2019 BMW 1 Series Teased Ahead Of Unveil

The new-gen BMW hatchback gets a new front end and updated interiors

• Third generation 1 Series officially teased ahead of May 27 unveil.

• New front-end design shown uncovered.

• Gets sporty lines, new headlights, bigger grille.

• Unlikely to come to India as a hatchback but may be introduced in a sedan avatar.

The new generation of the BMW 1 Series hatchback will be unveiled on 27 May 2019 but a few details have already been revealed in the latest teaser. It showcases the new front end design with new headlights, fresh bumper styling, bigger grille and sporty lines. It is worth noting that for the 1 Series, BMW has opted not to connect the headlamps and front grille, which is the case with all its sedans, including the new ones like the latest 3 Series.

BMW has also teased the new digital instrument cluster. Cabin interiors are still under wraps, but are likely to be similar to the new 3 Series. The aggressive sport elements at the front like the splitter and gloss black air intakes on the front bumper suggest this is the sportier M135i xDrive variant. This hot-hatch variant is expected to get a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine from the X2 crossover SUV, where it makes 306PS and 450Nm.

BMW’s hatchback did not enjoy much success and was discontinued in India in 2017, likely from a lack of demand. However, if the new-gen 1 Series gets a sedan iteration like the outgoing model, we hope BMW brings that to India. If introduced as a hatch, it would rival the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and the upcoming Audi A1, while the sedan version would take on the Audi A3 or Mercedes-Benz CLA. The price tag for the small BMW sedan would likely start around the Rs 30 lakh mark.