BMW to turbocharge 1-Series?
135Ti looks set to get 330bhp powerplant
BMW's turbocharged 135Ti due in 2007
The 135Ti, which Autocar's spy shots caught circulating at the Nürburgring, could pack as much as 330bhp from its 3-litre six-cylinder powerplant.
To make this happen, BMW will use a standard production engine, rather than borrow the M3's which would have punted the car's price into a prohibitively high bracket -- maybe £30,000-plus. The magnesium-block engine is new but is planned to sit inside the nose of the 3-Series and the X3 next year, so the cost will be spread over several models.
The new car will go head-to-head with the VW Golf R34's 260bhp, Ford Focus ST with 217 bhp and the Audi A3 3.2 V6 quattro's 250bhp. However, with the next M3 due to deliver 400bhp leaving plenty of horsepower space below it, there's some headroom for Munich's engine department to play with.
The BMW 135Ti has yet to get the production thumbs-up, but Autocar reckons it's a good bet. If that happens, expect to make your dash to the showrooms in 2007.
Better cars our there for the price no doubt but I understand this statement can be levied at many cars on the market.
I still cannot understand why people have opted for a 1 series in the current form.
All it shows is the BMW Badge which still may be a deciding factor for people who want to own the badge and say they own a new BMW until they are asked what model !
>> Edited by maserati3200gt on Thursday 30th June 22:39
maserati3200gt said:
Will Probably be a fun car to drive but the styling is still horrendous.
What's so horrendous about it? It's less controversial to look at than the 7,6,5,Z4,X3 et al. I can't understand why people slag the looks so much. Ok, it's not classically elegant or "pretty", but at least it's interesting and, I would argue, quite stylish. Arguably the only car that looks better than it in its sector is the Alfa 147, and even that's beginning to look slightly dated and cliched now.
... and breathe...
Fair Points I must agree but I cannot understand what BMW aim to achieve with this model.
When I see it on the road I cannot help but wonder what the person owns the car.
I am not a fan of the styling , in fact I hate it to be honest but I appreciate your comments.
The alfa's have so much more styling In my opinion but I cannot help but wonder that the only thing going for this car is the badge .
I wonder if it had a ford badge , would people buy it?
I think there is a Kudos behind the logic of the badge and the car but IMO the styling is poor. Sorry Bill But there are better second hand cars on the market and better cars brand new on the market.
Maybe with an accountants hat on I may be wrong as BMW may only have the true sales and profit figures but I for one feel the brand is diluted with this awful looking car.
Sorry to upset current owners but I dont mean to be rude just honest IMO.
The sme way that others may like ferrari's or hate them.
kind regards
Back on topic, I think that 330BHP in a 1 series would be brilliant. The current hot hatch range are starting to tilt some serious power at the front wheels and its just getting silly (Alfa 147 GTA). This car actually has the tyre smoke coming from the right place.
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