BMW 1-Series sedan showcased at Guangzhou Auto Show

MANILA: The German automaker has recently added a new member to its family but, for the Chinese market for now. Yes, the BMW 1-Series sedan has been revealed at the Guangzhou Auto Show 2016. The concept was showcased at the same show last year and now the sedan is all set to rule the Chinese roads. Sharing the designing cues with its elder sibling, BMW 3-Series, the BMW 1-Series is a compact sedan with an aggressive touch.

The bumpers, fog lamps, kidney-grille, alloy wheels and wing mirrors are all tweaked a bit to give distinct appeal to this entry level sedan without compromising the BMW feel in any aspect. The overall dimensions of the BMW 1-Series sedan measure 4456 mm X 1803 mm X 1446 mm (L X W X H), which makes it shorter than its key rival, the Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class. The wheelbase stands at 2670 mm, making room for a comfortable and spacious cabin for the occupants.

In the cabin, the multi-function 3-spoke steering wheel, dual-tone dashboard with a large infotainment system are all prominent. Whereas, the comfort and luxury of BMW has been kept intact in the entry level sedan. The BMW 1-Series is based on the company's UKL front-wheel drive platform, which is underpinned in the X1 as well. Under the hood, there are two engine options, which include a 1.5-litre turbo three-cylinder and a 2.0-litre turbo petrol.

As the BMW 1-Series sedan is a China-specific product, the production will be done at the BMW Brilliance Automotive company - BMW’s Chinese joint venture. The entry-level sedan from the house of German automaker will rival Audi A3 and CLA-Class and if the response is significant in the Chinese market then the company might introduce it in other parts of Asia-pacific, which might include the Philippines as well.

The pricing is yet to be confirmed by the company and it is expected that it will be revealed before the sedan hits the showrooms.