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Sheer driving pleasure will move up a gear with the announcement that BMW will
introduce the new BMW 1 Series Coupé in Australia early next year, powered by
the most powerful engine within BMW’s broad range of straight-six power units.
The dynamic new coupé is based on the successful BMW 1 Series and will
feature the award-winning Twin Turbo petrol engine, agile rear-wheel drive
handling and muscular design.
Conceived as a 2+2-seater with a separate luggage compartment and with the
rear-seat backrest offering a 60:40 split, the BMW 1 Series Coupé also ensures a
high level of all-round function and practical value.
The focus on this model is however clearly on Sheer Driving Pleasure
BMW-style.
Arriving in Australia in the form of the BMW 135i Coupé, the new model offers
a unique standard of power and performance in its class.
Recognisable from outside through the slightly modified M Aerodynamics
Package, the BMW 135i Coupé is powered by BMW’s 3.0-litre straight-six featuring
Twin Turbo technology, all-aluminium crankcase and second-generation direct
petrol injection featuring High Precision Injection technology.
Maximum output of 225 kW from 2,979 cc ensures exceptional driving dynamics
at all times, accelerating the BMW 135i Coupé to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds.
Maximum torque of 400 Nm is maintained consistently throughout a very broad
range of engine speeds from 1,300–5,000 rpm, proving that the 3.0-litre offers
particular muscle and pulling force at all times.
The supreme power provided by the turbocharged engine already lauded as the
2007 ‘Engine of the Year’ reinforces the sheer driving pleasure typical of a
BMW.
Average fuel consumption, according to the EU standard, is just 9.2 litres
premium/100 kilometres, making the BMW 135i Coupé the most fuel-efficient car in
its class.
High Precision Injection is the key ingredient in the engine’s particularly
high standard of fuel economy.
With the introduction of the BMW 1 Series in 2004, BMW successfully enriched
the compact segment through the introduction of the first and to this day only
rear-wheel-drive model in its class.
Now the BMW 1 Series Coupé offers an even clearer and more dedicated pledge
to sporting performance. The benefits of compact dimensions and low weight
optimise the car’s driving dynamics, with the new model combining a superior
drive with maximum efficiency.
This is not the first time that BMW has set the standard in driving dynamics
in a smaller model segment. The BMW 02 Series, launched in 1966, is still
acknowledged to this day as the forerunner for superb handling and agility.
Rear-wheel drive, powerful engines and space for four were the cornerstones of
this model series’ success for 12 long years.
The design of the car was characterised by dynamic proportions with a short
body overhang at the front, a striking shoulder line, a long engine compartment
lid and long wheelbase – styling features which, in modern interpretation, also
give the BMW 1 Series Coupé a unique look.
The new BMW 135i Coupé with its 225 kW Twin Turbo power unit also offers an
up-to-date interpretation of the very special BMW 2002 Turbo.
Highlights of the new BMW 1 Series Coupé include a dynamic and unmistakable
coupé design combining the powerful and muscular body of the car with the
greenhouse moved far to the rear and offering a particularly light look, short
front overhang, long engine compartment lid, long wheelbase, striking
silhouette, large and frameless doors.
The sporting silhouette of the new BMW 1 Series Coupé is further
characterised by the distinctive shoulder line beneath the windows, strongly
contoured side-sills and muscular, flared wheel arches. The “Hofmeister kick”
typical of all BMWs also stands out as a particularly dynamic element.
The front end look of the new Coupé is typical BMW thanks to the design of
the kidney grille with its powerfully accentuated chrome frame and headlights.
The rear end of the new BMW 1 Series Coupé is powerful and dynamic and
includes a fully integrated third brake light. The luggage compartment lid comes
with a spoiler literally chiselled into the rear end of the car, accentuating
the short rear section and building up extra downforce on the rear axle at high
speeds. The L-shaped rear lights feature light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and brake
lights operating in two stages for additional safety on the road.
Inside, the new BMW 1 Series Coupé is characterised by a clean, generous
interior design, high-quality finishes, sophisticated trim and upholstery with a
wide choice of colours and materials, including the new body colour Sedona Red,
which is exclusive to the new BMW 1 Series Coupé.
To give the car a unique look, the BMW 135i Coupé comes as standard with a
modified, aerodynamically optimised M Aerodynamics Package. With its extra-large
central air intake, the front air dam highlights the sporting character of the
car. The two air intakes at the side in unique design are split horizontally by
a centre bar and border on slightly contoured flaps. A further sign of
distinction is the chrome-plated bars in the kidney grille.
The contoured side-sills on the BMW 135i Coupé accentuate the wedge shape of
the car. The rear air dam of the BMW 135i Coupé, incorporates an
anthracite-coloured insert at the bottom and is wrapped around the wheels,
emphasising the car's wide track. An additional small spoiler lip referred to in
motorsport as a “gurney” serves to optimise the car’s aerodynamics. And last but
not least, the tailpipes are finished in dark chrome at the rear.
In typical BMW style, the new BMW 1 Series Coupé transmits the power of the
engine to the road via the rear wheels. This configuration – engine at the
front, drive wheels at the rear – guarantees optimum traction, good weight
distribution front-to-rear, excellent directional stability, and safe handling.
And the separation of drive power and steering, to add a further important
point, gives the car extremely agile driving behaviour at all times.
The chassis and suspension of the BMW 1 Series Coupé underlines the dynamic
and sporting character of the car, ensuring a high standard of steering and
driving precision all the way to the extreme limit. Features include aluminium
double-joint tiebar axle at the front, five-arm rear axle in lightweight steel,
Dynamic Stability Control including Dynamic Traction Control, Active Steering
exclusive to BMW available as an option and optimisation of traction by
electronic management providing the same effect as a differential lock.
The BMW 135i Coupé features 18-inch light-alloy wheels and comes standard
with M Sports Suspension and a high-performance brake system incorporating
six-piston fixed callipers on the front axle and two-piston fixed callipers at
the rear.
The new BMW 1 Series Coupé benefits from a wide range of safety features
featured as standard, including six airbags, crash-optimised front seat
backrests and headrests reducing the risk of injury in a rear-end collision, and
a body structure expected to show optimum results in worldwide consumer safety
tests such as the IIHS side impact test.
Equipment features so far to be found primarily in upmarket cars highlight
the premium character of the BMW 1 Series Coupé in terms of comfort and safety.
Available as an option, Bi-xenon headlights and Adaptive Headlights complete
with integrated Turning Lights make driving in the dark safer than ever before.
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