A new report claims BMW will not facelift its F40-generation 1 Series, while also speculating the hatchback’s production run will be a couple of years shorter than is usually the case.
According to BMWBlog, the current-generation, front-driven 1 Series will be produced for just five years (rather than the typical seven) before an all-new model hits the scene. With mass production of BMW’s entry-level hatchback having started at the Leipzig plant in Germany in July 2019, that’d suggest a fourth-generation model would arrive towards the middle of 2024.
In addition, the publication claims the Munich-based firm has no plans to apply a traditional mid-cycle refresh to its five-door hatch.
As a reminder, only the petrol-powered 118i and the range-topping M135i xDrive are included in the range for South Africa at launch. That means SA will miss out on the 116d, the 118d and the 120d xDrive … initially, at least.
Interestingly, a report from August 2019 suggested BMW was working on a 300 kW version of the 1 Series to slot in above the M135i, complete with a hybrid powertrain and wearing the “M140e” badge.
