BMW introduced their entry level hatch back, the 1 series, for the Indian market in 2012. Five years down the line, the Bavarian manufacturer is not just working on a midlife cosmetic lift for the 1 series, but an actual generation upgrade. The test mule of the next generation 1 series was spotted benchmarking the Volkswagen Golf and the spied car reveals a few styling cues.
The spied 1 series wears a heavy camouflage. However, the fascia of the car is expected to be restyled completely. The car will carry the iconic kidney grille and the design of the grille is expected to be larger than the current car on sale. The headlamp assembly peeks out of the camouflage revealing the dark smoked lens and the air damp now carries a sharper design.
The side silhouette of the entry level hatchback is still the same however we can expect some aggressive shoulder and waist lines on the new car. The test mule was spotted with a newly designed gloss black seven spokes alloy wheels. The rear end of the car has been worked to carry a subtle profile with a spoiler that swoops low contouring the rear screen. The tail lamp assembly also carries the dark smoked lens to compliment the BMW’s sporty looks.
The new 1 series will be based on the UKL platform as its elder sibling, the BMW X1 and the Mini Cooper. The new chassis of the third generation car is expected to house a new transversely mounted front wheel drive engine which is expected to be more powerful and efficient than the current car.
The third generation 1 series is speculated to be showcased in the 2018 Geneva Motor Show held early next year. After its debut, the hatchback will soon go on sale in the international as well as domestic markets. The third generation one series is expected to arrive in the Indian market later next year, and post its launch the 1 series will compete against the Mercedes A-class, Mini Cooper, Abarth 595, Volvo V40 and the Polo GTI.
