BMW 1 Series Sedan Launched In Mexico, Should Come To India

With distinct styling and larger dimensions, the 1 Series sedan isn't just its hatchback sibling with a boot

In February 2017, BMW debuted the 1 Series sedan and confirmed that it will be exclusive to China. But now, the German carmaker has gone back on its words and launched its entry-level sedan in Mexico, where it is now being sold alongside the existing 1 Series hatchback (second generation).

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The 1 Series sedan, unlike one would expect, is not just the 1 Series hatchback with a boot but a new product with distinct styling and larger dimensions. It’s come out before the third-gen 1 Series hatchback, which is being readied as a 2019 model and is expected to launch in the coming months.

The sedan looks aggressive from the front, but the rear is rather simple and quintessentially BMW. The side profile is clean and features a sharp shoulder line running across the length of the car. At 4456mm x 1803mm x 1446mm (L x W x H), the sedan is 115mm longer, 38mm wider and 12mm lower than the current 1 Series hatchback.

In Mexico, the 1 Series sedan is offered with two petrol engine options - a 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder (136PS/220Nm) engine on the 118iA and a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder (192PS/280Nm) engine on the 120iA. Both of these engines are mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

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Although BMW has not said anything about introducing the 1 Series sedan in India, its launch outside China makes us more optimistic about the same. Moreover, the 1 Series sedan is based on BMW’s UKL platform which it shares with the BMW X1. And since the X1 is locally assembled here, manufacturing the sedan in India shouldn’t be a tall order.

If it comes to India, the 1 Series sedan will compete against the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz CLA and the upcoming Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan, which is in consideration for the Indian market. Audi has also recently expressed its intentions of bringing in more cars that will sit below the A3 and Q3, which would make the luxury brand more accessible in India.

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