There's a saying: “Good things come in small packages.”
BMW in Singapore recently launched a real chilli padi (little chilli that packs a wallop) in the form of the all-new 1 Series 5-door compact hatchbacks.
The new 116i Urban and 118i Sports are probably the smallest pick of the litter but undoubtedly they are still BMWs and every bit as fun to drive as their bigger siblings.
Indeed, the 1 Series is a line of small entry-level compact cars that are designed for the first-time BMW buyer.
And the new 5-door hatchbacks make a very good first impression for young executive types living the high life or young families looking for a more dynamic and exciting daily driver.
The new 116i Urban and the 118i Sports are essentially the same cars but with differing tune-ups to the engine and suspension.
The interior and exterior embellishments are also slightly different to cater to different market segments.
The 118i with the more aggressive state of tune is clearly targeted at buyers who want a more dynamic and exciting ride, while the 116i has a configuration that is attuned to a more sedate but still involving drive.
The all-new 1 Series hatchbacks are longer and wider than their predecessors, which adds up to a roomier interior and sportier looks.
Rear passengers now enjoy extra 21mm more legroom.
The luggage compartment in the new 1 Series has also grown bigger from 330 litre to 360 litres, expandable to 1,200 litres with the unique rear 40:20:40 split seats folded down.
Widening the body and chassis also improves handling without having to stiffen the suspension too much and sacrificing ride comfort.
The 118i Sports does, however, have a noticeably stiffer suspension compared to the 116i Urban’s softer more compliant ride.
With the increased body and chassis dimensions as well as a 50:50 equal weight distribution and rear wheel drive, both hatchbacks offer an exciting and dynamic driving experience, which few others can emulate.
While the new 1 Series may be bigger than its predecessor, its engine has shrunk from 2.0 litres down to 1.6 litres.
The smaller engine does, however, have one advantage over its naturally aspirated ancestor – it has TwinPower Turbo technology - essentially a twin scroll turbocharger.
Both the 118i Sports and 116i Urban share the same 1,598 cc turbo engine but are tuned for different power outputs.
The 118i has a maximum power output of 170hp, while the 116i has a still respectable max output of 136hp.
Maximum torque for the 116i is 220Nm at 1,350-4,300 rpm compared to the 118i’s 250Nm at 1,500-4,500 rpm.
That said, the 116i’s smaller power and torque outputs are by no means a sign of inadequacy.
The 118i is by nature a sportier beast, while the 116i is more sedate but with power on tap when required. BMW also offers an unprecedented 8-speed automatic transmission with StepTronic manual mode on the new 1 Series hatchbacks - something not seen in other cars of this class.
In the current age of increasing fuel prices and environmental awareness, the main concern for most people is fuel efficiency.
The new 1 Series hatchbacks are probably some of the most fuel frugal BMWs on the market today.
Both the 118i Sports and 116i Urban record combined cycle fuel consumptions of less than 6 litres per 100 km, less than their 2.0 litre predecessor’s 7.6 litres per 100 km.
This is achieved through BMW’s EfficientDynamics design strategy that aims to increase driving pleasure but at the same time reduce fuel consumption and lower emissions.
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| Left-hand drive 1 Series for illustration purpose only. |
Smaller engines boosted by turbochargers are one of the ways to increase power without sacrificing fuel efficiency.
BMW also includes other fuel saving technologies like Brake Energy Regeneration used to charge the car battery every time the brakes are engaged instead of using the alternator all the time.
Apart from the electromechanical power steering system with low power consumption, other technologies like automatic start/stop are also used to increase fuel efficiency.
This function cuts off the engine every time the car is idling at a standstill, like in a traffic jam or waiting at the traffic lights.
Power comes back on as soon as you step on the accelerator pedal thereby reducing fuel that is wasted while idling.
No fuel burnt also means no CO2 emissions.
The new 1 Series hatchbacks also come standard with ECO PRO mode, which is selectable from the driving experience switch.
This function controls engine and transmission mapping as well as other parameters like air conditioning to maximise fuel efficiency.
When following the ECO PRO tips that are flashed on the instruments a reduction in fuel consumption of up to 20% is promised. The driving experience switch also offers a “Comfort” and “Sports” mode.
On the 118i Sports, there is also the addition of “Sports+”, which turns off some of the stability controls. All good things must come to an end.
There are so many more features still left to talk about that makes the all-new 1 Series such a value-for-money BMW.
As good things come in small packages, so do good things come to those who wait.
BMW Malaysia hasn’t decided whether to bring in the new 1 Series.
We’ll just have to wait and see.