Key Takeaways
- BMW is celebrating 20 years of the iDrive with a teaser image and video of the upcoming F70 generation
- Evolution of 1 Series: from RWD coupes to FWD hatchback
- Shares the UKL2 platform with X1, gasoline engines ranging from 120-300HP, ditching iDrive controller.
The newest generation of the BMW 1 Series is set to debut this week, and to get us excited the company has released a teaser image and short video commemorating 20 years of the 1 Series. We’ve been expecting this model for some time now, ever since it was revealed that BMW would be skipping the mid-cycle refresh for the F50 generation in favor of going all in on the new one.
BMW
BMW is a German luxury car and motorbike manufacturer and current owner of Mini, Rolls-Royce, and Alpina. With roots dating back to 1913 as Rapp Motorenwerke, it officially became Bayerische Motoren Werke in 1922 as a manufacturer of aircraft engines. BMW’s first car was built in 1928 when it built the Austin 7 under license from Dixi, which was called the BMW 3/15. BMW grew into a manufacturer of premium and luxury automobiles, launching iconic nameplates like the 3 Series, 5 Series, and 7 Series, and is today known as one of the leading luxury automakers in the world, while the BMW M division is hailed as a leading manufacturer of performance cars.
- Founded
- 1916
- Founder
- Karl Rapp
- Headquarters
- Munich, Germany
- Owned By
- Publicly Traded
- Current CEO
- Oliver Zipse
The last time the 1 Series was offered here was in 2014, and ever since then, it’s been forbidden fruit, with our smallest models being reserved for the 2 Series and 2 Series Gran Coupe. The latter is also set to receive a new generation this year, and it will likely share a good amount with the 1 Series.
20 Years Of The 1
Debuting in 2004, the E87 1 Series debuted with hatchback, coupe, and convertible body styles. Rear-wheel drive only, the vehicles were standouts at the time and could be paired with the brand’s iconic inline-six engines and even offered a full-fledged M version with a six-speed manual. This formula continued for the F20 generation that debuted in 2011, but the lineup was whittled down abd all-wheel drive was added.
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It wasn’t until the 2019 F40 generation and the debut of the 2 Series that the model went to the dark side, switching to a front-wheel drive platform and ditching the six-cylinder engines completely. Switching to the B38 and B48 4-cylinder engines, it completely eschewed its sports car past and dove face-first into the hatchback segment. The F70 generation will continue this trend but will grow in nearly all dimensions just like the 2 Series Gran Coupe.
What We Know
The newest generation may have a good amount in common with the X1, since it will also be sitting on the UKL2 platform. This means it should continue using the same gasoline engines as before with power outputs anywhere from 120 horsepower in certain countries to around 300 horsepower. In the US, the X1 strictly receives the B48 turbocharged 4-cylinder engine in 241 hp and 313 hp versions.
New BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe Spied On American Roads
The 2 Series Gran Coupe and its sporty M235i sibling were spotted in California.
Two screens dominate the interior of the X1 and the iDrive controller is also gone, something we expect the 1 Series to emulate. As was recently announced, all gasoline models will now drop the “i” suffix to make the naming system easier to understand. Keep your eyes peeled for the official unveiling this week, but don’t hold your breath about it coming stateside, as the market for small cars in the US is shrinking every year.
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