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Ken Gratton27 Nov 2019
NEWS

Mid-spec variant coming for new BMW 1 Series range

But new model bridging divide between entry-level 118i and flagship M135i xDrive may not make it to Oz

A mid-range variant of the new BMW 1 Series hatchback will arrive as a belated replacement for the previous F20-generation 125i sometime next year, but the new model remains shrouded in secrecy.

The new F40-generation BMW 1 Series was launched in Australia earlier this week. But the small hatch range kicks off with just two variants, the entry-level BMW 118i and the high-performance BMW M135i xDrive.

BMW has already stated it won’t produce a full-blown M version of the new front/all-wheel drive 1 Series to rival the Audi RS 3 Sportback and Mercedes-AMG A 45, but there’s also a large gap to fill between the new 118i ($42,990) and M135i ($63,990) – both in terms of performance and market position.

And that lack of a mid-range model is likely to be missed, given the sales split for the previous 1 Series model, as explained by BMW Australia's Head of Product and Market Planning, Brendan Michel.

"If you look at the previous generation, the F20, we had 118i, 125i and 140i. They were all roughly between 30 and 35 per cent of our [sales] volume... especially in the past two years," Michel explained during a 'walk-around' presentation of the new BMW 118i.

Michel told carsales that BMW would announce a replacement for the old 125i within the next 12 months, but BMW Australia CEO Vikram Pawah wouldn’t commit to the 125i successor going on sale here.

"At the moment, the way we've read the market, I think these two models are good enough. That's what people are asking for..." Pawah told carsales exclusively.

"The 1 Series is looking at two different customers: one is the younger audience who are just getting into the premium segment, and the second one is a little bit, slightly – not older, but let me say – not so young...

"At the moment our research shows that these two models will cater to this market very well."

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Pawah denied that there were any "plans as yet" for a 125i successor. In Europe, BMW offers 116d, 118d and 120d xDrive models that would fit the bill, but all three are powered by diesel engines and Pawah mounted a strong case against releasing a new 1 Series diesel here.

"I think that what we're seeing in Australia is that [in] certain segments people don't want diesels.

"We're getting that [feedback] for example in 3 Series... We launched the 320d... We got clear feedback... private customers are not looking for diesels at all.

"We had a diesel earlier in 1 Series... a long time back, and the feedback we got was that it wasn't fit for that segment.

The BMW boss did hedge his bets when asked whether the 120d was entirely ruled out for Australia.

"Nothing's ever 'off the table'... if my customers tell me they have a requirement for something, we'll bring that in."

But on balance, diesel power looks unlikely for the new BMW 1 Series in Australia, which would leave an as yet unnamed petrol variant to slot into the range here sometime next year, potentially priced around $50,000.

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Written byKen Gratton
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