BMW has officially unveiled the new BMW 1 Series Sedan, which was previously previewed by the Concept Compact Sedan during the 2015 Guangzhou Auto Show. According to BMW, the four-door model will be available exclusively for the Chinese market.
The 1 Series Sedan was developed with collaboration between BMW and Chinese partner Brilliance Auto, and will be produced in China to be sold alongside the locally-manufactured X1 and 2 Series Active Tourer.
The latter rides on the UKL front-wheel platform that also underpins MINI models, which indicates that the 1 Series Sedan will be the company’s first front-wheel drive sedan, although the company hasn’t confirmed this. The current BMW 1 Series (F20) offered here is available as a rear-wheel drive hatchback model only by comparison.
Additionally, the company has yet to divulge any information relating to the car’s powertrain or its dimensions for that matter. The carmaker merely says that the “latest powerful and technology-leading engines with hi-tech electronic technology” will be available, produced at a new local engine plant in Shenyang.
Should the 1 Series Sedan be indeed a front-wheel drive model, likely engine options include a 1.5 litre turbo three-pot found in the F56 MINI Cooper, and the 2.0 litre B48 turbo four-cylinder from the Cooper S, mated to a six-speed manual or six- and eight-speed automatic gearboxes.
The Bavarian company said the model benefits from the involvement of Chinese engineers to meet China’s road conditions and climate situations on different terrains in the country. Furthermore, the 1 Series Sedan also received a lot of fine-tuning and improvements according to the Chinese customers’ habits and vehicle-use environment.
In terms of looks, the 1 Series Sedan remains faithful to the concept that previewed it last year. The marque’s trademark kidney grille is present, although there’s less chrome here compared to the concept. Thankfully, the sleek-looking LED headlamps and the “wing-design” lower intake are retained here.
Meanwhile, the trim piece on the fog lamp enclosures are now painted black, and there’s actual fog lamps within them now. Other visible changes here include resized wheels, which retain the concept’s five twin-spoke look, conventional door handles and redesigned side mirrors that are painted in contrast to the exterior body colour.
Looks tempting, doesn’t it? However, as we’ve mentioned earlier, the 1 Series Sedan remains a China-exclusive for now, and the company has not announced any plans to offer the model in other countries. However, BMW has said that the “premium compact car segment is the fastest growing segment worldwide and in China,” and the may be interested to explore the former in the future.
GALLERY: BMW Concept Compact Sedan
GALLERY: F52 BMW Compact Sedan production car on test
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amazing how China will bend backwards just for China. Will they do it for Malaysia? The answer is NO. This is because, we are a small fry country contrary to what BN tells you that we are a top happening Asian Tiger.
Asian semut maybe.
(Market) Size does matters..
P2 only managed to survive with low tech Japanes car..
Policy makers happy to “collaborate” with low tech cars where China going for top of range..
sadly, many yearssssss ago we have the opportunity before all ASEAN and China comes up in automotive but the well known cronies benefit policies until now kiss good bye of technology and knowledge transfer..
when main stream move to EV and Auto pilot, bolehland still stuck with arguing how many airbags, etc..
wtf is this piece of shi7, fwd sedan bmw, wth man
as long as there is a demand
Fwd or rwd you still cannot afford it honey
BMW dah kena dedak from China. thats why they not sharing this with us. Ini semua salah BMW!
Still can’t beat the new perodua bezza!
Bloody hell, I go buy kancil now.
Lubang hidung mu tetap menjadi pojaan hatiku!
BMW Yuan Series, China exclusive FWD. *scoffs*
For once I’m not jealous, just please don’t export this Yuan series anywhere else, China can keep this FWD sedan, no one wants it elsewhere.
Cheapskate product for china market…next
Frankly, the lines are clean, masculine and well refined. As long as tested good in power and handling, it doesn’t matter FWD with 3 pots. Should bring this to MY.
I don’t get it why some people don’t like it. Looks really good to me
What’s that about a grossly overpriced fwd volkswagen with BMW badges?