BMW PH Does It Again: 2020 1 Series Undercuts the Merc A-Class, MINI Clubman JCW (w/ Specs)

Flair up those nostril hot hatch fans, because BMW Philippines just unleashed yet another surprise in the all-new 1 Series. Available in two variants, the 1 Series switches to a new platform (UKL2) which fuses the brand’s dynamic excellence with increased interior space. And they also happen to undercut their two chief segment rivals.

But before getting there, it’s prudent to get one thing out of the way: those nostrils. Yup, you better like your noses big because for the third-generation 1 Series, the trademark kidney grille is now larger, and fused in the middle. Towards the side, the shark nose design, strong wedge shape, and Hofmeister kink are all present, as are full LED lighting front and back. For the base 118i Sport, 17-inch rims fill all four corners, while for the M135i xDrive, it gets standard 18 inchers.

Inside, the 1 Series benefits from a giant leap in space with rear knee room going up by 33 mm from the previous generation. There’s also 13 mm more elbow room at the back, and 42 mm more upfront. The load compartment too is up 20 liters (380 liters in total), growing to 1,200 liters with the rear seats down.

For the Philippine market, BMW Philippines opted to bring in just one equipment line and one flagship model for the 1 Series. The 118i comes solely in Sport with its high-gloss exterior accents and sport seats wrapped in a cloth/Sensatec combination material. Meanwhile, the range-topping M135i xDrive gets some M goodies with Dakota leather for the Misano Blue version, and Alcantara/Trigon cloth for the Alpine White version.

Powering the 118i Sport is a 140-horsepower, 220 Nm of torque engine mated to a 7-speed dual clutch automatic. Meanwhile, for the M135i xDrive, it boasts of the most powerful 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo in the BMW Group line-up and for that makes 306 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque mated to an 8-speed automatic with Launch Control mode. And suggested by its xDrive moniker, the M135i xDrive model gets BMW’s intelligent all-wheel drive system with a Torsen limited-slip differential. M Sport brakes round up the transformation.

The all-new BMW 1 Series 118i Sport is priced at P 2,690,000—which puts it squarely against the decidedly more anemic Mercedes-Benz A 180 Progressive. It comes in Alpine White, Black Sapphire, Glacier Silver, and Mineral Gray. Meanwhile, the BMW M135i XDrive comes in at P 4.590-million which is cheaper than its corporate cousin, the MINI Clubman John Cooper Works. It comes in two colors: Alpine White or Misano Blue. Both models come with a 5-year or 200,000-kilometer manufacturer’s warranty, a new standard in the premium automotive segment in the Philippines.