Advertorial feature

Does the BMW 1 Series three-door sport hatch offer both performance and fuel economy?

 

The popular
BMW 1
Series
has recently been added to by the German carmaker, in
the form of the brand new three-door hatch model. The new addition
to the range has been designed to offer even more space and better
efficiency, but from a performance point of view, is also a very
sporty vehicle indeed. The new model will be available to UK buyers
from September of this year and will debut alongside two brand new
engines sizes. These are the 144i and the much talked-about
M135i.

The driver, the front seat passenger and the rear passengers will all find that the new 3 Door Hatch offers a great deal of legroom and the cabin offers plenty of space. In terms of the details, BMW has lived up to its reputation by ensuring that every aspect of this new car has been made to the highest specifications.

For those who want to add a touch of their own personality to their new hatchback, the Urban and Sport models offer unique trims. With all this performance and choice, many would-be BMW buyers may of the impression that the new BMW 1 Series 3 Door Hatch is out-with the range of their pockets, but at only £17,300 (on the road) for the new 114i model, such sentiments are likely to be short lived.

In terms of technical specifications, the new 114i actually offers the same level of power as the previous 116i. But where it really differs from the outgoing model is in its fuel efficiency and environmental credentials; it is able to achieve 49.6 miles to the gallon combined, and with 132g per kilometre of CO2, it is good for both motorists’ pocket and the environment.

M135i

As befits its position as the car at the top of the range, M135i model delivers outstanding performance. It is the very first engine variant of the BMW M Performance range, and has been created with the expertise the Performance division at BMW M GmbH. In just 5.1 seconds this model can go from 0-62 mph, and if the optional 8-speed automatic transmission is selected, this goes down to an even more impressive 4.9 seconds. Many motorists would be forgiven for thinking that such performance would make the car a bad choice as far as fuel consumption and the environment go, but with EfficientDynamics technologies that include Auto Start and ECO PRO, buyers of this model are looking at 35.3 miles to the gallon and only 188 grams per kilometre of CO2.

Central to all this performance is the engine – the straight six-cylinder N55 3.0 litre. It delivers a peak torque of 450 Nm (332 lb-ft), available between 1,300rpm and 4,500rpm, and a total 320 horsepower. For those who decide to by this car, it arguably combines performance, fuel economy and environmental friendliness in a manner that few of its rivals have yet achieved. It will also address the part of the car market inhabited by people who want both sportiness and a degree of practicality.

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
News in pictures
World news in pictures
Life & Style blogs

Your chance to live in Winnie the Pooh’s home

Plus London's buy-to-let hotspots and a new property portal

How can the mortgage market recovery be helped?

Guest post by Richard Sexton, business development director of e.surv chartered surveyors

Where do most millionaires live in the UK?

Plus lateral thinking and living on London's waterways

       
Independent
Travel Shop
Imperial Cities of Morocco
Seven nights half-board from only £799pp Find out more
Historic Sicily
Seven nights half-board from £799pp Find out more
4* all-inclusive Crete
Seven nights from only £399pp Find out more

ES Rentals

    Independent Dating
    and  

    By clicking 'Search' you
    are agreeing to our
    Terms of Use.

    Day In a Page

    James Pembroke: The man who's eaten everywhere

    The man who's eaten everywhere

    Few people know more about restaurants than James Pembroke, who only spent five mealtimes at home during his entire childhood.
    A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

    A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

    The young JFK praised 'superior' Nordic races during visits to Germany
    Banned Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof to attend Cannes Film Festival 2013, his first public appearance since prison

    Banned Iranian director to attend Cannes Film Festival

    Mohammad Rasoulof to make his first public appearance since being imprisoned three years ago
    Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

    Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

    An exhibition explores images how photography has shaped astronomy
    Eat Spam and carry on: Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating

    Eat Spam and carry on

    Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating
    Facial hair: Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence

    Facial hair

    Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence
    The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

    The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

    Whether they're for everyday use or to make your dining table look just right, it's worth getting a stylish shaker...
    Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

    Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

    Chief executive says trophies will come if a 'core' of suitable players is in place
    Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

    Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

    The Bayern Munich forward tells Tim Rich his side have to shed chokers' tag after two recent final defeats
    Giro d'Italia: The Stelvio Pass - cycling's killer climb

    The Stelvio Pass - cycling's killer climb

    As the Giro d'Italia tackles the brutal climb, Simon Usborne takes on the snow and switchbacks – and soon realises what the fuss is about
    National archives: Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

    Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

    Newly unearthed papers reveal a shocking extra dimension to the constitutional crisis over monarch’s abdication
    Sent down at the Old Bailey: A tour of the world's most famous court

    Sent down at the Old Bailey

    A tour of the world's most famous court
    Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness

    Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness

    The Hangover actor Zach Galifianakis’s date for his movie premieres isn’t arm candy  – it’s his 87-year-old friend who he saved from homelessness
    British football scores an own goal

    British football scores an own goal

    Many managers barely survive a year in post. Martin Baker talks to experts who make a case for clubs using forensic business skills to find the best staff
    James Lawton: Sergio Garcia cracks as major fault line opens up again

    James Lawton

    Sergio Garcia cracks as major fault line opens up again