BMW 1 Series Sedan set of 2017

With Mercedes-Benz and Audi each having their own entry-level sedan, it’s only a matter of time before BMW joins the bandwagon. According to a report by Autocar, the bosses at Munich have just given the greenlight for a new BMW 1 Series sedan to go into production in 2017.

However, unlike the current 1 Series hatchback which is rear-wheel drive, the new sedan will be based on the front-wheel drive UKL (Unter Klasse, or entry-leve) platform that is set to underpin the new MINI hatch and the next-generation 1 Series hatchback. Like its rivals, the 1 Series sedan will be optionally available in all-wheel drive.

Powering BMW’s most affordable four-door sedan will be a range of transversely mounted three and four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, with the possibility of a plug-in petro-electric hybrid driveline down the track.

According to a BMW insider, the new entry-level sedan is an important part of the company’s future growth plans, especially in the US and China, where small premium-brand four-door sedans are increasingly popular.

Source: Autocar