The result of a joint venture between BMW and its Chinese alliance partner Brilliance Automotive, the sedan rides on the same front-wheel drive UKL platform as the 2-series Active Tourer, X1 and Mini, and measures 4 456mm in overall length with a height of 1 446 mm and width of 1 803 mm.
Based on the images taken by motor1.com, the blue 1-series Sedan appears unchanged from the equivalent model sold in its key market, although this can be mostly be attributed to the extensive use of masking on the front facia, as well as on the doors and around the rear bumper, though the partially hidden taillights resembles that of the previous generation 3-series.
In China, power comes from a choice of three turbocharged petrol engines; a 1.5-litre three-cylinder in the 118i that makes 100kW/220Nm, a 2.0-litre four-cylinder in the 120i that produces 141kW/280Nm and the same engine in the 125i that has been re-tuned to make 170kW/350Nm. Whereas the former makes do with a six-speed Steptronic gearbox, the latter pair are outfitted with an eight-speed ‘box.
Despite BMW having denounced the idea of making the booted 1-series available on the Old Continent, an alternative report by carscoops.com has alleged that the model is due for a mid-life facelift in spite of only having been on sale since last year, and that it could well be used as a test mule for the all-new, front-wheel drive hatch due out next year.
If indeed given the green light for Europe, the sedan will adopt its hatch sibling’s FAAR platform, and rival the likes of the Audi A3 Sedan and Mercedes-Benz A-class Sedan/CLA, both of which are due for replacements soon - the latter having pair already been spotted along with the estate styled CLA Shooting Brake.
