While BMW’s German rival Mercedes-Benz has planned to launch A-class premium hatchback in India. How can BMW stay behind? So the folks at BMW have decided to launch their 1-Series premium hatchback in India. Yesterday at the launch of BMW 6-Series Gran Coupe, the company has hinted that the new 1-Series hatchback might also come to India next-year.
The A-Class has been spotted couple of times with minimal camouflage being tested in India for 2013 launch. The new entry-level Merc will be the least expensive and only premium car in its segment in India with prices starting around Rs 18-20 lakh. Like the A-Class, the 1-Series hatchback is the smallest car in the BMW range which is also expected to be priced in the range of around Rs 18-20 lakh.
On the international markets, BMW sells the 1-Series with 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines, and even a turbocharged 3.0-litre, six-cylinder petrol in the 135i. However in India, to keep the costs on check it might share engines with the X1, which include 2.0-litre, 181bhp diesel and a 150bhp, and 2.0-litre petrol, with the distant possibility of a hot, 168bhp, direct-injection petrol option.
The 1-Series hatch is based on the same platform architecture as the 3-Series, it shares some major components with the sedan, including its front MacPherson struts and multi-link rear suspension. The car is not as small as it looks in the above pictures, its 4.2 metres long and with a wheelbase that has been stretched by 30mm over the last 1-Series, this car’s dimensions are more mid-size sedan than small hatch.
As far as features are concerned, the 1-Series comes loaded with features from the segment above, it gets parking assist, lane departure and collision warning, cruise control, smart phone and music player integration with Facebook and Twitter apps, Optional iDrive and BMW ConnectedDrive. It remains to be seen how many of those features make it to the Indian market.
BMW 1-Series should arrive in India as CKD by last quarter of 2013. The hatchback will be assembled at the BMW’s Chennai plant and will be priced similarly to the A-Class.
Checkout the dashboard picture below the jump.
Also see – BMW 1-series to launch in India by second half 2012
