Four years after its launch, the BMW 1 Series will get a makeover. How does it intend to resist the onslaught of the Audi A3 and Mercedes Class A?
New BMW 1 Series (2023) – Next year will ring the hour of facelift for the German compact, with a view to maintaining its attractive commercial scores until its retirement, expected around 2027. Although it has stored the 6-cylinder engines and the rear-wheel drive of its ancestor, and despite all the evil that the press thought of this architectural revolution, this third generation received a warm welcome from the general public. It must be said that it stalls neither more nor less on the strategy of the Audi A3 and Mercedes Class A (4-cylinder and front-wheel drive), with the exception of the Audi RS3, always faithful to a 5-cylinder.
big beans
The BMW 1 Series will be keen, during 2023, toharmonize its design with the rest of the Munich range, which has been very “mouthed” for a few years. This is the reason why it should increase the size of its grille to come and lick the license plate. Conversely, the optics will be refined to make room for more prominent side air inlets. New rim designs will accompany this makeover, as will the rear lights will modernize their light signature, bringing more modeling. Finally, the bumper could also receive a new design.
The restyling of the Mercedes A-Class will precede that of the BMW 1 Series, starting this year >> + info
Revolution in the cabin?
It is on board that those accustomed to the “One” will be likely to perceive radical changes, knowing that the big sister Series 3 will soon review the cover of its dashboard, with a view to adopting a large digital panel inspired by Mercedes. There is therefore a good chance that the Series 1 will also benefit from this major restructuring of the cockpit, in order to stay in the race against a very sharp Class A on the multimedia level. Therefore, this would allow the Bavarian to update its software to migrate to the latest generation named iDrive 8.
Plug-in hybridization pending
On the mechanical level, it is rumored that the restyled BMW 1 Series will optimize its 3-cylinder blocks, in particular at the level of injection, where the 4-cylinders will convert to light hybridization 48V. The unknown remains as to the arrival of a rechargeable hybridization, available on Series 2 Active Tourer and X1, with which the Series 1 shares its platform. But the size of the batteries could pose a problem on the size in reduction of the latter, unless a more compact technology is not developed. At any rate, a PHEV would make sense under the hood of the 1 Series knowing that it is the only one in the segment to ignore this type of hybridization generally allowing a range of 50 km in 100% electric.
Still no bad mechanics
On a sporting level, the 128 ti and M135i xDrive, respectively given for 265 hp and 306 hp, could experience a slight vitamin cure. Corn the Series 1 will always be prohibited from crossing swords with the Audi RS3 (450 hp) and the Mercedes-AMG A 45 S (421 hp). We can regret that this mission returns only to the Coupe Series 2, whose M version is expected in the coming months. But the latter has the advantage of maintaining rear-wheel drive and “six in line”.
BMW 1 Series Price
The BMW 1 Series will orchestrate its facelift during 2023, i.e. a few months after that of the Mercedes A-Class, expected this year. On a pricing plan, the entry level of the Blue Propeller will experience a slight inflation to start around €26,000. This will remain one of the most attractive prices in the compact segment, even among generalist manufacturers.
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