The BMW 1 Series is coming back to America. Sort of.
This 1 Series, unlike the last one, will send power to the front wheels and come as a value offering that doesn’t skimp on the premium features.
This 1 Series was designed for the Chinese market and wasn’t initially intended for US consumption, but Automotive News quotes an unnamed source that says it will go on sale here in 2019 and will compete with the Mercedes A-Class (set for a 2018 US debut).
Ian Robertson, BMW’s global sales chief, though, maintains that a US debut is unlikely.
Based on the same platform as the X1 and some MINI products, the 1 Series was designed for city duty. Although the Chinese market is just as SUV-hungry as America, tight cities mean that there’s still an appetite for small, luxury-packed city cars.
SEE ALSO: Front-Drive BMW 1 Series Sedan Introduced Exclusively for China
Built by Brilliance-BMW, a long standing joint Chinese venture, the little bimmer is designed for the young and the hip.
BMW offers 1 Series buyers three engines: a 1.5-liter 3 cylinder engine, making 136 hp; a 2.0-liter turbo pumping out 192 hp, and 231 hp 2.0-liter turbo. Coming with an 8.8-inch infotainment display and premium accoutrements, it won’t skimp on the luxury, despite its “value” placement in the range.
The car would apparently run alongside the similarly sized 2 Series, which is still expected to be updated in 2018 and redesigned in 2022. That, even despite a four-door 2 Series Gran Coupe that’s expected to debut in 2020.
A version of this story originally appeared on Bimmerfest
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