BMW 1 Series facelift makes global debut
A heavily facelifted version of the F20 BMW 1 Series makes its global debut today, hitting the market with an extensively revised appearance and a portfolio of engines with cylinder counts ranging from three to six. Some variants even have all-wheel drive optionally available.
In contrast to its usual restraint practiced in facelifts, BMW has given the F20 an intensive makeover of its appearance. It is not often that BMW sees fit to completely revamp the front and rear of its vehicle in a facelift, but that’s exactly what was done with the refreshed F20. New L-shaped tail lights replaces the pre-facelift model’s squared design, and the headlights are now better proportioned relative to the trademark kidney grilles for a more cohesive appearance.
An impressively wide range of powertrains are available to supply motion for the refreshed 1er, with no less than 10 petrol and diesel engines available for selection. Choices offered include a mix of new and familiar engines, all turbocharged with direct injection. Four-cylinder engines, in 1.6- and 2.0-litre capacities form the core offering complemented by BMW’s new 1.5-litre triple from the MINI Cooper at the entry end going all the way to a full-blooded 3.0-litre straight-six at the other.
Kicking off the petrol range, we have the new 1,499cc b38 three-cylinder engine supplies 109hp and 180Nm of outputs for the 116i. Above it, we have the more familiar N13 1.6-litre which we currently get in the F30 316i producing 136hp/220Nm and 177hp/250Nm for the 118i and 120i respectively. Topping the range, we have the now-ubiquitous N20 2.0-litre four-cylinder in its 218hp/310Nm guise powering the 125i and the N55 3.0-litre six-cylinder supplying 326hp/450Nm’s worth of thrust for the M135i.
The diesel range, meanwhile, has been given an even more comprehensive overhaul featuring BMW’s new modular 500cc per cylinder engine family. The 1.5-litre b37 three-cylinder powers the 116d and 116d EfficientDynamics Edition, in both instances generating 116hp and 270Nm. Above it, the 2.0-litre b47 four-cylinder offers itself in three states of tune – 150hp/320Nm for the 118d, 190hp/400Nm for the 120d, and 224hp/450Nm for the 125d.
As widely reported in various automotive media, this is set to be the last version of the 1 Series to operate with a rear-wheel drive configuration, although the 118d, 120d, and M135i are given the option of xDrive AWD variants. Most versions of the facelifted 1 Series come with the choice between a 6-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmission; the 116i, 116d EfficientDynamics, and 118d xDrive are exclusively stick shift, whilst the 120d xDrive, 125d, and M135i come with automatic transmission as standard. The ZF-sourced auto gearbox incorporates satellite-guided gear shifting tying into the vehicle’s navigation system.
Under the BMW ConnectedDrive umbrella, the new 1 Series features a variety of autonomous driving aids including active cruise control with traffic jam queue assist, lane departure warning, autonomous emergency braking, and active park assist for both parallel and perpendicular parking.
Pictures: Official BMW release.
