Story & photos by Randy S. Peregrino
SMC Asia Car Distributors Corp., the official importer and distributor of BMW vehicles in the Philippines, recently brought in three new exciting models to feast on.
During the recently concluded BMW Joyfest 2020 held at the Activity Center in BGC, the German automaker usher in the all-new 1 Series 118i Sport along with its range-topping performance version, the M135i xDrive, plus the new X1 sDrive18d xLine.
New face, larger grille
Donning a fresh look with a larger signature BMW kidney grille, the entire front end denotes a commanding presence. It’s also the first for the model range to adapt the two-kidney design merged in the middle. The M135i xDrive, on the other hand, now sports a racing-inspired and prominent three-dimensional mesh design. Both variant’s full LED headlights are now angled in design.
On the flanks, there’s the familiar BMW shark nose, a strong hint of a wedge shape and slim window graphic, along with several crisp, precise lines and boldly sculpted surfaces. At the back, the wide, two-section full-LED rear lights provide a whole new take on the familiar “L” design courtesy of a single, slim light element with a striking sweep to the side. The performance variant, meantime, received eye-catching tailpipes for that sporty appearance, along with M Performance aerodynamic trims. There are three light-alloy wheel designs. The 17-inch double-spoke style 549 is for the 118i Sport. The larger 18-inch V-spoke style 554 M is for the M135i xDrive in Alpine White, while an 18-inch Double-spoke style 556 M is for the M135i xDrive in Misano Blue.
The all-new 1 Series’ cabin is much roomier, particularly in the rear compartment. Rear space has increased by 33 mm with 13 mm more elbow room.
As for the driver and front passenger, there’s 42 mm more of space. Compartment capacity increased by 20 liters with a 67-mm increase on trunk width. The 118i comes solely in Sport Line, with black accents, and sport seats draped in Sensatec combination upholstery. The range-topping BMW M135i xDrive, on the other hand, has Dakota leather interior with perforations for Misano Blue version and cloth “Trigon” with Black Alcantara in the Alpine White version.
Another feature inside is iDrive Controller (touch or voice), standard 8.8-inch Control Display with touchscreen functionality, BMW Live Cockpit Professional, based on the new BMW Operating System 7.0 (including two 10.25-inch displays).
There’s also Parking Assistant in the form of the standard Park Distance Control (PDC) and a rear-view camera. Meanwhile, the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant: expert and conversation partner is available to the M135i xDrive.
Now sporting a front-wheel-drive architecture, there are two engine options. The118i Sport has the 1.5-liter TwinPower Turbo three-cylinder the engine generating 140 hp/220 N-m of maximum torque and mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch Steptronic transmission. The all-wheel-drive M135i xDrive, on the other hand, has the 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder engine dishing out 306 hp/450 N-m of maximum torque and mated to an eight-speed Steptronic Sport gearbox. The BMW M135i xDrive can sprint from zero to 100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds (4.7 seconds with the M Performance package) with a governed top speed of 250 km/h. The M Performance Package is equipped on the Alpine White version of the BMW M135i xDrive only.
Another standard feature of the BMW 1 Series is the ARB (near-actuator wheel slip limitation), which is controlled directly in the engine control for the DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) system. Besides the standard suspension, the all-new BMW 1 Series also comes with Adaptive suspension VDC (Vehicle Damper Control), which also comes in the M135i xDrive. Other safety features are front/head/side air bags, Antilock Braking System (ABS), Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), and crash sensor, among others.
The all-new BMW 1 Series 118i Sport is priced at P2.690 million, and is available in the following colors: Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Glacier Silver and Mineral Grey. The range-topping BMW M135i xDrive, on the other hand, is priced at P4.590 million and is available in the following colors: Alpine White and Misano Blue. Both models come with a five-year or 200,000-kilometer manufacturer’s warranty.
The xLine factor
Meanwhile, the BMW X1 sDrive 18d xLine was also ushered in. The new model update makes the X1 an even more desirable proposition. The new-look has prominent revisions found at the front and rear. Exuding a more imposing aura, it also received a larger BMW grille, with the kidneys merging in the center, which links up with the new LED headlights. These are complemented by the sharper light iconography and a bumper with larger air intakes. The rear end, meantime, received new inlay in the body-color rear apron as standard. 18-inch Y-spoke Style 566 Light Alloy Wheels with run-flat tires also came in standard.
Highlighted inside is the new contrast stitching on the instrument panel, which is black on its upper section. Then, the black, high-gloss interior trim is combined with pearl chrome inserts and the standard Sensatec upholstery. Of course, there’s the Control Display, a 6.5-inch screen that can be operated using the BMW iDrive Controller. Additionally, rear passengers get the extra convenience of two USB-C ports at the rear center console. Moreover, rear seats are 40:20:40 split.
Under the hood is a 2.0-liter Twinpower Turbodiesel motor generating 150hp/350 N-m of torque and mated to an eight-speed Steptronic transmission. Power is then transferred to front wheels. The BMW X1 sDrive 18d xLine is priced at P3.090 million and is available in Alpine White and Black colors. Also, it comes with a five-year or 200,000-km manufacturer’s warranty.
Image credits: BMW Philippines, Randy S. Peregrino