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BMW set 1 Series sights on Golf GTI

BMW 1 Series

BMW Australia believes the new 1 Series can match the performance of the all-conquering Volkswagen Golf GTI. Speaking at the recent launch of the F20 1 Series, BMW’s Toni Andreevski said, “We want to price [an upcoming 1-Series model] it as a Golf GTI competitor. It will have Golf GTI-rivalling performance.”

At initial launch the 118i is, on paper, the closest match to the GTI. With just 125kW on tap it is 30kW down on power, which translates in a 0-100km/h time 0.5 seconds slower than the GTI. However, BMW say they have a new 160kW 1er powered by a 2.0 litre turbocharged engine on the way which they expect will tempt buyers away from Volkswagen.

In order to help make that case more compelling they will sharpen their pencils. Helping to offer a competitive price they will cut out some expensive equipment options.

“We are looking at more of our performance models in the 1-Series hatch and bringing them in a lot more sharply priced,” says Andreevski.

“You’ll see from us a lot flatter price structure [in future]. We want to communicate the performance of the car and let the customer choose [what options they want]. It’s all about being more customer focused.”

So, if you were in the market for a hot hatch would you pick the 1 Series hatch over a similarly priced GTI. Or would you choose another hot hatch altogether?

[Source: Drive]

17 replies on “BMW set 1 Series sights on Golf GTI”

Gotta admit that I’d be happy to have a blue propeller in the garage … but its pretty hard to ignore those saggy headlights. Looks like the nip and tuck went a bit wrong. Unless it looks very different in the flesh I’d keep looking… with a GTI as the fall back plan.

This could be one of the ugliest medium sized production cars ever… To be a GTI competitor, they would have to make it 100% prettier.

Nice try BMW… In this day and age we must pat the “special” kid on the back too… Keep up the good work lol

theres no way in hell the 1.6 turbo is only 0.5 slower than a GTI. we have that same motor in our Pug 308 XTS and its a 8.3 second can with a 6-speed manual. the 1.6 runs out of puff at 5,200

I’d wait for the next gen Golf or A-Class purely because the new 1-series looks hella ugly. I’m sure it will perform well enough though and the badge might be enough to lure customers away from other marques.

I was going to come here to whine about how fugly it is. But I see the peanut gallery already agrees with me! No way it will come near the sales of the GTi….

Given my nickname, even I have reservations about the look of this one… I agree Liam, once the M Spec comes out, it’d be a far more attractive proposition.

M spec has been shown at Frankfurt a few weeks back. Ausmotive must have missed it. M spec looks pretty good actually especially the interior.

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