The BMW F52 1 Series (see video) is an entry-level, front-drive sedan/saloon that BMW produces at its joint enterprise with the carmaker Brilliance in China. Today, a facelifted version of the car hits the showrooms.
The car emerged in 2016 as a China-only product – likely so as not to disappoint the brand fans everywhere else with the introduction of the front wheel drive. Later on, sales started in Mexico, and eventually the European version also started shipping with the FWD. However, whereas the Chinese sedan comes based on the older UKL platform, its Western counterpart benefit from the newer FAAR architecture.
Interestingly, the 1 Series sells poorly in China compared to other ‘localized’ BMWs, even though its popularity did rise 9% in the first half of 2019 (21,125 units sold). During the same period, the most popular Bavarian car there – the 5 Series – sold 75,719 copies, also demonstrating growth (+9.6%).
The 2020 1 Series facelift brings no exterior changes. However, all versions except the cheapest 120i now ship with the M Package aero parts already installed.
Something important happened in the powertrains department. The 118i, which comes powered by a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine, rose from 136 hp (101 kW) to 140 hp (104 kW) and traded its old six-speed auto transmission for the newer seven-speed DCT. It is also now called the 120i. As for the old 120i, it was renamed to 125i and persuaded to ditch the 8-speed auto gear in favor of the abovementioned 7-speed DCT.
The engine remained unchanged (2.0 I4, 192 hp / 144 kW). Finally, the old 125i, which used to produce 231 hp (132 kW), got pulled from production altogether.
Everything indicates that the 1 Series available in Mexico will soon be updated in the same or very similar way.