MUCH AWAITED It's a long time coming but the 1 Series is finally on local shores

By Leow Ju-Len

THE MUCH-COVETED blue-and-white roundel of the BMW brand can now be had for $116,800, now that the 1 Series is officially available in Singapore.

Launched at a typically glitzy affair at 1 Fullerton (1 Series, 1 Fullerton, get it?), the baby of the BMW family enters Performance Motor’s lineup in four body styles.

While BMW models typically receive a wide engine range for each body shape, each member of the 1 Series range here is powered by a single engine choice.

The range comprises the 118i five-door hatchback (which is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 143bhp) at $116,800, the 130i three-door (3.0-litre straight-six, 265bhp, $149,800), the 125i Coupe (3.0-litre straight-six, 218bhp, $151,800) and finally, the 120i Convertible (2.0-litre in-line four, 170bhp, $158,800).

Performance Motors says each model is aimed at a certain personality. The 130i, for example, is obviously for hot hatch lovers, while the 118i is presumably meant to give BMW-aspirants an affordable way to experience the brand.

1 Series fans can check out the car at Reflections at Keppel Bay near VivoCity, where Performance Motors is conducting test drives in the afternoons this weekend, and all day from Monday till May 25th.