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Facelifted BMW 1-series revealed - plus exclusive studio pictures

The latest 1-series gets revised front and rear styling, upgrades to its infotainment system and options list and, most important, a new range of three-cylinder diesel engines and revised four-cylinder units that promise more power but greater efficiency.




The dieses are all from the same family of engines that has just appeared in the latest Mini. However, since they're being fitted to the rear-wheel-drive 1-series, they've been turned 90deg into a longitudinal layout. The entry-level model will be the 116d, which gets a 1.5-litre  three-cylinder unit producing 114bhp and emitting as little as 94g/km of CO2 with the standard six-speed manual gearbox, depending on tyre size.
A new version of ZF's eight-speed automatic transmission will be offered across the range, and its revised hardware and software helps to improve efficiency further; the 116d auto emits 96g/km of CO2. There will also be a manual gearbox-only 116d Efficient Dynamics, which uses a switchable coolant pump and combustion chamber pressure control to lower its CO2 emissions to as little as 89g/km.
There are also three 2.0-litre diesels, badged 118d (148bhp and 104g/km to 99g/km), 120d (188bhp and 114g/km to 109g/km) and 125d (221bhp and 121g/km). The first two of this trio will be offered with xDrive four-wheel drive, too, although the 118d xDrive will be restricted to a manual gearbox and the 120d xDrive is available only with the eight-speed auto.
The M135i gets the same powertrain as the M235i, with a turbocharged 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine producing 322bhp and 332lb ft. That's enough to take it from 0-62mph in 5.1sec, or 4.9sec if you choose the automatic.
As with the diesels, the UK won't be getting the most basic petrol engine, badged 116i; it's a 1.5-litre three-cylinder unit producing 107bhp. However, while the other engines are revised versions of the existing turbocharged 2.0-litre unit, they all bring more power and better efficiency. The 118i will be the entry-level edition in the UK, with 134bhp and CO2 emissions of between 134g/km and 125g/km, depending on your choice of gearbox and wheel size.
The 120i is the mainstream choice, with 174bh, 184lb ft of torque and a 0-62mph time of 7.4sec (or 7.2sec with the eight-speed auto). Its CO2 emissions range from 136g/km to 133g/km. There's also the 125i, with 215bhp and 228lb ft of torque; it cracks 0-62mph in 6.4sec and returns CO2 emissions of 154g/km, or 148g/km with the auto 'box.
The front-end styling revisions were actually forced by the revised engines, some of which require greater cooling than before. The air intakes are larger as a result. BMW used this modification as an opportunity to alter the shape of the headlights, too; they're now more rectangular than before, with space for revised lens units.
The specs of the lights themselves will change, too. Even entry-level cars will get daytime running lights as standard, while the old optional xenon units have been dropped in favour of full LED set-ups. M Sport editions of the car will get LED headlights as standard.
The tail-lights are now more in line with BMW's family style, thanks to a shallower main unit and distinctive 'blades' that run in from the edges of the rear hatch itself. They also get LED technology as standard across the range.



The 1-series' cabin gets more modest upgrades, including a piano-black finish to the centre console on all trim levels, chrome highlights on the radio and air vents and, in a throwback to BMWs of old, an analogue real-time fuel consumption gauge on models without a digital instrument panel.
All 1-series will now get single-zone climate control as standard, with the option of a dual-zone system, and the infotainment system has also been revised. Even the entry-level Business stereo gets a power and torque display, while the range-topping Professional system can update its map data remotely by using its built-in SIM card.
Several optional features have been improved, too. For example, the self-park facility can now park the car into a side-by-side parking space as well as completing a parallel manoeuvre in a street.
Prices for the new 1-series have yet to be announced, but only the most modest of increases over the existing versions is expected.

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