Thanks to its adoption of the Mini brand, the Bavarian carmaker possesses a wealth of front-wheel-drive knowledge that is finally being employed on its traditionally rear-driven line-up. While the benefit of better product packaging is inevitable, a transverse engine location freeing-up a lot of much-welcomed cabin space, BMW’s engineering team appreciates that the transition could be open to significant criticism from a market sector that expects tradition to be upheld by the brand.
A crucial aspect of the new 1-Series’ anticipated high agility is what’s known as ARB technology (actuator contiguous wheel slip limitation), a system previously used on the BMW i3s (the firm’s EV). It improves traction decisively, by featuring a slip control system positioned directly within the engine control unit instead of in the Dynamic Stability Control system. With shorter signal paths, information is transmitted in a third of the time, the driver perceiving it as being up to ten times faster. In close coordination with the DSC function, ARB significantly reduces the power understeer usually experienced with front-wheel drive vehicles, but without flashing lights and electronic intervention.
BMW Performance Yaw Control is also standard and increases the BMW 1 Series’ agility with dynamic brake intervention. The improved torsional rigidity of the body structure is enhanced by using additional struts, such as a standard rear-end boomerang structure. BMW believes that it has removed all of the negative dynamic characteristics normally associated with front-wheel drive for its newcomer. However, just in case, the firm’s intelligent X-Drive (4WD) technology will be employed on specific, higher-powered models as a practical safety blanket.
As you might imagine, with a 306bhp version of BMW’s venerable 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine available (model designation: M135i), the enhanced traction of an all-wheel drive system will be appreciated. This model will go head-to-head with Merc’s latest A-Class in AMG trim, while giving several hot hatches a run for their money. It obtains its potency from a bi-turbo installation that also keeps running costs within sensible bounds, with approximately 45.0mpg potential and combined CO2 emissions of around 155g/km (on the WLTP test cycle).
As a result of the new packaging possibilities, space in the rear of the 1-Series (or, rather, lack of it in previous models) has been addressed with more than 33mm increased legroom and 19mm improved headroom. Access to the rear seats has also been improved significantly and the boot capacity has taken an additional 20-litres hike to 380-litres, which means more than enough space for the golf clubs. A reduction in the size of the central tunnel helps with the new air of spaciousness, while the car’s lower centre-of-gravity aids both driver comfort and actual on-road stability. Fortunately, the new 1-Series retains an evolutionary style so as not to upset BMW traditionalists too much.
