New BMW 1-Series (2012) Price & Details

2012 BMW 1-Series - Full UK Prices & Details

Back in June we got the official reveal of the 2012 BMW 1-Series ahead of a launch at Frankfurt. Which did seem a bit early, but as we’d published a whole heap of leaked photos of the new 1-Series just the day before perhaps BMW’s hand was forced?

Still, it appears BMW’s plans were always to get the detail out on the 1-Series out well ahead of Frankfurt, because the 2012 BMW 1-Series is going to turn up in a showroom near you as soon as the cleaners hit the floor to wrap up the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.

That timescale has galvanised BMW UK and they’ve been busy little bunnies getting us all the UK-specific bits and bobs together in plenty of time for the official UK on-sale date of 17th September. And they’ve excelled themselves.

Not only do we get the full price breakdown on all the new 1-Series models, but BMW UK has dug out the Box Brownie and the Cine camera and given us a whole new UK-specific photo gallery and video. Good to see.

The new 1-Series hatchback – bigger all-round than its predecessor –  will come with a choice of three diesel and two petrol engines with a choice of either a six-speed manual or eight-speed auto ‘box. Engine choices are the 116i with 134bhp, 118i with 168bhp, 116d with 114bhp, 118d with 141bhp and the BMW 120d with 182bhp.

Four trim levels are on offer – ES, SE, Sport and Urban – and interiors seem to have made the same leap in quality as the new X3. All models get the range of BMW’s EfficientDynamics stuff including stop-start and ECO PRO mode, which makes everything go stodgy and flat and saves fuel.

Standard equipment even on the entry-level ES includes 16″ alloys, CD, AirCon, DSC+ and the aforementioned ECO PRO. Move up to the SE and you can add iDrive with 6.5″ screen, Bluetooth and multi-function steering wheel.

The BMW Sport option does what it says on the tin with 17″ alloys, dark chrome exhaust and a black high gloss treatment for lots of exterior trim with sports seats, leather sports steering wheel and high-gloss black trim on the interior.

The BMW Urban (same price as the BMW Sport) is the funky urban option with lots of exterior styling tweaks including 17″ V-Spoke alloys and white slats and trim bar for the kidney grill. Interior tweaks include cloth/leather seats and acrylic glass interior trim in black or white with Oxide Silver accents.

To top all that lot off there’s a plethora of optional stuff including Adaptive Lights, High-Beam Assist, Park Assist, Reversing Camera, Lane Departure, Internet Connectivity and Facebook and Twitter Apps. All round proper grown-up options and sensible connectivity for the new 1-Series ‘In Touch Obsessed’ target demographic.

The new BMW 1-Series Hatchback is on sale in the UK from 17th September and BMW are aiming to flog 20,000 in the first full year.

We won’t be betting against it.

(27 photos – click any thumbnail for full gallery)

* on standard 16″ wheels

By Cars UK