BMW’s latest 1 series has a bigger and better interior to help it challenge rivals from Audi and Mercedes-Benz. The 1 series has become BMW’s third best-selling model after the 3 series and 5 series, with 196,000 units sold globally last year. Hit the jump to read the rest of the story.
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“We want to be number one in the (entry-premium) segment,” said Juergen Pawlik, product management boss for the 1- and 3-series models.
The 1 series has become BMW’s third best-selling model after the 3 series and 5 series, with 196,000 units sold globally last year.
“The 1 series is a real customer conquering machine with 70 percent of the car’s buyers coming buyers from other brands,” Harald Krueger, BMW’s personnel chief, said.
BMW expects 80 percent of 1 series sales to be in Europe. Last year, the company sold 147,900 units of the 1 series in Europe. In comparison, Audi sold 178,900 A3 cars while Mercedes found 190,300 customers for for its A- and B-class models.
Launched in 2004, the 1 series’ biggest weakness was modest interior quality and roominess. Pawlik said both are addressed with the second-generation car, while keeping the sporty and dynamic handling typical for a BMW.
