From day 1, the F20 1-Series’ Pug-face with those gaping-eye headlamps has been at the center of criticism in regards to the premium hatchback’s exterior styling. BMW did a better job with the related 2-Series Coupe and Cabriolet, but if you were expecting the same for the facelifted 1-Series hatch, these scoop shots will likely leave you with a bitter taste.
Albeit tweaked, the oversized headlights remain and seem to have moved closer to the double kidney grilles, which themselves, now feature nine instead of eight horizontal bars. This specific prototype is for the M135i, which gains a redesigned front bumper with enlarged corner air inlets.
On the other end, the camouflage section suggests a restyling of the bumper. The taillights remain intact on this model, but we may see BMW applying new graphics when the time comes for its official introduction.
While BMW has trotted out working prototypes of the current 1-Series with the group’s new 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbo diesel and gasoline units, we don’t know yet if the facelifted model will be offered with these engines.
By John Halas
Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS
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