India bound BMW 1 Series to share engines with BMW X1

Regulars here would remember that we reported when it emerged that BMW India has kick started the marketing campaign for the upcoming 1 Series and the Mercedes A Class rival will become the third car from the Bavarian car maker to come to us this year. The BMW 1 Series will also become the smallest and the least priced car in BMW India’s product portfolio. The 1 Series cars will come to us via CKD route and will be assembled at car maker’s Chennai facility.

BMW India has already launched the official website for BMW 1 Series. Also, the carmaker has started publishing marketing initiatives for the upcoming car. BMW has launched a contest to get Indian car aficionados attentive and excited.  Ten ‘lucky’ winners go on a fully sponsored trip to Germany. At Germany, the winners will get to drive the 1 Series along with cricket maestro Sachin Tendulkar, BMW India’s brand ambassador and Indian FIA GT driver, Armaan Ebrahim.

Mr. Philipp Von Sahr, the president of BMW India, announced at the sidelines of the 2013 BMW 7 Series LCi’s India launch that the new BMW 1 Series will be launched in India in September. However, it seems like the great response that the A Class has got has compelled BMW India to reschedule the launched of the 1 Series to an earlier date. Not at all a bad thing for us. Is it?

Today, it has emerged that the India spec BMW 1-Series cars could share the engine options with the X1 crossover. This means that the India-spec 1-Series will get a 2 litre turbocharged diesel engine with max power-torque figure of 184Bhp-380Nm and a 2 litre naturally aspirated petrol motor with a max power-torque figure of 150Bhp-200Nm. The power will be transmitted to the rear wheels via an eight speed automatic gearbox. The move to share engines with the X1 will help BMW India with keeping the costs in check.

It would be interesting to see BMW 1 Series and Mercedes A Class indulging in a duel with each other in battleground India.

Source-  AutocarIndia