an email i got a while ago reads:
what do you guys think? Will it dethrone the Golf?The all-new BMW 1 series is aimed slap bang against cars like VW Golf and is BMW's first attempt in what the company calls the "compact executive segment". It will make its first official appearance at the Paris Motor Show in September.
Insiders say that South African sales will start towards the end of the year and pricing will be between R200 000 and R250 000.
The most outstanding feature of the 1 Series is that it is unlike most of its competitors in this class rear-wheel driven.
First in the line-up is an 85kW/150Nm 1.6-litre unit followed by a 110kW/200Nm 2-litre model. The 120i goes from 0-100km/h in 8.7 seconds
and has a top speed of 217km/h.
A 118i model, with BMW's 1.8-litre Valvetronic engine will follow later.
Diesel models
Two diesel versions will be available, the 118d and the 120d.
The 118d's 2-litre engine has 90kW of power and 280Nm of torque.
The more powerful 120d has a power output of 120kW and torque is a whopping 340Nm. A 0-100km/h sprint will take the 120d only 7.9 seconds and
its top speed is 220km/h.
All models, except for the 116i which gets a five-speed manual transmission, will be available with a six-speed manual or automatic gearbox.
A range of safety features inlcuding ABS, DSC, DBC as well as a complete airbags system comprising head airbags for all seats will be available.
The 1 Series also comes with a new Electronic Differential Lock as standard.
It also gets a simplified version of BMW's controversial iDrive system.
Buyers will be able to pick and choose from a host of comfort and luxury features.
The 1 Series has an overall length of 4.23m making it 23cm shorter than a 3 Series sedan. Its width is 1.75m and it stands 1.43m tall
. You can be sure this car will swarm the market just like the 3 series did. People, even if they can't afford it, will buy into the BMW name just becuase its a status car/brand. Now if you can get a new BMW for R200k, this car will sell like hot cakes...
