F40 BMW 1 Series teased again in M135i xDrive guise

During the BMW Group’s recent annual general meeting, another teaser for the upcoming F40 BMW 1 Series was revealed, and this one doesn’t feature any form of camouflage at all.

The car seen here is likely the M135i xDrive based on the design of the front bumper and grille, which are pretty much identical to what was depicted in previously leaked photos. Unlike a standard 1 Series, the M135i’s grille surround is finished in satin silver, while the inlays appear to be the same pin-style mesh style like those on the G20 M340i xDrive.

A wide, segmented lower intake is part of the model’s face, which leads to concaved sections housing slim, vertical air inlets. There’s no view of the vehicle’s rear, but the “unplanned reveal” did show a sportier rear bumper with a gloss black lower diffuser and dual exhausts.

The new 1 Series will shift to a front-wheel drive setup, and the M135i will likely get the same B48 engine used in the X2 M35i and recent MINI JCW models. The B48 unit is a 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 302 hp (306 PS), and should be paired with an eight-speed Steptronic automatic transmission, all-wheel drive and front-axle M Sport differential.

As BMW previously stated, the M135i will also come with actuator contiguous wheel slip limitation, or ARB, a feature adapted from the electric i3s. The system integrates the traction control system within the ECU rather than the stability control system, resulting in shorter signal paths. This allows information to be passed on three times faster, while the regulation speed perceived by the driver is up to ten times faster.

GALLERY: F40 BMW 1 Series teaser