Next BMW 1 Series aims at younger affluent buyers
BMW will revitalise its 1 Series hatchback with a bold redesign and dual powertrain strategy. It is targeting youthful buyers of small cars and is set for launch in 2027. Vision Dee concept is suggestive of BMW's new 1 Series due in 2027.
The completely new 1 Series will utilise the Neue Klasse platform. And it will be available as a plug-in hybrid or full EV, the latter with BWM brand boss, Bernd Koerber, confirmed that the small car is central to BMW's strategy in southern Europe. He said that dropping the 1 Series would cost the brand up to one-third of its business in markets like Italy, Greece and Spain. Koerber added that the model is important in securing first-time buyers to the brand. The compact, sporty and relatively affordable 1 Series has been the entry point to BMW for two decades. A double kidney design that shouldn't polarise the masses.
Styling will take cues from the Neue Klasse 3 Series. It will feature a smooth, modern front end and reimagined kidney grilles that span the car's width. Likely as not it will come with flush door handles, pronounced creases, and M Sport-inspired detailing. Expect 5 Series and i5 cues as well, with the electric and hybrid versions likely to be almost identical.
The scalable Neue Klasse platform will have an 800-volt architecture, rare in the small car class. That ensures ultra-fast charging convenience, while BMW has hinted at a range beyond 480km. The focus won't be on moderately sized batteries with quick, everyday usability.
The petrol and hybrid variants will probably retain the 120, 123 and M135 labels, with an 'e' suffix for plug-in versions. The EV will use the i1 badge. BMW will leave smaller, fully electric models to Mini for city car duties.
The new underpinnings will fix some of the current 1 Series shortcomings. A longer wheelbase translates to improved rear legroom and a roomier boot, targeting 400 litres. That's a significant upgrade over the current model.
The cabin will feature a compacted version of BMW's panoramic iDrive display, wireless charging, and OTA software updates. Full smartphone connectivity will appeal to tech-savvy younger buyers.
BMW sees the 1 Series as innovating with clever, cost-efficient engineering, providing trickle up solutions to higher segments.
Natural adversaries include Mercedes CLA EV, Volkswagen ID.3 and Audi's upcoming small EV, along with VW Golf, Cupra Leon and Mazda 3.
The 1 Series and i1 serve as BMW's reply to a market that demands versatility, sustainability, style and a fun drive. With the right mix of design, tech and driving appeal, BMW's smallest might once again rule the roads.
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NZ Autocar
5 days ago
- NZ Autocar
2025 BMW M3 Competition Touring vs Skoda Octavia RS+ TSi Comparison
The performance wagon is an enthusiast's favourite, especially for those with more than just themselves to think about. It is practical, family friendly even, yet when the driver finds themselves alone, it delivers substantial fun. Unfortunately there aren't many options and most are reserved for the upper reaches of the premium Euro market. An example is the BMW M3 Touring. It's the first time the M3 has been served up with a bigger boot and this M3 is BMW's RS 4 foil. A pity that the Audi is between drinks; we drove the last of the current generation last year, so a direct comparison seemed pointless. Instead we ask: do you really need to spend six figures to get your fast wagon fix? Can something costing significantly less satisfy the urge? Such a machine does exist, and it's just been revised too. We are talking about the Skoda Octavia RS. We've had coupe, sedan and convertible M3s in times past, and finally now the Touring. 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And you can save your preferred combo to one of the two M buttons on the steering wheel, for quick access. The M3 gets a good stiffening with extra bracing and struts, and tauter suspension settings teamed with adaptive dampers. The all-wheel drive is variable in nature and blessed with a rearward bias. There's also an M differential out back to further enhance that rear-drive feeling. You can select 4WD Sport, which serves up even more drive to the rear, or switch off the DSC completely and then you're in 2WD. Then you can tune the M Traction Control to your liking, through 10 stages of intervention. Along with an onboard lap timer, there's the Drift Analyser to record the duration, angle and distance of your skids. All this fun does not come cheap, however, with a base price of $199,600. The Skoda doesn't have quite the firepower or such a long hardware list but it doesn't ask nearly as much either. 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