It’s common knowledge that the next 1 Series will be based on the current BMW/Mini UKL2 platform underpinning the 2 Series Active Tourer and X1, offered predominantly in front-wheel-drive guise. To counter the effects of torque steer so prevalent on powerful FWD cars, BMW will equip its upcoming 130i hot hatch with an AWD version of this chassis.
According to Autocar, this model – possibly called 130iX – is set to go up against the likes of the VW Golf R, Audi S3 and soon-to-arrive Mercedes-AMG A35, all AWD vehicles. The 130iX’s rumoured 221 kW power output will be produced by a tuned version of BMW’s current turbocharged 2,0-litre four-cylinder engine, as used across its range.
It also looks likely that BMW will not offer a six-cylinder model in the 1 Series range when the new model is unveiled next year.
