BMW’s New 128ti Hot Hatch Previewed As The Brand’s Answer To The VW Golf GTI

BMW is putting the final touches on the upcoming 128ti, the upcoming hot hatch version of the 1-Series hatchback which is set to slot underneath the range-topping M135i xDrive.

The new BMW 128ti will be powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine with 261 HP (265 PS), driving the front wheels via a Torsen limited-slip differential and an eight-speed automatic transmission, which will be the only option. BMW claims a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in 6.1 seconds.

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What’s important here is that the upcoming 128ti will not be just another fast variant in the model’s range, as BMW has put much thought and care to tune the suspension and steering specifically to this model in order to offer “extremely sporty and driver-oriented driving dynamics”.

The new BMW 128ti is basically the first BMW hot hatch with front-wheel-drive and only the third model in the brand’s history to feature the ‘Turismo Internazionale’ suffix. The production version will get a specifically tuned passive M Sport suspension that’s lower by 10mm and comes with stiffer settings than the M135i, from which it shares the same stabilizers and the M Sport brakes.

In addition, the new BMW 128ti will be around 80 kg (176 lbs) lighter than the M135i xDrive, mostly due to the lack of all-wheel-drive. BMW promises that the new hot version of the 1-Series will also feature “many differentiating exterior and interior features”, in order to stand out from its lesser siblings.

BMW is going to launch the new 128ti in November across Europe, going against traditional hot hatches like the VW Golf GTI, the Ford Focus ST and will even try to pick a fight with the more hardcore FWD performance models in the segment, including the Honda Civic Type R and the Renault Megane RS.