September 12, 2011. Copyright 2011, Graphic News. All rights reserved

BMW 1 series shares limelight at Frankfurt show with the weird and wacky
By Neil Winton

LONDON, September 12, Graphic News:  You will be able to recognise BMW's new 1 series as you stroll around the biennial auto show here because unlike many of the other debutants, it looks like a car.

The world's biggest car manufacturers are unveiling their latest designs for new technology electric cars, and some are more serious than others. Volkswagen, Europe's biggest car maker, will show its NILS electric commuter concept car which looks like a covered motorcyle and bizarrely has room for only one. Audi has its electric Urban Concept vehicle. That has two seats, but they are slightly staggered and its wheels protrude outside the body. Renault will parade its wacky looking electric cars.

The new BMW I series, which goes on sale later this month across Europe, looks much more mainstream. In fact, BMW hasn't taken any risks with the design and the new model looks very much like the old one. Instead BMW has concentrated on engineering and comfort with improvements in fuel efficiency, suspension technology, and more space for the passengers. Still the only rear-wheel-driven car in its class, the new 1 series is a bit longer and wider than the old one. Where BMW has been adventurous is in loading the 1 series with high technology safety and comfort features usually limited to much more expensive cars. This includes lane departure, collision warning and adaptive cruise control, which uses radar to slow the car as it approaches slower ones, and automatically speeds it up again when the coast is clear.

There are petrol and diesel engine options from 1.6 to 2.0 litres. An ultra fuel-efficient diesel version will go on sale next year offering a claimed 74mpg-3.8-l/km. You can choose a six-speed manual gearbox or an eight-speed automatic. All versions incorporate fuel-saving "stop-start", and a device which allows the driver to choose from four different driving modes from sport to comfort. ECO PRO guides the driver into making more fuel efficient decisions such as curbing the air-conditioning and heated seats' use of power.

BMW gambled when it launched the 1 series in 2004, the smallest car in the German luxury car manufacturer's portfolio. Was it undermining the brand's exclusiveness by venturing down into Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus and Alfa Romeo territory? Would it be able to make money in this cut-throat sector where profit margins were miniscule? One million sales later, it is clear the first 1 series was at least a sales success.

Perhaps the most important new car being unveiled at the show is the Volkswagen Up, a new minicar which heralds VW's big ambitions in this sector. Watch out Fiat, Renault, Peugeot, and Ford. Fiat is unveiling its redesigned direct rival to the Up, the Panda. Ford is showing its Evos concept, a coupe style car with four-gullwing doors. This design won't be manufactured, but it gives a hint as to how the upcoming Ford Mondeo replacement will look.

Dreamers might like to visit the Ferrari stand to gape at the new 458 Spider, the convertible version of the Italia, which has a folding hard top and a 4.5 litre 570 hp V8 engine.

The Frankfurt Car Show is open to the public from September 15-25.
/ENDS




BMW 116i ES

Engine: 1.6 litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power:  136 hp @ 4,400rpm
Torque: 220 Nm @ 1,350-4,300rpm
Drive: rear-wheels
Gearbox: six-speed manual or 8-speed automatic
Acceleration: 0-62mph-100km/h 8.5 seconds (9.1 auto)
Top speed: 130 mph-210 km/h
Fuel consumption – claimed combined: 50mpg-5.7-l/km
C02: 132g/km
Emissions class: E.U.5
Suspension: double-joint cross strut/five-link
Length: 4,324mm
Width: 1,765mm
Height: 1,421mm
Wheel-base: 2,690mm
Weight: 1,290kg
Boot capacity: 360/1,200 litres
Competition: Audi A3, Lexus CT200h, Mecedes A class
Price: £19,375