BMW 1 Series

BMW 1 Series
Overview
Manufacturer	BMW
Production	2004–present
Body and chassis
Class	Subcompact executive car (C)
Chronology
Predecessor	BMW 3 Series Compact
Successor	BMW 2 Series (for coupé/convertible)

The BMW 1 Series is a range of subcompact executive cars (C-segment) manufactured by BMW since 2004. It is the successor to the BMW 3 Series Compact and is currently in its second generation.

The first generation was produced in hatchback, coupe and convertible body styles. Since the second generation (introduced in 2013), the coupé and convertible models have been marketed as the 2 Series, therefore the 1 Series range no longer includes these body styles. A sedan model became available for the Chinese market in 2017.

The 1 Series is BMW's entry level of model range. Unusually for a small car, the 1 Series range is mostly rear-wheel drive, (except for the F52 sedan, which is front-wheel drive) with optional all-wheel drive being available on some models.

An M version was produced for the first generation: the BMW 1 Series M Coupe, which was succeeded by the BMW M2.

First Generation (E81/E82/E87/E88; 2004–2011)

E87 5-door hatchback

E82 2-door coupe

The BMW E81/E82/E87/E88 is the first generation of the 1 Series, which was produced from 2004 to 2013. It replaced the 3 Series Compact as the smallest and most affordable vehicle in the BMW range.

The body styles consist of a 3-door hatchback (E81), 5-door hatchback (E87), 2-door coupe (E82) and 2-door convertible (E88).

The engines available were four-cylinder diesel and four- and six-cylinder petrol, in both naturally aspirated and turbocharged forms. Unlike most hatchback competitors, the E81/E82/E87/E88 uses rear-wheel drive (instead of front-wheel drive).^[1][2]

The 1 Series accounted for nearly one-fifth of the total BMW sales in 2008.^[3]

Second Generation (F20/F21; 2011–present)

F20 5-door hatchback

F21 3-door hatchback

The F20/F21 is the second generation of the 1 Series, which was released in 2011.

The body styles of the F20/F21 range are a 3-door hatchback (model code F21) and a 5-door hatchback (model code F20).

For the second generation of 1 Series, the coupe and convertible models were spun off to create the BMW 2 Series range.

The F20/F21 was initially powered by four-cylinder petrol, four-cylinder diesel and six-cylinder petrol engines. In 2015, three-cylinder petrol and diesel engines were added to the model range. All engines are turbocharged.

Unlike most hatchback competitors, the F20/F21 uses a longitudinally-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive (instead of front-wheel drive) for most models. The F20/F21 is the first 1 Series to offer an optional all-wheel drive (called "xDrive" by BMW).^[4]

1 Series sedan (F52; 2017–present)

F52 4-door sedan- front

F52 4-door sedan- rear

The 1 Series (F52) is a four-door sedan that began production in 2017 in China for the Chinese market. It is made by BMW Brilliance, a joint venture between BMW and Brilliance Auto. The F52 uses the front-wheel drive UKL platform shared with the X1 (F48) and Mini Hatch.^[5][6]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to BMW 1 Series.