If one had to explain what driving pleasure embodies, BMW’s range of models would serve as excellent examples. Sheer driving pleasure is, after all, their tagline. Take the 1 Series as an example. 

Now available in a three-door option

First launched in 2004 and at the forefront of driving pleasure in the compact segment of the market, it has now been refined and enhanced even further. Not only does it boast a revised diesel engine and significant modifications to the exterior and interior design, but it is also now – for the first time – available as a three-door model.

Sportier image

The body design of the new three-door model accentuates the long front end and clearly moves the car’s centre of gravity to the rear. The side view, in turn, is characterised by the long door with its frameless window and the single-unit side window at the rear. This dynamic design alone underlines the sporting character of BMW’s new three-door model. 

Price: From R223 000 To R300 500 Article Options Email to Friend Print Article Remove from Favorites Add to Favorites Remove from 'Articles to Read' Add to 'Articles to Read'

Great new modifications in design

Modifications both front and rear give the new 1 Series an even more powerful and characteristic look. As a result, both the three- and five-door versions share the same impressive face with a re-designed and enlarged BMW kidney grille in the middle.

This is accentuated by the newly contoured headlight surrounds in the bumper unit, darker surrounds on the lights, a wider air intake in the lower section of the front air dam, a more pronounced spoiler lip and a new trim bar. Finally, the foglamps – standard across the range – are a rectangular shape, compared to the round ones of the previous model.

This is one hot hatch

The top model in the new three-door 1 Series line-up sports the same straight-six power unit as the range-topping five-door version. This engine comes complete with a composite magnesium/aluminium crankcase and VALVETRONIC technology, developing maximum output of 195 kW – the highest power output in the hot hatch category.

In layman’s terms this relates to great performance on the road, with acceleration to 100 km/h in the three-door model in 6 seconds. But at the same time, the efficiency of this powerplant ensures reasonable fuel consumption: 9,2 litres/100 kilometres in the combined cycle.

The four-cylinder power units of the previous-generation 1 Series have been carried over to the new models, albeit with revised power figures for the BMW 120i and BMW 118i. 

Better fuel consumption

In the new three-door BMW 120i, the 2-litre engine develops maximum output of 115 kW, accelerating this new model to 100 km/h in just 8,5 seconds and giving it a top speed of 215 km/h. Despite this impressive performance, the new engine consumes just 7,9 litres/100 kilometres.

By the same token the new BMW 118i offers the same standard of progress. Developing maximum output of 100 kW, the three-door accelerates to 100 km/h in 9,3 seconds and has a top speed of 208 km/h. Fuel consumption is quoted at 7,4 litres/100 kilometres. 

Standard six-speed gearbox

All new 1 Series models come standard with a six-speed manual gearbox. But as an option, both the BMW 130i with its six-cylinder power unit and the new four-cylinder models are available with six-speed automatic transmission including a Steptronic function. 

Loads more safety features

On the safety side, three-point inertia-reel seat belts and headrests on all seats, belt latch tensioners and belt force limiters at the front, frontal airbags activated in two stages, side airbags integrated in the front seat backrests, as well as curtain head airbags protecting both the occupants at the front and the passengers at the rear, round off the list.

All with  BMW’s dynamic stability control

The newcomers also boast BMW’s dynamic stability control or DSC. What this does, in a nutshell, is to provide a stabilising function in fast and dynamic bends by applying the brakes as required on specific wheels or reducing engine power where appropriate.

On the other hand, cornering brake control (CBC) prevents the car from spinning when applying the brakes lightly in a bend, while dynamic traction control (DTC) increases the system’s slip threshold whenever necessary.

An intelligent drive

It all sounds very technical and complicated. But what it really means – and this is all you need to know – is that the driver will really have to do something really drastic for things to go wrong. The intelligence of the car makes up for the stupidity of the driver!

And what would one pay for all this cleverness? Prices for the three-door 1 Series models are R223 000 for the 118i Manual, R239 000 for the 120i Manual and R300 500 for the 130i Manual.