BMW 118d News

BMW Australia has announced pricing for its refreshed 1 Series line-up arriving in September, with the range-topping M140i benefiting from a significant price cut

New engines and spec tweaks destined for 1 Series in Q4.

The 1 Series hatch has received a mid-cycle facelift for 2015, with BMW adding more standard features across the range, while maintaining the $36,900 entry point.While the 1 Series will still be spread across five variants, BMW has dropped the 116i entry-level model, replacing it with the 118i. The outgoing 118i has also been replaced by the 120i, while the 125i, M135i and diesel-powered 118d names carry over.Most variants maintain the same list pricing as their outgoing equivalents. Only the 125i has seen a minor price bump, with its list price rising $900 to $48,900. The M135i has received a $2030 drop to now be priced from $62,900.RELATED: Watch our 2015 BMW 1 Series first drive review video here.The 2015 118i features a 100kW/220Nm 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine (from the previous 116i), paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Combined fuel consumption also matches the outgoing 116i at 5.6L/100km. The four-cylinder 118i will be short lived however, as the entry model will adopt a version of the 2 Series Active Tourer's 1.5-litre three cylinder engine in the fourth quarter of the year.New standard features for the refreshed 118i include a reversing camera, rear parking sensors, satnav with live traffic information, auto wipers and 16-inch alloys.The $40,300 118d turbodiesel receives a bump in outputs with the 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine now producing 110kW (up 5kW) and 320Nm. It is also paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.Despite the power boost, the efficiency-leading 118d now consumes in 0.4L/100km less on the combined cycle at 4.5L/100km.The Sport Line trim pack is standard on both the 118i, 118d and 120i which brings some black embellishments, unique cloth trim, leather steering wheel and bespoke alloys.The $41,900 120i has a 130kW/250Nm version of the 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine paired to an eight-speed auto. It brings a 5kW increase in power and a 5.6L/100km combined fuel consumption, which represents a 0.2L/100km improvement over the outgoing 118i it replaces.Also in the updated 120i package is Sensatec synthetic leather trim, auto-dimming rearview mirror, climate control, improved smartphone connectivity and 17-inch alloys.Priced from $48,900, the hotter 125i features the same 160kW/310Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine and eight-speed automatic transmission of the outgoing model. It also matches the outgoing model's combined fuel consumption, coming in at 6.3L/100km.The 125i also features an M Sport package bringing design tweaks inside and out, as well as M Sport brakes, LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, Alcantara/cloth trim and 18-inch alloys.Topping out the 2015 1 Series hatch range is the $62,900 M135i performance flagship.Under the bonnet of the M135i is a 240kW/450Nm 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbochared petrol engine, matched with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The powerplant delivers a 5kW increase in power over the outgoing model, and now matches the power produced by the M235i.Continuing the theme, the M135i matches the combined fuel consumption of the outgoing version, achieving 7.5L/100km.The M135i features include premium satnav, improved sound system with digital radio, leather trim, adaptive LED headlights, as well as the M Performance trim pack, adaptive M suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels.

