We first heard about the availability of BMW‘s intelligent all-wheel drive system (xDrive) on the 1-Series during the presentation of the three-door hatchback model back in May, and at this month’s Paris Motor Show, the Bavarian automaker will hold the world premiere of these variants together with a new entry-level diesel option for the range.
BMW’s all-wheel drive system will currently be offered on two 1-Series hatchback models, the 120d xDrive and the sporty M135i xDrive.
In normal driving conditions on the road, the permanent AWD system directs 60 percent of the drive torque to the rear wheels and 40 per cent to the front wheels, but it can adapt the distribution of power instantly and variably to the given situation.
The 120d xDrive is powered by 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder diesel generating 181Hp (184PS) and enabling acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) in 7.2 seconds and a maximum speed of 225 km/h (140mph).
BMW quotes an average fuel consumption of 4.7 to 4.8lt/100km (up to 49mpg US or 58.9mpg UK) and a CO2 figure between 123 and 126 g/km, depending on the tire format selected.
Sitting at the top of the range is the M135i xDrive that gets a 3.0-liter turbocharged straight-six producing 315hp (320PS) and 450Nm (332 lb-ft) linked to a standard 8-speed automatic transmission.
The AWD system helps the M135i shave 0.2 seconds off the 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint compared to the RWD model with the automatic transmission and 0.4 seconds over the RWD version with a six-speed manual at 4.7 seconds.
It has an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155mph) and returns an average fuel consumption on the EU test cycle of 7.8 lt/100km (30.2mpg US or 36.2mpg UK) and a CO2 emissions level of 182g/km.
The third new model to join the ranks of the 1-Series range is the new entry-level diesel 114d that is equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder unit delivering 94hp (95PS) at 4,000 rpm and 235Nm (173 lb-ft) between 1,500 and 2,750 rpm.
The 114d completes the standard sprint in 12.2 seconds en route to a top speed of 185 km/h (115mph). Its average fuel consumption is 4.1 to 4.3 lt/100km (up to 57.4mpg US or 68.9mpg UK), while the relevant CO2 emissions rating is between 109 and 112 g/km, again depending on the tire and alloy wheel sizes.
As with other model variants of the new 1 Series, the 114d also comes with a range of “BMW EfficientDynamics” technology features as standard such as brake energy regeneration, automatic engine start/stop function, electromechanical power steering and automatic air flap control.
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