Recently iconic German luxury car manufacturer BMW launched its premium hatchback 1 Series in India at a introductory price of Rs. 20.9 lakh. At the onset of the launch event, the President of BMW for Indian operations, Philipp von Sahr was quoted as saying, "The breathtaking agility and sophisticated functionality make it the perfect car for people who are passionate about driving and want to make their mark. A genuine eye-catcher with a real presence, the all-new BMW 1 Series will definitely stir up the premium car segment.”
According to industry experts, the launch of BMW 1 Series will further hot things up in the premium hatchback segment where Mercedes-Benz has stemmed its roots by launching A-Class model. During the recent past, BMW's German competitors like Mercedes-Benz and Audi have introduced low cost cars in the Indian auto market so as to lure price sensitive buyers. Now with BMW offering 1 Series at an eye catching price, the trend seems evident primarily due to the prevalent slowdown in the Indian car market, besides the mounting need to target mass buyers for increasing its market share.
Mercedes-Benz has enjoyed a first mover advantage in the hatchback segment by launching A-Class, which has performed quite well for the company. On the other hand Audi recently launched the low cost version of Q3 compact Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) known as the Q3 S. The BMW 1 Series shall share the rivalry with both of above mentioned cars. According to car analysts, the aggressive pricing of the BMW 1 Series will be a key factor in determining the success for the model.
The latest offering of BMW has been offered in both petrol and diesel engine options. In India, the diesel variant (118d) of 1 Series is equipped with a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder TwinPower turbocharged engine that generates a peak power of 143 bhp while giving away a maximum torque of 320 Nm. This diesel engine can hit speed of 100 kmph in just 8.6 seconds from naught. Following this, it can clock a top seed up to 212 kmph. 118d is is available in three trims, namely Base, Sport Line and Sport, offered at respective prices of Rs. 22.9 lakh, Rs. 25.9 lakh and Rs. 29.9 lakh. As per ARAI standards, the car is capable of giving away a mileage of 20.58 kmpl.
The petrol variant of 1 Series gets the 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine that produces a maximum power of 136 bhp while attaining a maximum torque of 220 Nm. The petrol engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, which transmits the produced output power to its rear wheels. The company claims that 116i can smoothly accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in just 8.7 seconds. As far as the mileage is concerned, it returns an impressive 16.28 kmpl.
According to the sources close to the company, BMW 1 Series will be brought through Completely Knocked Down (CKD) route and will be assembled at the company's Chennai plant. On the features front, 1 Series is provided with impressive functionalities like auto start/stop button in addition to the famous iDrive system. Apart from it, newly added advancements like electric glass roof and seats with a pre-set function has been provided within the model.
