The Rossfeld scenic road, Germany’s highest such alpine road in Berchtesgadener land, is picture postcard country. The lush green of the lower slopes contrasts sharply with the melted snows and exposed rocky faces of the higher reaches of the mountains. This two-lane toll road which we have ascended widens into a wide terrace so that one can pause and take in the beauty of this blessed land.

Parked by the wall of this terrace are two BMW 1 Series cars, the 116i, a petrol version, and the 118d, a diesel variant. The mountains make for a rugged backdrop for these cars. From these cool Alpine slopes to the steamy plains of India, BMW is all pumped up to unleash the 1 Series next month.

Enter India

To be the cheapest BMW on Indian roads, the German company expects the 1 Series to complete a rich portfolio of cars that it imports or rolls out of its factory near Chennai. The 3, 5, 6 and 7 Series apart from its X1, X3, X5, X6 and M Series are sold in India and the 1 Series is expected to complement this portfolio. It will have a car at every price point starting from about Rs 20 lakh at the lower end to about Rs 2 crore at the other extreme. Importantly, the 1 Series hatch will enable BMW to counter the A-Class attack from its German counterpart – Mercedes-Benz.

Expected to be priced under Rs 25 lakh, BMW officials say that the car will target the sporty young customer. And, for those who want a BMW badge but can’t really afford a Rs 30 lakh plus car. In the upper-end luxury car sweepstakes it’s now a constant jostle between the three German car makers for top slot: Mercedes, Audi and BMW. Recent reports have it that Merc has clawed its way back to the number one slot, BMW will hope that the 1 Series, will give it the numbers to wrest that top slot.

BMW started making the 1 Series in 2003 and has sold one million cars worldwide. Now what will hit Indian roads is the second generation 1 Series. BMW’s X1, in the price band of Rs 28 lakh to Rs 33 lakh hasn’t really cut much ice in the Indian market, so the second generation 1 Series, with a lower price point, it expects will do the trick and attract buyers who are looking for a premium hatch. But, how premium can premium be? Will it get buyers, who are willing to put down that cash for a premium sedan, settle for a top-end hatch with a BMW badge? Or, will it be that second or third car which will be a runabout for a wealthy BMW-owning family? BMW officials say the car is one of clever functionality and meant for “everyday usability”.

So, here I was, at the wheel of a bright blue 118d diesel 1 Series on a German highway heading out of Munich, BMW’s home town, to the quaint town of Aying where we were to halt for some quick lunch.

Bigger, better

The second generation 1 Series hatch has grown in proportions to the first-gen model. Longer, wider, and with an increased wheelbase, the 1 Series has now matured into a more capable and efficient compact. At 4,324mm, it is only about 13cms short of the X1’s overall length. It is also almost as wide as the X1. So, it is not that compact.

From the rear, the BMW 1 Series doesn’t look anything special. It’s when you see the front, features like the trademark kidney grille, the long bonnet, the classic BMW bonnet lines and the emphatic swage line just below the shoulder point to the strongly muscled design of the car.

While it does look, and is, larger than all the hatches on the Indian road, the 1 Series will have not just price, but also size competition from the Merc A-Class, which is either the same or slightly more generously proportioned. But, there is no faulting the 1 Series’ driver orientation. All the metrics for making it pleasurable to drive are there in the cabin.

The seating at the rear, surprisingly, is a bit cramped, not affording much leg room, though the seats themselves are extremely comfortable. A high door sill means that you can’t step out with ease and it would be that much more difficult for a tall person. However, this low roof problem is endemic to the segment. But, the 1 Series’ boot itself, at 360 litres, is large and one can pack in enough for a long journey.

Along the test drive route, I discover some of the interesting features the 118d incorporates. While the speed limits you are to maintain pops up on the console, the car incorporates a lane departure warning system which uses a camera at the bottom of the rear-view mirror to monitor the road markings and help avoid unintended changes of direction. The camera also monitors the position of other vehicles and, if required, alerts the driver.

The speed limit info system has also been upgraded in the new BMW 1 Series. The car’s camera now recognizes not only roadside and overhead speed limit signs, but also no-passing signs. Symbols in the instrument panel then advise the driver of the current speed limit, and whether overtaking restrictions are in force. There are a host of other features as well.

Performance

While the car I test drove had a six-speed manual gearbox, for the Indian market BMW will only bring in the eight-speed automatic transmission. Said to be a segment first, this quick-shifting auto gearbox is expected to be super responsive, while also being efficient, delivering better mileage in city driving conditions.

The complement of engines that will be launched in India has not been announced by BMW yet. But a studied guess would be that the 1.6-litre, 4-cylinder twin-turbo petrol in two states of tune and the 2-litre, 4-cylinder twin-turbo diesel engine will be the ones that will make it here. The engines will be marginally more powerful than the ones offered by Mercedes for the A-Class. The M135i that you see in these pictures was also part of the test drive fleet in Germany, but is unlikely to make it here.

For the 1 Series, the advantage could come in the form of typical BMW driving dynamics. Being rear wheel driven, with the four-cylinder petrol engine being derived from the company’s famous in-line six, and each pair of cylinders featuring forced induction from dedicated scroll turbochargers, the 1 Series’ engines don’t lack in low-end torque or mid-range punch.

I found the drive comfortable as the car slipped into the traffic on the highway where the speed limit was 120 kmph. The highway is not the place to test the limits of a car – speeds or driveability.

So, on the Rossfeld scenic toll road, I put the car through the paces on the winding road, taking sharp turns on the steep and curvy roads which the rear wheel drive car took on confidently. Wheels and brakes were tested in good measure, screeching down the roads with some burning rubber to show. You can feel the car sits solid on the road, feels safe and is really responsive.

Outlook

BMW intends to launch the 1 Series in the Indian market on September 3. It will take on the Mercedes A Class, which at Rs 22-23 lakh is the price to beat for BMW with a well-featured 1 Series model. The A-Class will still be the better looking model.

Will the great Indian luxury car loving driver take to this niche offering of a premium hatchback with gusto? The day of reckoning is not far off.

>vinay.kamath@thehindu.co.in

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