New Delhi: BMW is preparing for the fourth generation of the 1 Series for 2028, and Autocar UK has said that it will be coming in petrol, plug-in hybrid and electric powertrains. The next-generation model is expected to come with the conventional hatchback shape rather than going into a crossover-type design.
The electric version, likely to be called the i1, is expected to ride on BMW’s dedicated Gen6 EV platform, while combustion-engine versions are set to continue on the existing UKL2 architecture. This might allow the electric i1 to adopt a rear-wheel-drive setup, unlike the present front-wheel drive 1 Series.
As per BMW’s product boss Bernd Korber, the automaker still sees the 1 Series as an important entry-level model in major European markets despite the shift to SUVs and crossovers. Almost 2,00,000 units were reportedly sold across the world last year, with a heavy demand being from Italian and French markets.
BMW’s compact car design boss, Oliver Heilmer, in conversation with Autocar UK, has said the Neue Klasse design language was “more a mindset” and not a design formula. Further, he added that the cars coming on this platform will continue to have “strong different characters”.
Heilmer also pointed out that BMW didn’t want a simple replica of the styling of the BMW iX3 across the future models.
What is BMW planning for the next-gen 1 Series powertrain
The biggest mechanical change for the next-gen 1 Series is likely to be the return of rear-wheel drive on the electric i1, which was discontinued with the third gen 1 Series is expected to return to the RWD setup on the electric i1, which was discontinued with the third-gen 1 Series in 2019. The EV is likely to come riding on BMW’s Gen6 electric platform, which also underpins both i3 and ix3 and supports both rear and dual-motor setups.
The standard electric i1 is likely to come with a single rear-mounted motor making around 326 hp. BMW might later even bring a dual-motor M-badged version that makes 469 hp, which might make it one of the most powerful 1 Series to date. The electric hatchback is also expected to share quite a lot of its technology with the i3 saloon, even though BMW might place it in a lower price bracket.
Neue Klasse cabin in i3
Along with this, BMW will continue to offer the petrol version of the 1 Series. Engine options include the present 1.5-litre three-cylinder and 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engines. A plug-in hybrid version is expected, reportedly using a similar setup to the current BMW 3 Series plug-in hybrid, combining a 2.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor and battery pack. Joachim Post, reportedly, told Autocar UK, that the new interior design had been created to be flexible across all types of body styles and powertrains.
The Neue Klasse cabin comes with a 17.9-inch slanted central touchscreen and a 43.3-inch-long ‘Panoramic iDrive’ instead of an instrument cluster