Pictured by carscoops.com on the back of a transporter along with a 5-series, what appears to be the updated X1 and even a still disguised Toyota Supra, the internally designated F40 1-series still comes wrapped in substantial layers of black-and-white masking, with some of the snapped models also including the M140i as indicated by the blue calipers.
Joining the 2-series Active Tourer, the new One will swap its rear-wheel drive platform for a development of the Mini’s UKL2 front-wheel drive architecture known as FAAR, which, apart from being lighter, has also been designed for plug-in hybrid application as well as BMW’s xDrive all-wheel drive system.
The switch to front-wheel drive also means that the F40 will no longer be offered with the current model’s range of straight-six engines, as the platform has only been optimised for four-cylinder powerunits.
It therefore means that engine options could range from 1.5-litres to 2.0-litres, the latter displacement expected to produce some 224kW in the Mercedes-AMG A35 rivalling M130i X Performance, and up to 298kW in the case of the case of the A45 aimed M140i. As with the offerings from the three-pointed star, both the M130i and M140i will be equipped as standard with the xDrive system.
While no images of the interior has yet been emerged, the F40 could take after the X2 and even the new 3-series, with tech set to include BMW’s 7.0 operating system, the 10.25-inch iDrive infotainment system, digital instrument cluster and a barrage of new driver assistance systems.
