The premium hatchback segment in India is set to witness a face-off between arch-rivals Mercedes-Benz and BMW. These luxury car markers are banking on the hatchback segment to claim a significant market share. BMW is planning to launch the new entry level 1 Series hatchback in India in the first week of September. This model is expected to give tough competition to Mercedes Benz's A-class, which has already captured the attention of critics.
BMW 1 Series will be launched in India with diesel and petrol engine variants. The petrol variant will be equipped with a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine, which also powers the Mini Cooper. This engine produces up to 136 bhp and 220 Nm of torque, giving it an edge over the A-class. Furthermore, the 8-speed automatic gearbox mated to the engine will improve the driving dynamics. On the other hand, the diesel version of 1 Series will be powered by a 1997 cc diesel engine that will produce a peak output of 143 bhp while reaching a maximum torque of 320 Nm, which is more as compared to A 180 CDI. The diesel variant of BMW 1 Series, slated to be named 118d, will also feature 8-speed automatic gearbox.
Some of the highlights of BMW 1 Series include its equal weight distribution, auto start/stop button and the famous iDrive multimedia system. Meanwhile, it is said that BMW will make some changes in the suspension of the 1 Series in order to make it suitable for Indian roads. Initially, BMW 1 Series will be imported as Completely Knocked Down units and then be assembled at Chennai production facility of the company. The pricing of 1 Series is expected to be around Rs. 20-25 lakh, which means that it give stiff competition to A-class.
It is being said that A180 CDI gives 20.06 kmpl mileage while BMW 1 Series returns 20.58 kmpl fuel efficiency. So with somewhat similar mileage, a clear indication can be made regarding the stiff competition between the two cars. The BMW 1 Series is provided with a powerful engine and superior features as compared to A-class but when it comes to styling, it does not have the style appeal of its nearest rival, which can be a major drawback.
