The new BMW 1 Series: final test phase in Miramas.

Munich. Camouflaged pre-series vehicles of the
third-generation BMW 1 Series are currently still undergoing extensive
test drives at the BMW proving ground in Miramas, Southern France. The
facility’s diverse handling tracks offer the optimal conditions for
refining agility and dynamics of the new BMW 1 Series. This was
preceded by five years of intensive development work and the change to
the modern BMW front-wheel drive architecture.  

A genuine BMW with an individual character.
The
new BMW 1 Series will set new standards in the premium compact class
in terms of driving dynamics, whilst also offering significantly more
space inside. With a cutting edge suspension set-up, innovative
technologies and the integration of all driving dynamics-related
components and control systems, the BMW 1 Series achieves greater
agility both with the new front-wheel drive and BMW xDrive intelligent
four-wheel drive. “Our customers will directly feel the fast and
precise responsiveness that provides for an optimised driving
experience. The BMW 1 Series will be a genuine BMW with an individual
character,” says Peter Langen, head of Driving Dynamics at the BMW Group.

Transfer of technology from the BMW i3.
On the
new BMW 1 Series, BMW has utilized all of the experience gained over
recent years with BMW Group front-wheel drive models. A crucial
element for the car’s exceptionally high agility is ARB technology
(actuator contiguous wheel slip limitation) known from the BMW i3s,
which is now celebrating its debut in a vehicle with a combustion
engine. This transfer of technology from the BMW i brand to the core
brand BMW improves traction decisively, while facilitating
significantly more sensitive and faster control.

ARB technology, which is standard on the BMW 1 Series, features a
slip control system positioned directly in the engine control unit
instead of in the control unit for the DSC function (Dynamic Stability
Control). Without long signal paths, information is passed on three
times faster, with the regulation speed perceived by the driver
actually being up to ten times faster. In close coordination with the
DSC function, actuator contiguous wheel slip limitation significantly
reduces the power understeer usually experienced with front-wheel
drive vehicles, but without control intervention to stabilise lateral
dynamics. BMW Performance Control (yaw moment distribution) also comes
as standard and additionally increases agility of the BMW 1 Series
through dynamic brake intervention. Moreover, torsional stiffness of
the body structure is enhanced by the targeted use of additional
struts such as a standard rear-end “boomerang strut”. “Through this
extensive integration of all driving dynamics-related aspects as well
as the new, innovative traction control feature, we are creating a
completely novel driving experience,” says Holger Stauch, BMW 1 Series
project manager.

The most powerful BMW Group 4-cylinder engine for the new
top-of-the-range model.
A newly developed 4-cylinder
engine stands out prominently within the drive portfolio of the new
BMW 1 Series. The BMW M135i xDrive (combined fuel consumption: 7,1-6,8
l/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 162-155 g/km)* features the most
powerful 4-cylinder engine from the BMW Group with a 2-litre capacity
and BMW TwinPower Turbo technology. The power unit delivers 225 kW
(306 hp), ensuring extremely dynamic handling properties through
individual technical solutions such as a reinforced crank drive, new
pistons and cod rods, a larger exhaust turbocharger as well as
optimised fuel injection valves.

More interior space.
The BMW 1 Series has taken
a major leap forward in terms of interior spaciousness. Thanks to the
new front-wheel drive architecture with transverse engines and a low
centre tunnel, noticeably more space is now available than in the
predecessor model, especially on the back seats. For example, legroom
for rear-seat passengers has increased by 33 millimetres and headroom
at the back by 19 millimetres. Access to the rear compartment is now
easier and luggage compartment capacity has increased by 20 litres to
380 litres. Thus, the new BMW 1 Series combines outstanding handling
characteristics with significantly improved spaciousness.