BMW upgrades its smallest models — again

BMW has revealed upgraded versions of its three smallest models – the 1 Series hatchback and 2 Series coupe and convertible – before their Australian arrival within four months.

Bringing technical and subtle interior and exterior upgrades for both models, the move follows the local release of a midlife makeover – or 'Life Cycle Impulse' (LCI) in BMW-speak – for the 1 Series and new engines and equipment for the 2 Series last October.

Australian pricing and specifications for the 1 Series 'LCI2' (the second upgrade for the small German hatch since its launch in 2011) and the 2 Series LCI (which will include a revised M2 Coupe), will not be announced until closer to the local launch in September.

BMW says the facelifted 2017 1 Series five-door (China's new sedan version and Europe's three-door remain off-limits to Australians) will bring a higher-quality interior, extended connectivity features and greater road presence.

It also continues to spruik the 1 Series as the "the sportiest representative of the premium compact class" because "uniquely in this class, the BMW 1 Series has rear-wheel drive", despite the fact its third-generation replacement will be front-drive.

Headlining the revised range will be new special-edition models (Edition Sport Line Shadow, Edition M Sport Shadow and BMW M140i Edition Shadow) differentiated by a black kidney grille frame, LED headlights with black inserts and darkened LED tail-lights.

The BMW 1 Series Edition M Sport Shadow also has black exhaust outlets, and new exterior colours are Seaside Blue and Sunset Orange.

Also unconfirmed for Australia are Sport Line, Urban Line and M Sport variants, which remain in the 1 Series line-up at least in Europe with five new 16- to 18-inch alloy wheel designs.

Inside, a redesigned dashboard is the highlight, featuring higher-quality materials, a reconfigured black-panel instrument cluster, a high-gloss black centre stack housing audio and climate controls, chrome surrounds for the window switches, a roll cover for the cup-holders in the centre console, revised air-vents and a glove box with "virtually imperceptible gaps".

New options will include Cognac Dakota leather trim, Pearl Chrome accents and -- for standard Sport Line and M Sport variants -- Piano Finish Black, aluminium or Fineline wood trim with chrome.

The latest generation of BMW's standard iDrive operating system brings the iDrive Touch Controller and, for the optional Navigation system Professional, a high-resolution central 8.8-inch touch-screen.

Other new connectivity functions will include Concierge Services, Real Time Traffic Information, Online Entertainment, BMW Connected and Remote Services, via a standard in-built SIM card.

An optional in-car WiFi hotspot provides a high-speed mobile internet connection for up to 10 devices and, for the first time in some markets, Microsoft Office 365 users can use a secure server connection for exchanging and editing emails, calendar entries and contact details via the car’s built-in Microsoft Exchange function.

Australia's current all-turbo 1 Series range comprises the three-cylinder 1.5-litre 118i, the 2.0-litre four-cylinder 118d, 120i and 125i, and the six-cylinder M140i.

Engines for the upgraded 1 Series remain largely unchanged, and base 116 petrol and diesel models and BMW's xDrive all-wheel drive system will remain unavailable here.

However, to mark the facelifted model, the 250kW/500Nm M140i M Performance hot hatch will be available in with Edition Shadow trim and with new 18-inch Style 436 M Orbit Grey and Style 719 M Jet Black or Bicolour Jet Black wheels.

BMW has sold more than two million examples of the 1 Series since 2004, 25 per cent of which found homes in Germany, followed by the UK (20 per cent) and China (eight per cent).

The 2017 2 Series, meantime, also brings the same all-new ,higher-quality interior, the same new connectivity features and similar new exterior updates including revised LED headlights and tail-lights.

Once again, the 2 Series two-doors will be available in standard, Luxury Line, Sport Line, M Sport and M Performance guises.

Both the four-seat 2 Series Coupe and Convertible are now fitted as standard with bi-LED headlights, while full-LED headlights will be optional. The flank a larger kidney grille, while larger outboard air inlets form and wider, sportier, three-section front-end design.

There are also new 16/17/18-inch allow wheel designs, the addition of Mediterranean Blue, Seaside Blue and Sunset Orange paint colours, and touch-screen functionality for the 8.8-inch display if the optional Navigation system Professional is specified.

Like the revised 1 Series, engines are largely carry-over, and in Australia will likely continue to range from the 2.0-litre 220i and 230i, to the 3.0-litre M240i and coupe-only M2.

BMW has produced more than 140,000 examples of the 2 Series, with the biggest markets being the US, UK and Germany.