New BMW 1 Series and 2 Series Gran Coupé prove compact sophisticates
At one point in histor,y the BMW line-up was accounted for by three numbers. Nowadays there is a BMW model for every digit except nine — including a raft of X-badged models fitting into the crossover and SUV genres.
The original 1 Series was launched locally in 2004. It was regarded as something of an oddity. With dinky looks and a snug interior as a consequence of its rear-wheel drive layout, the model was less practical than front-wheel drive rivals such as the Audi A3.
But in typical BMW fashion, the 1 Series was the driving enthusiasts' choice, particularly when ordered in derivatives such as the potent 130i powered by a six-cylinder.
When the follow-up generation came in 2011, it retained the rear-wheel drive layout, while the design became more polarising. Some likened the front-end to the face of a beaver while the rear appeared to imitate the Volkswagen Polo of the era.
The facelift remedied the stylistic misgivings, with a more cohesive and substantial redesign. The third-generation 1 Series changed the recipe, adopting a front-wheel drive platform. It traded dynamic prowess for a more practical interior package, with greater cabin space and a more capacious boot.
The rationale behind the shift was that the 1 Series demographic had evolved, placing less of a priority on the engagement afforded by rear-wheel driving characteristics.
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