edition.

Priced at $62,990 plus on-road costs) and due for local customer deliveries from late March, the Finale package commands a $3000 price premium over the standard BMW M140i ($59,990 plus ORCs) but adds a host of extras including:

18-inch M light alloy double-spoke style 436 M Orbit Grey wheels
Special-edition badging
Wireless smartphone charging
Storage Compartment Package
Metallic paint
Electric glass sunroof
Kidney grille frame in black high-gloss
Darkened headlights
Darkened tail-lights
Tailpipes in black chrome

Alternatively, customers can choose 719 M style double-spoke light alloys in either Bicolour Jet Black with silver highlights or finished purely in Jet Black

Carryover standard BMW M140 features include Adaptive M Suspension, M Sport brakes with blue callipers, Adaptive LED Headlights with BMW Selective Beam, Leather Dakota upholstery, Comfort Access System, front/rear Park Distance Control and Navigation System Professional with 8.8-inch display, harman/kardon sound and BMW ConnectedDrive.

There are no changes to the “unique in segment” 250kW/500Nm 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbo-petrol engine in the BMW M140i, which comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission and accelerates to 100km/h in a claimed 4.6 seconds.

“To celebrate the last six-cylinder, rear-wheel drive 1 Series hot hatch, we are excited to present customers with the BMW M140i Finale Edition,” said Vikram Pawah, CEO of BMW Group Australia.

“Through aesthetic exterior details and key equipment highlights, the M140i Finale Edition builds on the virtues that have made the M140i our best-selling M Performance vehicle.

“It offers convenience and practicality with a distinctive sporting silhouette and outstanding performance,” he said.