Having transitioned to a new platform, shared with the X1 and X2, the new BMW 1-Series hatchback is no longer rear-wheel drive, as it rides on a front-wheel drive architecture, but the Munich auto firm still hopes to attract enthusiasts with the 128ti.
The hot hatch variant is a more premium alternative to the Volkswagen Golf GTI, yet it is actually less costly to buy in the United Kingdom than its more mainstream rival. Pricing starts at £33,320 ($47,026), making it £190 ($268) cheaper than the 242 HP and 273 lb-ft (370 Nm) of torque 2.0-liter turbo-four Golf GTI with the standard six-speed manual transmission.
Read More: BMW’s New 128ti Hot Hatch Previewed As The Brand’s Answer To The VW Golf GTI
The new 128ti uses a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine developing 261 HP and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) in the Euro-spec, and 20 HP and 15 lb-ft (20 Nm) less in Australia. It comes coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, with BMW claiming a 0 to 62 mph (0-100 km/h) acceleration of 6.1 seconds, identical to the Golf GTI, and a 155 mph (250 km/h) top speed.
But how does it fare in the real world? MotorsportMagazine’s video, shared down below, answers this question by recording the 0 to 62 mph (0-100 km/h) and 0 to 124 mph (0-200 km/h) acceleration times. The short clip ends revealing the standing-kilometer sprint time, which stands at 25.6 seconds. So, how did it do in the other two challenges? Only one way to find out, and that’s by scrolling down and clicking the play button.