This Is The Last Six-Cylinder, Rear-Wheel Drive BMW 1-Series
Time has run out for the current BMW 1-series, with a front-wheel replacement on the way within a year. To celebrate the life of the only compact hatchback still to use six cylinders, one of the firm’s divisions is pushing the boat out just a little.
BMW Australia has announced a run-out special edition of the M140i, the straight-six flagship of the five-door range. Christened the Finale Edition and priced $3000 (Australian) above the price of a normal M140i, its tweaks are merely a subtle nod to mark its final lap around showrooms.
A black exterior trim pack covers the AUD$62,990 car’s exhausts, grille and grille surround, while the 18-inch alloys are dark grey and the mirror caps are a mid-grey. The tech parts bin has been emptied into it, with wireless smartphone charging, LED headlights, adaptive suspension, keyless entry and a sunroof all standard.
Naturally you park your rear on finest cowhide and access your music through a Harman Kardon stereo linked to an 8.8-inch touch-screen. Parking sensors at both ends should help you avoid damaging the proud, and still quite brilliant, 1er in its daily duties.
The longitudinal 3.0-litre six up front still throws 335bhp at the rear wheels, backed up by 368lb ft and an easily-reached 155mph speed limiter. It’ll launch to 62mph in 4.6 seconds, partly thanks to a slick eight-speed automatic gearbox. A manual isn’t available.
While ordinary versions of the next 1-series, which will reportedly share a chassis with the Mini range and the X1, will have front-wheel drive only, the ‘direct’ replacement for the M140i will be similar to the X2 M35i: four-wheel drive, with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 302bhp.
Source: CarAdvice
Comments
the automotive world is going to shit thanks to emissions
Nooooooooooo
I loved the 1 series for its RWD. They are so fun and different from every other hatchback. RWD was this cars standout feature!
Once again, the fact that 90% of the car buying population are non-car people takes its toll
At least we still have the 2 series coupe with rwd as this would have been the model id choose
What i see happening in the car industry is an ever wider split between enthusiasts cars and normal cars.
As econoboxes become more and more boring, performance variants become more and more unique and extreme. For example: where the last generation 1-series was both the coupe/cabriolet and the normal hatchback, the 1-series now becomes a normal FWD econocar, while the M2 exists. Or for example the insanely funky i30N compared to a normal i30. And so on and on. It’s not that bad i think, it just shifts to cars that are purely bought by and made for enthusiasts and then the cars for everyone else. Normal drivers don’t care for their everyday cars performance, so why bother?
Bmw making a front wheel drive car… the horor. What has this world come to.
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