We'll see three new entrants due to lob within the next 12 months, including Mercedes-Benz's new A-Class.It will be joined in the fray by Audi's new A3 and the new Volvo V40, a shorter, hatchback variant of the S60 sedan for want of a better description.All are five door hatchbacks with front wheel drive. BMW's stylistically challenged 1-Series is the only rear wheel drive. Although some manufacturers are reluctant to admit it, the main competition for all players is VW?s super popular Golf.CLEAN SHEETThe Benz is a clean sheet project having nothing at all in common with the previous A-Class mini people mover. That job has been ceded to the new Benz B-Class and it's an effective device for everyday family motoring. New A-Class is taking Benz in a totally new direction that will open up a wider and younger customer base to the three pointed star. Early kick-off price guesstimates are in the $35,000 range.DIGITAL NATIVESIt's a car precisely targeting the Gen Y and Xers (so called Digital Natives) replete with a full array of connectivity right down to being able to seamlessly hook up your iPad or iPhone to the in-car info/control system.It will be a smart phone on wheels offering a smooth transition from a digital lifestyle to a digital driving style. And get this, there's a virtual co-driver you can question or instruct to operate in-car functions.LOOKSThe stunning looker, which bears a remarkable similarity to the A Concept of 2011, will be made in Germany, Hungary and tellingly, China. And we can expect a few other variants built on the same front wheel drive platform (moving to all wheel drive when AMG gets its hands on A-Class).UNDER THE BONNETIt will be powered by a range of existing and a couple of new Benz turbo direct injection petrol and turbodiesel engines rated from 80kW through to 155kW with capacities ranging from 1.6 through to 2.1-litres. Benz hasn't confirmed it but a three door hatch variant should become available a little further down the track and possibly a drop top cabriolet.Benz's performance partner AMG has been enlisted to develop certain A-Class parts so they have intimate knowledge of the car already. The A250 Sport enjoys significant AMG input. New A-Class will be offered with six-speed manual and seven-speed dual clutch manumatic transmissions and all models will have auto stop/start to optimise fuel economy.Camtronic that alters valve lift in the petrol engines for peak efficiency will also make an appearance. An 'Eco' mode will be available to squeeze out the last kilometre in fuel economy if you drive carefully.ACRONYMS R USBenz won't hold back on the acronym features list either that will see the new baby Benz fitted with a speed limiter (Distronic), radar-based Collision Prevention Assist (CPA), Pre-Safe collision preparation and Lane Keeping Assist as well as Fatigue Alert and numerous other electronic driver and safety aids. They have filtered down from larger models as has the luxury inventory.STYLEIt has an assertive stance on the road with a masculine frontal appearance and deeply sculpted panels. The ride height is low and a striking "pointillist" style grille is available on some models. It looks ready to pounce from all angles and inside, the assertive, quality theme carries through with seats for four and a reasonable boot space.The dash is from funky town featuring an electroplated look to many surfaces and impressive audio and lighting spex. It rates a strong five stars in crash testing and boasts newly developed pedestrian safety technology. The multi-faceted headlights feature a bank of LEDs for daytime running, indicators and parking lights. It rates a low 0.26Cd for aerodynamic efficiency.VERDICTIf it goes as good as it looks the new A-Class could be a world beater. It has the potential to lift Mercedes-Benz to a new level with a wider audience and still maintain that prestige aura associated with the 110 year old automotive brand. We find out soon enough.

Kids aren’t usually a factor in Car of the Year judging.  But child friendliness rates highly with women buying cars – and with women judging cars.The countdown has been kicked off to decide the Women’s World Car of the Year, and the kid factor is one the judges pay a lot of attention to.“Statistics show that women drive children in cars significantly more often than men – and that means women need to take that into account, both when buying and as judges of cars,” WCOTY president Sandy Myhre said from New Zealand.“Any woman who has grappled constantly with child seats and belts and children considers those things when looking at buying a car.  Men might too but the fact is, women drive children in cars more than men.“Women would not consider that aspect in a Porsche 911 more than a bloke. The point is, it can be considered in these awards - and that is one of the points of difference in these awards.”Myhre points out that significant research into buying habits show that in addition to buying for themselves, women have a major influence in household purchase decisions for big ticket items.Ford Australia, for example, says their research shows that women are behind the majority of purchases of the Territory SUV – either as single women buying one, or in influencing the joint decision with their partner. “A report from Mattingly & Associates in Australia concluded, in part, that businesses that didn't understand this influence would be hard-pressed to stay in business.  That report was aptly called 'When I've Made Up Our Minds',” Myhre says.However, the kid factor is just one of the criteria by which the 2012 Women’s World Car of the Year will be judged.There are four categories in the Women's World Car of the Year – Family Car, Luxury Car, Sports Car and Economy Car. Points are allocated to each of ten criteria: driveability, engineering, comfort, child friendliness, style, interior, storage, dashboard efficiency, carbon footprint and colour range.The 20 judges from eleven countries have submitted their own personal short list and more than 300 cars were suggested. These individual choices were then whittled down to form a master list of 32 in terms of popularity. Judges will now allocate points for these cars from a criteria list.The announcement of the winning cars in each category and the supreme winner will be made before the end of March. The supreme award trophy and category certificates will be presented to the car companies concerned at the Mondial de l’Automobile 2012 – the Paris Motor Show – in September. The supreme trophy will this year be made in The Netherlands. Category-winner certificates will be designed at Peartree Studios in Colerne, UK.The first winner of the Women's World Car of the Year was the Jaguar XF in 2010 and the trophy made in South Africa was presented at the Jaguar boutique showroom in Knightsbridge, London. In 2011 there was a dead-heat between the Citroen DS3 and the BMW 5 Series. The two trophies made in India were presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2011. 

