The introduction of the BMW 1 Series pushed the coveted BMW brand down into more mass market segments, locking itself in with institutional cars such as the VW Golf for the first time. BMW wanted to offer an enthusiast’s choice by compromising the packaging benefits of traditional front-wheel drive in return for the dynamics that rear wheel drive offers.
The BMW 1 Series range has now filled out and the latest addition, though not an M-car, sits at the head of the line-up. Finding itself among hot hatches, coupes and sports saloons the new BMW 130i is in competition with a wide spectrum of cars as diverse as the VW Golf R32, Nissan 350Z and Subaru Impreza WRX. BMW’s styling of the 1 Series continues to divide opinion like few others and will polarise prospective buyers almost instantly.
In case you were unable to see the European Editor Peter Robinson’s first drive of a 120i in last week’s Autocar, here’s a small summary: he loved it. For Peter, the 1-series reaffirms the purity of rear-wheel drive in a hatchback. But the truth is that for a younger generation (sorry Peter) the concept of a small hatchback sending power to the rear wheels is as alien as anything in modern motoring. There’s just no modern precedent for this car, and that alone – plus the fact that it actually delivers on the promise of its mechanical layout makes it very beguiling.
The 1-series reaffirms the purity of rear-wheel drive in a hatchback. The concept of a small hatchback sending power to the rear wheels is as alien as anything in modern motoring.