A few days ago, German car maker BMW announced that it is going to launch the much awaited 1 Series premium hatchback on 3rd of September, 2013 in the Indian auto market. According to reports, BMW has begun accepting advance bookings for the 1 Series. It is believed that all potential buyers have been sent an email notification by the manufacturer. Also, BMW India has introduced an offer wherein the first 100 customers will get a free package, called 'BMW Service Inclusive Plus'. Industry experts feel that this offer is certainly going to increase the customer attraction towards the 1 Series.
Since the confirmation has come, discussions have begun among industry experts, who have been trying to foresee the healthy competition. BMW India's move of launching the 1 Series is completely justified as its fierce rival Mercedes-Benz has already introduced diesel versions of the A-Class and B-Class hatchbacks. BMW's other competitor, Audi, is also expected to launch a low cost variant of the Q3 Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) in the Indian market. Luxury car makers operating in the Indian car market have understood the need for the introduction of low cost vehicles to boost their chances of success.
The BMW 1 series will be available in both petrol and diesel variants. It has been learnt that the diesel version of this premium hatchback is going to be fitted with a 2.0-litre engine, which will produce around 143 bhp of power. The petrol variant of BMW 1 Series will come equipped with a 1.6-litre turbocharged direct injection powertrain, capable of churning out approximately 136 bhp of power. Rumoured to be priced in a range of Rs. 20 lakh – Rs. 25 lakh, the BMW 1 Series will be manufactured at the firm's Chennai facility.
