The 195 kW BMW 130i has been eagerly anticipated in South Africa since it made its début at last year’s Geneva Show. The subject of a road test in the January issue of CAR, CARtoday.com put the little Bavarian fireball through its paces last year.
The 195 kW BMW 130i has been eagerly anticipated in South Africa since it made its début at last year’s Geneva Show. The subject of a road test in the January issue of CAR, CARtoday.com recently put the little Bavarian fireball (with Sport specification) through its paces…
For those of you who haven’t yet browsed through CARtoday.com’s new driving impression module, click here for our take on the BMW 130i Sport and some of the other models in CAR’s recent test fleet.
And, if this is the first time you’re reading about BMW SA’s new 1 Series flagship, here are basic details and pricing information:
The 3,0-litre six-cylinder powerplant in the BMW 130i is equipped with Valvetronic and double-Vanos technology and produces peak power of 195 kW and maximum torque of 315 N.m from 2 500 to 4 000 r/min. The unit, mated with a six-speed manual transmission, is claimed to be the lightest six-cylinder engine in its class (161 kg) and has a magnesium/aluminium composite crankcase, magnesium cylinder head cover and electrical water pump.
Having achieved a near 50:50 weight distribution with the rear-wheel drive 130i, BMW claims its new hot hatch will lap the Northern Loop of the Nürburgring in 8:35, accelerating from zero to 100 km/h in 6,1 seconds before reaching a limited top speed of 250 km/h. CAR achieved a best 0-100 km/h time of 6,91 sec with its test unit.
Featuring seventeen-inch wheels in V-spoke design, the 130i (R278 500) can be differentiated from its cheaper siblings by chrome-plated slats in its kidney grille and dual tailpipes with chrome-plated ends. The Sport model (R312 500) has a beefy M Division body kit, M double-spoke light-alloy wheels and uprated suspension. Inside, there are leather-trimmed sports seats, BMW Individual roof lining in Anthracite, a leather steering wheel, a footrest and door entry sills in BMW M Design, as well as special aluminium interior trim strips.
Interior specification includes engine starter button with comfort start function, battery-free ignition key with remote control function (car recognises which key is being used to open the door and sets the radio, the air conditioning, the seats with electrical adjustment and the mirrors to the specific data and requirements of the key user), on-board computer, air conditioning, separate temperature control on the driver’s and front passenger’s side, two-stage frontal airbags, side airbags at the front, curtain head airbags for the front and rear passengers and BMW Business radio including CD player.
The active safety equipment list comprises DSC driving stability system with an enhanced range of functions: dry braking function in the wet, pre-loading of brake pads when the driver takes his foot abruptly off the gas pedal, anti-fading function at high temperatures, Set-Off Assistant preventing the car from rolling back on a gradient, Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), Automatic Stability Control (ASC), electronic differential lock, brake system with anti-lock function (ABS), Dynamic Brake Control (DBC), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBFD) and two-stage Adaptive Brake Display.