BMW Blog says car will be a front-wheel-drive car like the Mini.Just as BMW refers to its SUVs as SAVs (Sports Activity Vehicles), it is apparently referring to the 1 Series Gran Turismo as a Compact Activity Tourer (CAT) and will be the first of many front-wheel-drive BMWs, says the blog.BMW Blog is an American-based enthusiast website with no affiliations to BMW. Its credentials are dubious, however, as they reported the April Fools Day joke last year that BMW was about to release an M3 pick-up (utility).BMW Australia spokesman Piers Scott says they have "no information on such a car at this stage"."But we definitely do have exciting new concepts to be revealed in the compact class within the next 12 months," he says.The blog says the CAT will follow a 3 Series GT PAC, or Progressive Activity Coupe. The 3GT is allegedly sleeker than the frumpy 5 Series GT with less rear glass area.The CAT is claimed to be powered by turbocharged three- and four-cylinder turbo engines, plus hybrid and have all-wheel-drive (xDrive) versions.With its higher driving position it would possibly compete against the Mercedes-Benz B-Class, but that seems strange as the B-Class has been an under-achiever, particularly here. The blog says the car will hit showrooms in 2014.

Hundreds of new and updated cars arrive in Australia each year but only one is good enough to make the honour role for Carsguide COTY.This time around the prize fight is tougher than ever, with new arrivals for 2011 covering every size and price class, from the ordinary Chery J1 from China to the exotic Ferrari 458 Italia from Italy. Neither of them makes the COTY cut, but that's another story ...The reach for COTY 2011 contenders actually stretches back to the final months of last year, to include a couple of cars that just missed the 2011 cutoff, and this time around the newcomers must have hit showrooms by December 1.So, unfortunately, the all-new Toyota Camry is a non-starter. It's the same for the make-or-break four-cylinder Falcon.But the class of 2011 covers all the bases, from affordable mini cars through family and prestige cars to a hot new coupe. The hopefuls come from Europe, Asia and Japan, as well as right home in Australia.Setting the field for 2011 was not easy, particularly with the outgoing champion - the Volkswagen Polo - still casting a considerable shadow.But each of the COTY judges, who cover the Carsguide contenders and drive them in all conditions from coast to coast, has called up their personal favourites from Alfa Romeo through to Volkswagen to help guide the selection process.Then it is the final cull by the COTY veterans to produce the top 10 for a gruelling two-day shootout to consider everything from design and safety through to value and their driving ability on a wide range of roads from Ford's You Yangs proving ground to freeways, suburban streets and gravel roads on the outskirts of Melbourne.The field is set, the race is about to be run, but we cannot get ahead of ourselves.So here are the 10 COTY contenders ... now it's over to the judges: 

BMW 1 Series, from $39,593Several impressive new BMWs hit the road in Australia in 2011 and the pocket rocket 1 M is a Carsguide driving favourite. But it's the overall 1 Series range that is the best ambassador for the brand, even ahead of a new X3 that has most of the strengths of the original X5.The new One is a major improvement and refinement of the original One and introduces the idea of streamlining the options at BMW, taking the fight right up to Audi and Benz with sharp pricing for the 116i starter car.Gover says: The original 1 Series was a big breakthrough at the bottom end for BMW and its replacement is impressive, but I'm not a fan of the puffed-up nose or seemingly-endless options.

...a sure starter for Europe next year but not so certain here.Fewer doors do it no harm. Same cracking engines, same brilliant rear wheel dynamics, nicer lines.

...but it's not the only sports update in the family.BMW's M division is also working on an upgrade for the regular 135i hatch that is part of the upcoming renewal of the 1 Series line-up.