Autoblog

Click the image above for a host of live high-res pics of the BMW 1-series.

Of all the vehicles that made their debut at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show, one will likely have more impact on North American enthusiasts than any other. The BMW 1-series is outfitted with nearly everything your average motorphile could want: small size, big power, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 50/50 weight distribution -- the list goes on and on. That's why, rather than rattling off a few sentences littered with a handful of jokes and statistics, we wanted to spend a bit more time on the 1-series, much the way you would if you had attended the show.

While the blogosphere was busy covering the latest batch of spy shots of Bimmer's new 1-Series coupe, BMW UK went and posted official details on its version of the car, which will arrive in November as the 120d, 123d, and 135i. We'll get to the two diesels (which we won't see here, in all likelihood) in a moment. The official rundown on the BMW 135i Coupe goes like this: 306 horsepower, 295 lb-ft from 1,300 - 5,000 rpm, Zero to 62 mph in 5.3 sec, and a 155 mph top speed. Fuel economy is rated at over 25 mpg (US) in the European combined cycle.

As for the diesels, they sound pretty good, too -- particularly the 123d, which benefits from BMW's Efficient Dynamics program (Stop/Start, brake regeneration, active aero, etc). In addition to being rated at over 44 mpg (US) in the combined cycle. the 123d is gutsy. Its twin-turbocharged 1998cc diesel four-cylinder makes 204 horses -- that's over 100 hp/liter. The run to sixty takes 7 seconds and it tops out at 148 mph. The entry-level 120d also gets the Efficient Dynamics tech, but makes 177 horses. It's performance is a slight downgrade from the 123d (.6 seconds longer to 60 mph) but it beats it in fuel economy.

Want to read more? It's all there in black and white at BMW UK.

Nice tip, Sjo!

[Source: BMW UK]

BMW seems to be matching pace with Audi in its pursuit of becoming all things to all people. We know that a new compact crossover is in the works, along with a supercar to best its cross-town rivals, and the soon-to-be-U.S.-bound 1-series will be released in both coupe and convertible forms.

But BMW isn't letting its core products rot on the vine. They'll be upgrading their European oilburning offerings with a new 2-liter diesel, set to find its way under the hood of the 123d, while the X5 will get a 3-liter diesel, producing 286 HP and 580 Nm of torque.

In an effort to combat the upcoming RS6, BMW also plans to revamp the M5 with a revised version of the 5-liter V10 that should bump horsepower into the 520 to 530 realm. Along with the engine upgrades, expect to see several interior upgrades, including a new heads-up display system.

[Source: Motor Authority]