Development of BMW’s new compact 1-Series Sedan continues in Europe where our spies nabbed a prototype testing in a production suite that now includes real lights on both ends.
BMW provided a very close view of what their 1-Series saloon will look like when it arrives next year with the ‘Concept Compact Sedan’ at the Auto Guangzhou 2015 in China last November.
Comparing the study’s profile to this prototype, it appears that BMW might have added a few inches in height and length to the rear section, while shaving an inch or two from the front overhang, improving the car’s proportions and stance in the process.
What hasn’t changed is the German manufacture’s decision to base the 1-Series sedan on their modular front-wheel drive UKL platform shared with the X1 and 2-Series Active Tourer models, with the option of their xDrive all-wheel drive system.
BMW’s minivan will also be the powertrain source, with a similar mix of 1.5-liter three-cylinder and 2.0-liter four–cylinder turbocharged diesel and petrol units paired to six-speed manual or 8-speed automatic transmissions.
While some recent reports have suggested that the 1-Series will be sold exclusively in China, others have said it will be a global model that will land in the USA and Canada in the first half of 2017 to compete against the existing Audi A3 and Mercedes CLA sedans. If it is a global car, then we can surely expect to see an M Performance variant sporting the same tweaked B58 2.0-liter turbo four with over 300-horses mated to BMW’s xDrive AWD system that will be employed on the upcoming X2 sports crossover.
Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoops
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