The iconic German manufacturer BMW is all set to introduce its much awaited 1 Series model in India during the month of September. It is said that the latest offering of BMW shall be the lowest priced model of the company to feature in the Indian auto market. 1 Series will compete against the likes of Mercedes-Benz A-Class and B-Class hatchbacks, which have already garnered the attentions of buyers in the country, registering a strong performance off late. In a build up to the launch of 1 Series, BMW has actively marketed the car through various advertisement campaigns and has even started accepting bookings of the car in advance.
The upcoming addition in the armour of BMW is carry the new and advanced 4-cylinder engine that will be powered by the TwinPower Turbo technology. This fuel injection system is expected to offer superior mileage as compared to its rival cars. It is said that the diesel engine of 1 Series can offer a fuel economy of 21 kmpl during normal driving conditions. It is likely that the upcoming model will come to India through Completely Knocked Down (CKD) route and is expected to be assembled at BMW's Chennai plant. The Indian version of 1 Series is expected to roll out with a 2.0-litre TwinPower turbo diesel engine, which produces 143 bhp of power and a torque of up to 320 Nm. This model will be known as 118d in the Indian car market. Apart from it, the base petrol variant of the car known as 116i shall get the 1.6-litre turbocharged engine capable of producing a peak output of 136 bhp while attaining a maximum torque of 220 Nm.
The transmission is expected to remain the same as of the global markets. It is said that both petrol and diesel versions might get the same 8-Speed automatic gearbox to transfer the power to rear wheels of the car. The prices of both the cars have generated a lot of talk lately and is being learnt that the petrol variant may be priced around Rs. 21 lakh while the top end 118d highline variant is rumoured to carry a price tag of Rs. 29 lakh (all prices are ex-showroom). BMW 1 Series boasts of strong engine performance, good fuel efficiency and greater affordability, and is all set to take the Indian car market by storm with its brilliant features.
The upcoming model of BMW is grabbing a lot of eyeballs owing to its masculine design and affordable price. Reportedly, BMW will target young buyers of the country, which are expected to be enticed with the exterior looks of 1 Series. In addition, BMW has also offered a lot of features in its upcoming model meant for European markets. Some of the features include electric glass roof and seat, which comes with a pre-set functionality to save the position where passengers intends to keep them. However, these features will be provided in the model meant for India remains questionable as of now.
In the meanwhile, BMW has been outperformed by its German counterparts Audi and Mercedes-Benz in India and the company has maintained a silence on the issue by restraining to disclose any details about its annual sales. According to company officials, the aggressive pricing strategy adopted by BMW on 1 Series model is part of its strategy to incite buyers. Now with 1-Series expected to hit the Indian car market in September 2013, the luxury hatchback segment in India will witness the fierce battle between Mercedes-Benz and BMW.
