BMW shaves price of 1 Series

The introduction of the new F20 generation of BMW 1 Series is still two months away, but the importer has announced that pricing will start from just below $37,000.

At $36,990, the new 116i represents a five per cent reduction in price, the importer claims, based on comparison with the old 118i of the E87 generation.

“The 1 Series is widely recognised as the category benchmark in driving dynamics and in terms of value it is now more competitive than ever before,” Phil Horton, BMW Australia's MD was quoted as saying in a press release issued today.

The importer also claims that the 116i delivers a 24 per cent saving in fuel use (5.7L/100km), through its turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which is also able to propel the new car to 100km/h in 8.5 seconds — nearly a second better than the best time posted by the 118i.

Standard features for the base 1 Series when it arrives in showrooms in October will include: a 6.5-inch free-standing flat-screen colour display, Bluetooth connectivity, USB/ MP3-compatible CD player, cruise control with brake function, auto Start/Stop function, keyless engine start, six-speaker stereo system, iDrive controller, favourite buttons and 16-inch alloy wheels.

BMW is yet to announce pricing for other variants in the new 1 Series range — 118i and 118d — but the former will be powered by a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder like the 116i, but will develop 125kW, rather than the lower-output engine's 100kW. Both petrol engines hail from the same N13 family. The 118d is a diesel displacing 2.0 litres and producing 105kW at its peak.

Standard transmissions will be six-speed manuals with the option of eight-speed auto boxes for each engine variant.

BMW has revealed that the new 1 Series is 85mm longer than the superseded hatch, with 30mm of that extra length spliced into the wheelbase. The importer claims that the 1 Series' increased length has resulted in a 10 per cent gain in luggage capacity (now 360 litres) and significantly improved rear-seat accommodation.

Among the new features to be introduced with the 1 Series as options are Parking Assistant, Rear-View Camera and Lane Departure warning.

You can read our international launch review of the new 1 Series here.

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