By Thatcar.co.za
A while ago — I think it was around 2003 — BMW brought out the 7 Series designed by Chris Bangle.
Quickly after that came the 5 Series, 3 Series and 6 Series, all with some very unusual lines.
I must admit, I was one of those people who was sceptical.
I mean, the E38 7 Series was such a looker.
So, the early 2000s BMW designs were definitely polarising. But I must give Bangle his bells — they have aged beautifully.
Okay, wait…
Not all of them.
The E65 7 Series?
That has been, and still is, ugly.
Again, argue amongst yourselves.
Fast-forward 23 years, and here we are again, with what BMW is calling the Neue Klasse.
Now, I am not — and have never been — a massive BMW design fan.
But this Neue Klasse?
I love it.
And I have a colleague who has bought nothing but BMWs his entire life, and even he is apparently looking at Audi.
I have just sworn at the BMW fanboys.
So, let’s get into it.
THE 1 SERIES IS COMING BACK
Picture Courtesy of Autocar
BMW has confirmed that it will launch a new compact Neue Klasse EV, which is expected to become the next-generation 1 Series.
And let’s start with the good news.
We’re going back.
Well, sort of.
The new 1 Series EV is expected to be rear-wheel drive, which immediately makes things interesting.
The car will sit on BMW’s electric Neue Klasse platform, the same architecture being used by models such as the new iX3 and i3.
That means the base versions of the electric 1 Series are expected to return to a rear-wheel-drive layout.
And if you’re a BMW fan, you know exactly why that matters.
As with the i3 and 3 Series, the electric 1 Series — potentially badged i1 — is expected to sit alongside a combustion-engined 1 Series.
The two cars are likely to share similar styling, while being technically very different underneath.
Excited?
Well, you might have to wait a little.
The new model is expected in 2028, around four years after the current car’s major update and in line with BMW’s plan to roll out its Neue Klasse models.
So, in a way…
We’re seeing 2003 all over again.
Picture Courtesy of Autocar
BMW IS KEEPING THE 1 SERIES
At a time when many manufacturers are getting rid of smaller cars because they don’t generate the same profits as larger SUVs, BMW appears determined to keep the 1 Series alive.
And we think that’s a good thing.
Why?
Because people clearly want the badge.
BMW reportedly sold around 200,000 1 Series models globally last year.
And honestly, we believe that number could have been even higher if the current 1 Series had been a little more interesting.
Because, let’s be honest…
It’s a bit boring.
And when you put the BMW badge on a small car, we want it to feel like a BMW.
Rear-wheel drive would certainly help.
ENGINES
The combustion-engined 1 Series is expected to continue with a range of familiar powertrains.
These could include the current 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engine and 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine.
There could also be a plug-in hybrid option, combining the 2.0-litre engine with a front-mounted electric motor and a 19.5kWh battery, potentially offering around 60 miles of electric-only range.
So BMW isn’t necessarily abandoning the internal-combustion engine just yet.
And that’s important because the next-generation 1 Series could give buyers plenty of choice.
SAFETY
The new 1 Series is also expected to feature BMW’s latest advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), together with BMW’s new AI-powered computing systems.
In other words, expect the usual collection of cameras, sensors, driver assistance and increasingly clever software.
INTERIOR
Inside, expect the new 1 Series to take plenty of inspiration from the latest BMW models.
That means a more modern, minimalist cabin, BMW’s latest infotainment technology and a dashboard design similar to what we’ve already seen in the new-generation 3 Series and other Neue Klasse models.
VERDICT
Now, this is where it gets interesting.
Half of our team doesn’t like the look of this car.
I do.
And that’s probably the most BMW thing about it.
BMW has always been a brand that divides opinion when it comes to design.
But if BMW really does bring back rear-wheel drive, combines it with the Neue Klasse technology and gives the 1 Series some of that old BMW character…
Well, we think — or at least 50% of us think — that BMW might just be back.
And if the other 50% don’t agree? Argue amongst yourselves.
Picture Courtesy of Autocar
