New BMW 1 Series Design Patented, Will Make A Comeback After 8 Years
BMW recently filed two design patents for the Skytop roadster and the new 1 Series in India. This is the first time that the 1 Series hatchback and Skytop roadster appear to be planned for our market, even though the updated 2 Series Gran Coupe is anticipated to make its debut in India this year.
The fourth-generation 1 Series, which was unveiled in June of last year, is basically the third-generation model, which was shown in 2019—just five years ago—because its fundamental components are still the same. The hatchback does, however, get a completely new snout.
The headlamp units are thinner, and the kidney grille that resembled the one on the most current 3 Series has taken the place of the tooth-like one on the predecessor. From the front, the new 1 Series seems more angular and sleeker than the previous model.
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The sides have been somewhat altered, and the back has new bumper and taillights. It goes without saying that the M Sport variant has more aggressive look than the base model.
The inside of the 1 Series has BMW’s 20-inch Curved Display, which is operated by the company’s OS 9 software and combines a 10.3-inch infotainment system with a 10.7-inch digital instrument display. The previous model’s circular iDrive controller is no longer accessible, and there are far fewer physical buttons now—even the AC controls are integrated into the infotainment system.
BMW provides a wide range of 48V mild-hybrid gasoline and diesel engine choices in foreign countries. The 1 Series diesel lineup comprises the 150hp 118d and 163hp 120d, while the 170hp 120 and 300hp M135 xDrive trims (petrol variants no longer have the “i” suffix) are available.
Interestingly, BMW India did have the second-gen 1 Series on sale in India, but had discontinued it back in 2017 due to slow sales. At the time, the front-engine, rear-wheel-drive hatchback was available with 1.6-litre turbo-petrol and 2.0-litre diesel engine options. If BMW does plan to bring the new 1 Series to India, it’ll mark the hatchback’s return to our market after 8 years.
BMW said in October that the Skytop roadster, which had been teased by the BMW Concept Skytop in May 2024, will begin production, although in a limited quantity of 50 pieces. Although BMW has not yet released images of the production vehicle, the convertible will retain the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine and Z8-inspired styling of the concept. Based on the current 8 Series, the Skytop roadster keeps BMW’s recognizable kidney grille, which has two independent lighted sections and horizontal slats.
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With its very tiny LED headlamps and massive vents on the hood, the design patent appears to be of the prototype. Similar to the one on the bonnet, the boot has a unique center divider that curls up into a little ducktail spoiler.
Covered in brown leather, the inside has a digital driver’s display, a familiar shifter for the automatic transmission, a traditional multifunction steering wheel, and the most recent version of BMW’s iDrive infotainment system.
